Broader career exposure for students as MOE targets 2,000 industry partners by 2027

These engagements are flexible and can range from a single one-hour session to multiple activities across the year.

“Share your expertise and your experience. Open up your workplaces if you can. Work with our educators to create meaningful experiences for our students to learn,” Lee said.

MOE’s director-general of education Liew Wei Li told The Straits Times that the platform “democratises access” to industry professionals, especially for schools that may not have alumni to count on.

And it is not too early to introduce primary and secondary school students to the world of work, she said. “When you are trying to see how what they are learning pertains to what is needed in future, it is not too early to do that. We actually motivate students by giving them some ideas about the end point. Otherwise, their eyes are just fixed on the next school,” said Liew.

Working professionals can also contribute as individuals without waiting for their companies to organise partnerships, she said.

By sharing their own journeys, they can help students see varied pathways and learn how people navigate rejection, layoffs or career changes.

“We want to expose them to a range of people with authentic stories, and this is where it is almost like a human library,” said Liew. Beyond work experience, the objective is to help students determine their purpose and discover their personal qualities, she added.

Building students’ confidence

For 25 students from Juying Secondary School, a partnership with local bakery Edith Patisserie offered more than a chance to learn professional baking skills.

Through seven after-school baking sessions between February and October, the Secondary 1 to 3 students learnt to work with others, build confidence and recognise their strengths.

Senthil Silvarajoo, 40, the school’s head of Character and Citizenship Education, said teachers identified students who would “benefit from positive social interactions”. “These are students who have various needs – perhaps not being able to see their self-worth yet, lacked confidence, had anger management issues, or just needed to know that they matter,” he said.

Ethel Tan, 35, the bakery’s co-founder, said the three-hour sessions used the collaborative nature of baking to help students connect with one another in a supportive environment.

“We wanted to present different perspectives… that there are different definitions of success. And to help the students feel that they are successful and valued members of the community,” she said.

At the end of each session, students also had something tangible to show for their efforts – a baked treat to take home or give to someone else.

For Secondary 1 student Damien Luke, the sessions helped him step out of his comfort zone and connect with his peers more confidently.

By working in rotating teams and taking on specific baking roles, the 13-year-old learnt to communicate with others. He now feels a sense of belonging with his peers and is passionate about baking.

“I had to work with people I am not familiar with, but my passion to bake motivated me to speak to my new team members each session,” he said. “I realised that I can be confident in new environments if I recognise my purpose and strength.”