Strengthening Character and Citizenship Education

In response to societal changes and technological advancements, the role of education is undergoing a transformative shift. It is evolving from a mere preparation for the workforce to a more profound focus on nurturing the flourishing of individuals and society. Within this context, Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) comes to the forefront of education, as it provides an integrated approach to cultivate students’ values, character, social-emotional well-being, and citizenship dispositions. The deliberate effort to strengthen CCE in Singapore has resulted in the recent establishment of the Singapore Centre for Character and Citizenship Education (SCCCE), the first of its kind in the region dedicated to advance research and professional development in the field of CCE.

In this issue of SingTeach, CCE educators and professionals share their insights regarding the significance of CCE in the current context of Singapore, taking into account the evolving landscape of student profiles and demographics, the increase in global interconnectivity and conflicts, and the widespread use of social media and digital tools. Establishing a strong anchor of values serves as a bedrock for our students to navigate this ever-changing world. This calls for prioritizing CCE education and innovation in CCE pedagogies.

As outlined in the CCE 2021 Curriculum Framework, the implementation of CCE must become a school-wide, intentional effort. It should extend beyond dedicated CCE lessons to encompass the creation of a caring and enabling school culture. In this issue, educators reflect on how CCE is implemented in our secondary schools and junior colleges via frameworks like Character First Education, and programmes like Life Coaching. It is important to note that certain aspects of CCE implementation remain challenging for our educators. For instance, a study featured in this issue reveals that while Singaporean teachers are investing time and effort into modelling and explaining positive values, relatively less focus is given in equipping students with the skills to analyse how their own values are shaped. These findings underscore the need for continuous commitment to CCE research and professional development.

Professor Tan Oon Seng
Centre Director
Singapore Centre for Character & Citizenship Education
National Institute of Education