UPLIFT Programme Expansion Targets Underperforming and At-Risk Students
SINGAPORE – Around 100 primary and secondary schools will receive additional teaching resources in the coming years to better support students who require extra attention. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced this initiative on Wednesday (Nov 10), with the first phase involving 24 schools in 2022.
Enhanced Teacher Support Under UPLIFT
The UPLIFT Enhanced School Resourcing programme will deploy four to five extra teachers per school in the initial phase. The initiative is expected to extend to about 100 schools, benefiting approximately 13,000 students.
UPLIFT (Uplifting Pupils in Life and Inspiring Families Taskforce) was launched to address issues like long-term absenteeism and dropout rates, particularly among students from disadvantaged backgrounds. The programme adopts a whole-school approach with targeted interventions.
Pilot efforts since 2019 in 23 schools have shown promising results. Improved school attendance, better peer relationships among secondary school students, and increased primary school enrolment in student care centres were among the positive outcomes reported.
Holistic Support for Students
The additional teachers will implement tailored programmes for academic, social, and emotional support. Specific efforts will address absenteeism and provide after-school engagement. “These teachers act as significant adults in children’s lives, offering guidance and encouragement to discover their strengths and pursue their dreams,” said PM Lee.
Expanding Community Pilot Efforts
The UPLIFT Community pilot, active in four towns since 2020, has reached over 300 students, significantly improving school attendance for 80% of participants last year. The programme coordinates support at the town level, connecting families to appropriate resources and agencies.
Next year, the pilot will expand to eight more towns, including Bedok, Punggol, and Yishun, with plans for a nationwide rollout in subsequent years.
Addressing Post-Pandemic Challenges
PM Lee highlighted how the COVID-19 pandemic exposed and exacerbated existing inequalities in access to resources like laptops and stable internet connections. He stressed the importance of continuing efforts to bridge these gaps for long-term equity in education.
“We must ensure children from disadvantaged backgrounds have more opportunities and choices than their parents, enabling them to achieve success through multiple pathways,” PM Lee concluded.
