11 April 2020

In Singapore, students have prepared themselves to take on full home-based learning. Students are now armed with laptops, headsets with microphones, and other devices to assist with online education.

Education Minister Ong Ye Kung stated in a recent Facebook post that parents have concerns about how to guide their children while juggling work from home.

He said that home-based learning can encourage students to practise self-directed learning.

“If we can get our children to be acquainted with that idea, this period of home-based learning would have gifted them a precious skill for life,” said Mr Ong.

Mr Ong also shared tips such as creating routines and ground rules, and prioritising tasks.

The Education Minister also said that school teachers will check on students regularly, even as they themselves might be saddled with having to care for their own offspring.

Here is a short list of what parents should do:

1. Use the teacher’s feedback on assignments and daily work to learn about your child’s strengths and areas for improvement.

2. Affirm your child in areas he has done well in, and share ideas on how to improve.

3. Encourage your child to check in with the teachers if, or when, help is needed. You can also e-mail your child’s teacher for clarifications.

4. Guide your child to search for answers on his own (for example, through the MOE library on online platform Student Learning Space).

5. Encourage your child to share his learning with you daily.

6. Let your child know it is okay not to get the right answers all the time. What matters is that your child has put in his best effort.