MOE refreshes secondary school art syllabus to prepare students for a changing world

“MOE is looking at how to make our students a bit more future-ready … so the revised syllabuses harness the broad yet unique competencies that art can develop in our youths,” said Ms Jacelyn Kee, deputy director of art and dance at MOE’s student development curriculum division.

“(It’s about) seeing things in fresh and innovative ways, having emotional and cultural intelligence and building capacity for uncertainties.”

She noted that in the past, for example, students were asked to replicate the likeness of objects. But now during drawing lessons, they are driven to look at how they respond to the world and think about what drives their ideas.

The syllabus looks to keep lessons relevant by drawing from pop culture images that teens already know, such as the popular Pokemon anime, while exposing them to local artists and real-world issues like vaping.