Singapore's Model of Tripartism as Module for Graduating Students at Institutes of Higher Learning
Ministry of EducationSpeakers
Summary
This question concerns whether Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) educate graduating students on workplace rights and Singapore’s tripartism model. Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked about curriculum reviews to better equip students, to which Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing responded that IHLs already offer modules on industrial relations and labour laws. He noted that students gain practical exposure through internships and dialogues with government, industry, and union representatives. Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing emphasized that IHLs build on foundational secondary school concepts to deepen understanding of employee relations. Curricula will continue to be reviewed with stakeholders to ensure graduates possess the necessary workplace dispositions and skills for the future.
Transcript
97 Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Education (a) whether Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) teach graduating students about key employment and workplace rights; (b) whether students in our IHLs learn about Singapore's unique model of tripartism; and (c) whether the Ministry can review whether there is a need to equip graduating cohorts of students with the necessary knowledge on their workplace rights and tripartism in Singapore.
Mr Chan Chun Sing: As mentioned in our written response to Mr Abdul Samad’s Parliamentary Question on the inclusion of a module on tripartism for graduating students at our IHLs, the curriculum in our Secondary schools and Pre-University institutions expose students to the concept and importance of tripartism.
The IHLs build on these foundational efforts to deepen students’ understanding of tripartism in Singapore. The IHLs place strong focus on industry and workplace exposure in their curriculum and programmes, such as internships and industry-sponsored projects. They offer a range of modules that cover issues, such as the role of trade unions and tripartism in Singapore, employment and workplace rights, employee relations, industrial relations, labour laws, manpower policies, collective bargaining and dispute resolution.
There are also additional exposure opportunities for IHL students outside the formal curriculum, such as dialogues with representatives from Government, industry and the labour unions.
The IHLs will continue to review their curricula, in consultation with relevant stakeholders, to ensure their curricula remain industry-relevant and equip graduates with the right dispositions and skills for the future workplace.