21st Century Competencies

Globalisation, changing demographics and technological advancements are some of the key driving forces of our current times, and they will continue to shape our future. Our students will have to be prepared to face these challenges and seize new and exciting opportunities.

To help our students thrive in this fast-changing world, we have identified a suite of core values and competencies that are increasingly important. They underpin the holistic education that our schools provide to better prepare students for the future.

Together, schools and parents need to work hand-in-hand to help our students develop these 21st Century Competencies.

Framework for 21st Century Competencies and Student Outcomes

Core Values

Values are at the core of one's character. They shape the beliefs, attitudes and actions of a person, and therefore are positioned at the centre of the framework of 21st Century Competencies.

Our Core Values include respect, responsibility, resilience, integrity, care and harmony, which are acknowledged as values that are at the foundation of our shared societal and national values.

• Respect: Our students demonstrate respect when they believe in their own self-worth and the intrinsic worth of people.
• Responsibility: Our students are responsible when they recognise they have a duty to themselves, their families, community, nation and the world, and fulfill their responsibilities with love and commitment.
• Resilience: Our students are resilient when they demonstrate emotional strength and persevere in the face of challenges. They show courage, optimism, adaptability and resourcefulness.
• Integrity: Our students demonstrate integrity when they uphold ethical principles and have the moral courage to stand up for what is right.
• Care: Our students are caring when they act with kindness and compassion, and contribute to the betterment of the community and the world.
• Harmony: Our students uphold harmony when they promote social cohesion and appreciate the unity and diversity of a multicultural society.

Social-Emotional Competencies

These are competencies necessary for children to develop healthy identities, recognise and manage their emotions, develop a sense of responsibility, care and concern for others, relate to others and develop positive relationships, handle challenges, make responsible decisions, and act for the good of self, others and the society. Students will learn skills from these 5 interconnected Social-Emotional Competencies:

• Self-Awareness
• Self-Management
• Responsible Decision-Making
• Social Awareness
• Relationship Management

Emerging 21st Century Competencies

Building on a sound character foundation, the following Emerging 21st Century Competencies enable students to thrive in and beyond school while living, learning and working in rapidly changing, highly digitalised, and interconnected environments:

• Critical, Adaptive and Inventive Thinking
• Communication, Collaboration and Information Skills
• Civic, Global and Cross-Cultural Literacy

Together, these core values and competencies will help our students embody the Desired Outcomes of Education so that they possess the dispositions, skills and knowledge to take on the opportunities and challenges of the future.