CCE, or Character and Citizenship Education, aims to nurture values and social-emotional competencies such as respect, responsibility, and resilience in our students, so that they grow up to be morally upright, active and contributing citizens.
CCE has always been at the heart of our education system. Since the late 1950s, various key programmes such as Civics and Moral Education (1992), National Education (1997), Social and Emotional Learning (2005), and learning experiences such as co-curricular activities (CCA), have been implemented to nurture values and life skills in our students. In 2012, CCE was introduced as an integrated programme to align these efforts towards the common goal of equipping young Singaporeans to meet the demands of a changing global landscape.
How Is CCE Taught?
CCE is taught through a variety of learning experiences beyond dedicated CCE lessons. For example, CCE lessons may be reflected as the following in a student's timetable:
| Level | Lessons |
|---|---|
Primary
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Secondary
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Pre-University
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In addition, CCE may be taught through:
| CCE Enactment | Platforms and Experiences |
|---|---|
Key Student Development Experiences (SDEs)
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SDEs are programmes and activities that contribute towards the holistic development of our students in physical, aesthetic, intellectual, moral, and social domains. These include:
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School-based initiatives
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Schools design and implement programmes and activities for CCE that cater to the profile of their students, such as leadership programmes and assembly talks. |
Subject lessons
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Subjects such as Social Studies, History, Music, and Art, include content that provides opportunities for exploration into national identity, contemporary issues, as well as Singapore's constraints and vulnerabilities. The teaching of English and Mother Tongue Languages also provides opportunities to hone students' sensitivity towards others and learn communication skills for relationship building. |
What do students learn during CCE lessons?
CCE lessons are anchored on three big ideas: Identity, Relationships, and Choices.
From these big ideas, students learn and demonstrate values and social-emotional competencies through six content areas:
| Content Areas | Objectives |
|---|---|
Cyber Wellness
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To equip students with the knowledge and skills to positively harness the power of information and communications technology (ICT), and be safe and responsible users of ICT. |
Education and Career Guidance
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To equip students with the knowledge, skills and values to make informed decisions as they transit from school to further education or work. |
Family Education
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To equip students with social-emotional skills to strengthen familial relationships, and inculcate values of love, care and concern, respect and commitment. |
Mental Health
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To equip students with the knowledge, skills, and mindsets to stay resilient and mentally healthy. These include understanding mental health issues, recognising signs of distress, knowing when, where and how to seek help, and developing empathy for those with mental health challenges. |
National Education
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To develop students' appreciation of Singapore, their identity as Singaporeans, and understanding of how they can contribute to the nation. |
Sexuality Education
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To develop students' understanding of their physiological, social and emotional changes as they mature, develop healthy relationships with others, and make informed and responsible decisions on sexuality matters. |
What are some contemporary issues discussed during CCE lessons?
During CCE lessons, students also regularly discuss contemporary issues that are relevant to students' lived experiences and present multiple perspectives. This includes issues such as bullying, environment sustainability, the importance of racial and religious harmony, or global events like the Russia-Ukraine War and the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Through the discussions, students apply values and competencies that they have learnt, and develop the ability to appreciate and understand different perspectives, including those that differ from their own.
When selecting topics for discussion, schools and teachers consider students' readiness and the relevance of the topic to the intended learning outcome. This includes assessing whether students have sufficient knowledge about the issue, and the cognitive and emotional maturity to engage in meaningful discussions.
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Did you know? Teachers are trained to facilitate CCE lessons objectively and skilfully. They guide their students to listen to multiple perspectives, and engage in respectful and thoughtful discussions. There are also Specialised CCE Teachers in every secondary school and pre-university institution who co-teach and mentor colleagues in facilitating discussions on contemporary issues in the classroom. Find out more about how CCE is taught here: |