20 July 2017

Project Schools, an initiative started by the Law Society Pro Bono Services (LSPBS) in 2012, aims to help Singapore students understand the law better. It is due to be revamped later this year with an updated curriculum which includes knowing the law, domestic violence, cyber offences, gangs and rioting, and illegal moneylending.

A key aim of Project Schools is to deter students from committing crimes — an objective known as preventive education.

Under Project Schools, students learn how and why laws are made in Singapore, and are made aware of the consequences of committing crimes. The LSPBS provides materials for the lessons, which includes short videos and quizzes. The lessons are conducted as part of students’ Character and Citizenship Education curriculum.

Teachers and educators have the flexibility to integrate the topics into the school curriculum in various ways. For instance, some have chosen to teach two to three topics for each cohort with the help of videos, while others have delivered them as standalone activities.

Thus far, the Project Schools initiative has involved 30 secondary schools and at least 20,000 students. In addition, more than 18 new schools have shown interest in it so far this year.