02 June 2016

Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that Singapore 20 years from now will be an innovative and inclusive society, where Singaporeans define their purposes with a sense of individuality and social responsibility.

Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Pre-University Seminar held at the Nanyang Technological University, Mr Tharman said that education would become more holistic, flexible and encouraging. Education will also evolve to place a much greater emphasis on original thinking and fostering an innovative spirit.

Mr Tharman, who is also Coordinating Minister for Economic and Social Policies, cited an informal survey conducted by the Ministry of Education, which indicated that students ranked job satisfaction and the ability to make the most of one’s talents, above factors like salary.

But he also added that whether or not these aspirations could be met would depend on how Singapore reacts to changes in areas such as technology and geopolitics.