Schools ‘cannot be used as platforms for partisan politics’
Dr Janil Puthucheary. TODAY file photo
SINGAPORE — Partisan politics should be kept out of schools, which do not invite or accept requests from Members of Parliament (MP) or political parties to speak at their events, said Senior Minister of State for Education Janil Puthucheary in Parliament on Monday (Feb 19).
Dr Puthucheary was responding to Non-Constituency Member of Parliament Leon Perera, who asked if the ministry prohibits primary or secondary schools from inviting MPs from any party, or Nominated MPs, as speakers at events.
While political office holders, including ministers, do speak at school events, Dr Puthucheary said “people should not be speaking in their capacity as a member of a political party”.
If Nominated MPs or members of political parties that do not form the Government are not allowed to directly engage students in the same way, would it be “detrimental” for students not to have access to “both sides of the political debate”, Mr Perera asked.
Dr Puthucheary replied that Mr Perera’s hope for MPs to speak at school events in their political capacity is “not appropriate”.
“This is not the intention of what we do in schools. If (Mr Perera) would like to make a case as to why there should be partisan politics in school, I think that is the case he should make,” he said. “We take the stand that partisan politics should be kept out of schools.”
