Budget Debate · 2026-03-03 · Parliament 15
MOE Committee of Supply 2026 — Preparing Singaporeans for an AI-Transformed Future
Education Minister Desmond Lee anchored MOE's Committee of Supply debate, placing AI alongside the geopolitical paradigm shift and climate change as the three defining uncertainties facing the education system. MOE laid out a four-pronged AI literacy framework: (1) Learn about AI — understand principles and limits; (2) Learn to use AI — partner with industry so students use tools effectively and responsibly; (3) Learn with AI — educators infuse AI into teaching and learning to improve outcomes; (4) Learn beyond AI — develop the irreplaceable human capabilities so students "use AI to amplify their impact" rather than be displaced. Minister of State Jasmin Lau owns MOE's AI agenda and frames it within the national AI strategy. On teacher workflow, AI is being used to reduce administrative load, alongside the Reimagining the Teaching Profession Taskforce recommendations to streamline processes, strengthen support, and protect after-work hours. Senior Minister of State David Neo tied the COS theme "We Learn for Life Together" to the AI age — students must learn "to live life the way life was supposed to be lived" amid rapid technological change. SkillsFuture Singapore also announced the SME AI Skills Launchpad Initiative rolling out progressively from March 2026, with SkillsFuture Queen Bees delivering free AI masterclasses for SMEs.
Key Points
- • AI is named one of three top uncertainties for the education system (alongside geopolitics and climate)
- • MOE introduces a four-stage framework: learn about / to use / with / beyond AI
- • "Learn beyond AI" is the keystone — cultivate the irreplaceable human capabilities
- • MOS Jasmin Lau coordinates MOE's AI agenda within the national AI strategy
- • AI is deployed in teacher workflow to lighten admin load, in line with the Reimagining the Teaching Profession Taskforce
- • SSG launches the SME AI Skills Launchpad, with Queen Bees giving free AI masterclasses
Embed AI literacy in lifelong learning while privileging "beyond-AI" human capabilities.
AI in education evolves from tool adoption into a national-strategy literacy framework.
"Learn beyond AI. Educators will help students develop other critical skills, so that they can add human value and use AI to amplify their impact."
Participants (10)
Original Text (English)
SPRS Hansard · Fetched: 2026-06-10
During the Budget and Committee of Supply (COS) debates, Members spoke about the uncertainty and challenges brought about by the geopolitical paradigm shift, artificial intelligence (AI) and the existential threat of climate change, and proposed many ways to better prepare Singaporeans, through education, for the future.
We will also encourage and equip our students to be innovative and enterprising, to pursue deep learning in an AI-transformed world and support them in their journey towards lifelong learning.
Minister of State Jasmin Lau will share how we are preparing Singaporeans for an AI-transformed future.
For instance, by leveraging technology and AI, alongside the Reimagining the Teaching Profession Taskforce's recommendations, we will continue to help recalibrate what teachers do.
But there is also another interpretation — which is apt given the many conversations we have had in this Chamber about AI — that we are nurturing our students to learn to live life the way life was supposed to be lived and to live together as friends, as a community, as one united people.
SSG will launch a new course search experience that includes curated recommendations for in-demand skill areas, such as AI, occupation-based course exploration tools and an AI-powered chatbot for personalised recommendations.
SSG and SG Enable will continue to work with community partners to raise training providers' capabilities to deliver inclusive training, including in areas like AI.
In 2024, he was promoted to Assistant Maintenance Engineer, while also working on his final-year project, an AI computer vision solution for wafer defect detection.
To support companies in navigating and adapting to rapidly advancing technologies, such as AI, SSG will roll out the SME AI Skills Launchpad Initiative progressively from March 2026 to help workers in SMEs build the necessary skills.
All SkillsFuture Queen Bees will deliver free AI masterclasses and advisory services for SMEs in their sectors and value chains.