Schools in Singapore ramp up anti-vaping efforts through lessons, student ambassadors

During a science lesson for Secondary 3 students at Presbyterian High School on Oct 22, the teacher discussed how vapes are addictive, and how etomidate is supposed to be used in medical situations to induce sedation.

Madam Heng Hui Peng, the school’s head of science, said these lessons are important to provide students with vaping facts to prevent the spread of misinformation, as students may rely on peer influence rather than seek accurate information.

“Some students think when you try vaping once it is okay, because they don’t know that it contains nicotine… which causes addiction.

“This is why it’s our role (as teachers) to address such a misconception,” she told The Straits Times.

Muhammad Harith Firas Ismael, one of Madam Heng’s Sec 3 students, said the science lessons made him aware of misconceptions he had about vaping.

“I used to think that vapes were just as bad as cigarettes… but in actual fact, they’re more harmful,” he said.

With the benefit of the lessons, he believes he is better able to educate and influence his peers about the ills of vaping.

“Now I know the stakes are a lot higher than I originally thought. And I will do everything I can to try and take care of them, and not let them vape,” he added.

MOE said discussions during CCE lessons aim to develop moral reasoning in students by considering law and order, societal good and universal ethical principles.

Students also learn to apply social-emotional skills like problem-solving and self-control in scenarios involving risky behaviours, and reflect on how they can support friends who feel tempted to vape.

During a CCE lesson for Sec 3 students at Presbyterian High School on Oct 22 observed by ST, students discussed how they would react if they found themselves in difficult scenarios regarding vaping.

They also role-played how they would react when offered vapes.

Ms Hshieh Szu An, head of CCE at Presbyterian High School, said such activities help students learn authentically and equip them with skills to make wise decisions and cope with pressures related to vaping.

“When faced with a situation where they may be tempted (to vape)… they will know specifically the extent of the harm that they will face and how to make decisions from there,” she said.

Zoanne Sarah, another Sec 3 student at Presbyterian High, said she found the role-playing activities during CCE lessons with her classmates useful, as they allowed her to better understand and reflect on young people’s struggles with vaping.

“During the role-play, we can see how two different perspectives come together,” she said, adding that group discussions also helped students explore different ways to handle difficult situations, like when a family member asks you to hide their vapes.

In addition to MOE’s anti-vaping efforts, more than 250 students from 35 schools have been trained to promote a vape-free lifestyle among their peers.

They were trained under a Health Promotion Board (HPB) pilot programme launched in 2024 to equip student leaders in St John Brigade, Girls’ Brigade (GB) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) with skills to support their peers.

In their two-hour online training, the student leaders went through various topics, including Singapore’s regulatory approach towards nicotine products, and marketing strategies that vape companies use to target young people.

They also learnt project management and peer engagement skills, as well as how to provide support to those who want to quit vaping.

Mr Chen Ziyang, principal of Yusof Ishak Secondary School, told ST that the school’s GB and NCC cadets attended the HPB training session between May and August.

Since then, the NCC cadets have spoken about the health effects of vaping at morning assembly and created anti-vaping posters that will be displayed schoolwide, while the GB has set up a booth with interactive games designed to address common misconceptions about vaping.

“Students have responded positively to these peer-led initiatives, showing interest in learning more about the topic,” said Mr Chen.

Apart from the HPB programme, all schools have a peer support structure in place for bonding and helping one another and influencing the right behaviours, MOE said. Schools select and train students to be peer support leaders to strengthen the network of support in their classes, CCA or other groups.

“The peer-led approach is effective because students model positive behaviours for their peers, normalising help-seeking and inclusivity as part of school culture,” said Mr Chen.

Bosco Chan, a 14-year-old NCC cadet from Yusof Ishak Secondary, told ST that peer-to-peer support in schools is important as students may have a bigger impact on their peers than their teachers do.

“Students might find it easier to converse with their peers and confide about their struggles with vaping, rather than telling their teachers,” he said.