Israel-Hamas conflict lessons in Singapore to be further customised for different age groups, with more teacher support

SINGAPORE — Lessons regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict taught during Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) classes in Singapore schools will be customised to suit different age groups of students, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing said in Parliament on Monday (4 March).

He added during his ministry's Committee of Supply budget debate that there will be more support for teachers in delivering these lessons

"For younger students, we will simplify the lesson material even more, our focus will be continue to be on sensitising our younger ones to the plight of innocent victims, how they can express sympathy for and empathise with others and how they can manage their emotions regarding the conflict," he said.

"For the older students, we will also teach them to be more discerning of different sources of information. For the most mature students, we will update the lesson material based on more recent events and help them better understand Singapore's national interests."

Covering and clarifying Singapore's stance

The materials will cover Singapore's response to the 7 October Hamas attack, recognising Israel's right to self-defence.

However, Chan echoed Foreign Affairs Minister Vivian Balakrishnan's stance in saying, "Israel's military response has gone too far. The catastrophic situation in Gaza demands a humanitarian ceasefire to alleviate the suffering of the civilian victims and to enable humanitarian assistance to reach them immediately."

Schools will also clarify Singapore's stance on the Israel-Palestine issue over the years, including its support for resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire and its efforts to assist the Palestinian Authority.

Chan clarified that the lessons are not intended to delve into the detailed history or politics of the Israel-Palestine conflict. He said, "We will continue to reflect the diversity of views from our community within our lesson material, and it is a key learning objective for our students to understand how to manage differences and diversity with respect and sensitivity."

Neutrality and objectivity in CCE curriculum on Israel-Hamas conflict

Some online comments criticised the teaching approach used in a recent lesson about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. They allegedly argued that the lesson lacked neutrality and objectivity because it only focused on developments from 7 October 2023, without providing a broader historical context spanning several decades.

These comments also claimed that teachers were restricted in their ability to offer additional insights beyond what was prescribed to them. Some even proposed dropping the lesson altogether.

Chan responded by questioning whether removing the lesson entirely would benefit students and society in the long term, stressing the importance of continually improving the delivery of CCE.

"For a sensitive topic like the Israel-Hamas conflict, having teachers from different backgrounds and faiths to conduct the lesson together is also a powerful example to our students, of how while we can have different beliefs, we can come together as Singaporeans to discuss complex topics sensitively and respectfully," he added.

To better equip teachers for such sensitive topics, the Ministry of Education (MOE) has outlined plans to organise extra workshops for teachers, specifically focusing on the CCE lesson. These workshops will allow teachers to go through lesson plans with specialists and experienced educators.

Despite initial uncertainties, most teachers embraced the challenge of teaching the CCE lesson professionally. Chan expressed gratitude to those who stepped up, and promised support for those who still feel uncomfortable conducting the lesson.

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