Latest news with #MasagosZulkifli
Straits Times
09-07-2025
- General
- Straits Times
New programme empowers social service professionals to raise awareness on their roles
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Minister for Social and Family Development, Masagos Zulkifli speaks at the Tribe Ambassadors programme's Open Mic Day on July 9. SINGAPORE – As an early intervention educator at Thye Hua Kwan Moral Charities, Ms Ivy Chew is often confused for an early childhood educator, where people assumed that she primarily taught mainstream curriculum to children with special needs. Instead, she focuses on developing skills in children that help to foster independence. 'When I explain my role to the public, I often describe it as being a teacher for children under the age of seven with developmental needs, such as autism. Many are surprised to learn that such services exist for young children,' the 40-year-old added. Other professionals in lesser known roles in the social service sector face similar challenges explaining their role to others. To tackle this, Ms Chew and a team of social service professionals in lesser-known roles such as speech therapists and educational psychologists intend to use interactive videos to shine light on professions that are less known in the social sector. Ms Ivy Chew Bishan, 40, at the Tribe Ambassadors Programme's Open Mic Day at the National Library on July 9. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Her team presented this idea at Tribe Ambassadors Programme's Open Mic Day at the National Library on July 9. The pilot programme by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) and the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), which began in February, aims to train social service professionals i n content creation. There are 36 social service professionals from 31 social services agencies in the first batch of Tribe Ambassadors. They worked in teams to conceptualise content to spotlight and foster pride among social service professionals, while also encouraging individuals to join the sector. With support from MSF and NCSS, they will bring their ideas to life across the rest of 2025. Ms Ivy's team intends to engage audiences on platforms such as TikTok and Instagram through 'Guess My Job' videos featuring a series of social service professionals, who give clues about their job before inviting viewers to guess their profession. The professionals then reveal their roles and encourage viewers to learn more about the featured profession and explore career opportunities in the sector. Speaking at the July 9 event, Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said Tribe Ambassadors amplify the impact of the social service sector. 'Beyond being practitioners of care at work, you are voices of credibility and compassion for the social service profession,' he added. 'When stories are told, myths debunked and awareness raised on social media through videos, gamification concepts and podcasts – it is very creative! I used to think there was only one way to connect. In fact, there are many, many ways.' Six other teams of Tribe Ambassadors presented their ideas at the Open Mic Day, with ideas ranging from short videos spotlighting social service professionals through their loved ones, to podcasts where professionals speak on the emotional depth and complexity of the work that they do. One team plans to create short videos where heads of social service agencies share their commitments in a 'What's in My Cal(endar)' format that gives viewers a glimpse of different facets of their work. One of the team's members, Ms Lorraine Lim, 51, deputy chief operating officer at the Singapore Council of Women's Organisations's (SCWO), said that her day typically consists of her meeting clients for counselling, training other counsellors, and sometimes even conducting outreach and advocacy work. Ms Lorraine Lim, alongside team members Mr Sugyanto Suryono (left) and Mohksin Mohd Rashid, at the Tribe Ambassadors Programme's Open Mic Day at the National Library on July 9. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN She hopes that through these videos, others will understand her work better. 'That is when they know they can reach out to SCWO for help and support – as we work to promote gender equality in our society for women to have 'Equal Space, Equal Voice and Equal Worth',' she added, citing the organisation's mission.
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Fewer marriages in Singapore in 2024; greater marital stability for recent unions
SINGAPORE - Fewer couples tied the knot in 2024, with a more than 10 per cent drop from the record-high number of marriages registered in 2022. A total of 26,328 couples registered their marriages in 2024, down from 28,310 in 2023 and 29,389 in 2022, during a post-pandemic surge when Covid-19 rules were relaxed. The 2022 figure is the highest since data on marriages was first published in 1961. These latest numbers were released by the Ministry of Social and Family Development on July 7 in its Family Trends Report 2025. The 37-page report laid out statistics related to stages of family life like marriage, parenthood, early childhood and ageing. The number of civil marriages dropped across all age groups in 2024, but the decline was most significant among marriages involving brides and grooms aged 25 to 34. The number of civil marriages involving brides aged 25 to 29 fell by 988 in 2024, and by 506 for those aged 30 to 34. Similarly, civil marriages involving grooms aged 25 to 29 fell by 758 in 2024, and by 583 for those aged 30 to 34. 'Decisions surrounding marriages are deeply personal, but we can do more to assure couples if they do choose to start a family,' said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, in a speech at the National Family Festival Appreciation Event held at One Farrer Hotel on July 7. Singapore has enhanced its marriage and parenthood support over the years, he added. 'As a community, we can also support young couples around us, such as through sharing our own journeys and lessons.' In 2024, a total of 7,382 marriages ended in a divorce or an annulment, a 3.7 per cent increase from 7,118 in 2023, according to data from the Department of Statistics Singapore (DOS) on July 7. Marriages have been more stable in recent years. The average number of marital dissolutions per year between 2020 and 2024 was 7,291, lower than the yearly average of 7,536 between 2015 and 2019. The median age at which people got married in 2024 remained similar to that in 2023. Grooms in Singapore got married at the median age of 31.1, while brides wedded at the median age of 29.6 in 2024. Singapore's resident total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years, remained the same in 2024 from the previous year at 0.97. The 0.97 rate was a historic low in 2023, falling from 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021. In 2014, around 11 per cent of female residents aged between 40 and 49 who were ever married did not have any children, and this rose to 15 per cent in 2024. The proportion of such women who have one child rose, from 21.6 per cent in 2014 to 25.1 per cent in 2024. According to data from DOS in May, there were a total of 33,703 births in Singapore in 2024. This is in comparison with 33,541 in 2023 and 35,605 in 2022. Similar to the trend in past years, fewer couples who wed in more recent years ended their marriages compared with those who wed earlier. The marriage dissolution rate before the 10th anniversary in a marriage fell among those who got married between 2006 and 2013, compared with the 2005 cohort. The proportion of couples that ended their marriage before their 10th anniversary fell from 17 per cent among those who wed in 2005 to 15.3 per cent for those who wed in 2012, and continued to decline to 14.4 per cent for those who wed in 2013. The most significant improvement was among Muslim marriages. Around 25 per cent of Muslim couples who wed in 2005 ended their marriage before the 10th anniversary, but this proportion fell to 18.2 per cent in couples who married in 2013. This follows government and community-led initiatives like more marriage preparation courses and marital programmes for couples at different stages of marriage over the years. MSF's report also pointed to a 2024 study by the National Council of Social Service on the quality of life of children, youth and caregivers, which surveyed 2,000 respondents. It found that nine in 10 parents of children and youth reported moderate to high family resilience scores. Resilience refers to the ability to cope with and adapt to challenges, or bounce back from difficult life events. Parents who reported moderate to high family resilience did well in areas like communication and problem-solving, and had strong family belief systems, said the report. 'I am encouraged, as the report shows that Singapore continues to be a good place for families. Families are strong and resilient, parents are supported in child-raising, and Singaporeans are embracing a family friendly society,' said Mr Masagos. 'Our collective efforts have brought us this far, and we must continue building on this.' Correction note: In an earlier version of the story, we said that the number of births in Singapore in 2024 saw a slight drop from 2023. This has been corrected. We are sorry for the error. Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction Discover how to enjoy other premium articles here
The Star
07-07-2025
- General
- The Star
Paternity leave take-up in Singapore rose to 56% in 2023; experts hope for further boost after extension
SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Slightly more fathers are using their paternity leave to take care of their newborns. The take-up rate for government-paid paternity leave rose from 53 per cent in 2022, to 56 per cent in 2023, in latest figures published by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF). Maternity leave usage remained high at 74 per cent, similar to past years, said the Family Trends Report 2025 published on July 7. The number of mothers who used their childcare leave dipped slightly from 61 per cent in 2022, to 58 per cent in 2023. For fathers, 53 per cent of them used their childcare leave in 2023, inching up from 52 per cent in 2022, and 49 per cent in 2021. The latest available data was for 2023 as employers have three months after a year ends to submit reimbursement claims to the Government. All data available excludes employers who do not submit claims. Paternity leave was enhanced in April, with fathers now entitled to four weeks of paternity leave, up from two. From April, parents have also been able to share up to six weeks of paid parental leave, which replaces the previous scheme that allowed fathers to share their wives' maternity leave quota. This shared leave scheme will be increased to 10 weeks in April 2026. MSF's report noted that more employers have offered flexibility to working parents. The number of full-time employees who had access to flexible work arrangements such as staggered hours and working from home increased from 84.1 per cent in 2022, to 87 per cent in 2023. Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli said at the National Family Festival Appreciation Event at One Farrer Hotel on July 7 that the Government hopes more employers can support parents in balancing caregiving responsibilities and career aspirations. Dr Mathew Mathews, head of the Institute of Policy Studies' Social Lab, told The Straits Times that with more flexible work arrangement options available, the need to apply for childcare leave may be less pressing. 'Some childcare activities may not require a whole day away from work, thus requiring childcare leave – these care activities can simply require the parent to be at home, still engaged at work, but also able to watch out for a child while he/she is not able to be in a childcare facility,' he said. On the take-up rate of paternity leave remaining stable at over 50 per cent, Dr Mathews said that though more are taking paternity leave over the years, there has been no clear jump in usage. This suggests that the idea of paternity leave has still not gained sufficient traction among all groups of fathers, he added. 'The extended paternity leave to four weeks, a period which seems to be more significant, might increase the signature of paternity leave, making it more than a 'token' but a reasonably long, dedicated period to help fathers adjust and be involved in their parental duties,' he said. 'Hopefully, this will result in a substantial increase in utilisation over the next few years.' Singapore Management University sociologist Paulin Straughan said: 'Ideally, we would like to see more fathers embrace co-parenting responsibilities so that mothers do not feel overburdened. The extension from two to four weeks is significant as the leave allows fathers to contribute beyond taking care of logistic details or help out.' Four weeks would allow them to take over while their wives recover from childbirth and get into a good rhythm of caring for a newborn, and it allows sufficient time for fathers to bond with their newborns, Professor Straughan added. Pre-school and early intervention The Family Trends Report also looked at statistics and trends related to early childhood education and the growth of early intervention services. The number of full-day infant care places has nearly tripled over the past decade, from 5,628 in 2015 to 16,207 in 2024, and full-day childcare places have almost doubled, from 104,066 in 2014 to 200,847 in 2024. The cohort enrolment rate of children aged three to four was 90 per cent in 2024, the same as in 2023. And 93 per cent of children aged five to six were enrolled in pre-school, slightly down from 95 per cent in 2023. Support for young children with developmental needs has also increased, said MSF. A total of 10,186 children were served by early intervention programmes in 2024, up from 8,950 in 2023. Early intervention programmes support children with developmental delays or disabilities by addressing potential issues early on, preventing them from worsening and supporting the children's needs. In 2024, about 1,500 places were added to early intervention centres, increasing capacity by 26 per cent from 2023. - The Straits Times/ANN
New Paper
07-07-2025
- General
- New Paper
Fewer marriages and births in Singapore in 2024: MSF
Fewer couples tied the knot in 2024, with a more than 10 per cent drop from the record-high number of marriages registered in 2022. A total of 26,328 couples registered their marriages in 2024, down from 28,310 in 2023 and 29,389 in 2022, during a post-pandemic surge when Covid-19 rules were relaxed. The 2022 figure is the highest since data on marriages was first published in 1961. These latest numbers were released by the Ministry for Social and Family Development on July 7 in their Family Trends Report 2025. The 37-page report laid out statistics related to stages of family life like marriage, parenthood, early childhood and ageing. The number of civil marriages dropped across all age groups in 2024, but the decline was most significant among marriages involving brides and grooms aged 25 to 34. The number of civil marriages involving brides aged 25 to 29 fell by 988 in 2024, and by 506 for those aged 30 to 34. Similarly, civil marriages involving grooms aged 25 to 29 fell by 758 in 2024, and by 583 for those aged 30 to 34. "Decisions surrounding marriages are deeply personal, but we can do more to assure couples if they do choose to start a family," said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli in a speech at the National Family Festival Appreciation Event held at One Farrer Hotel on July 7. Singapore has enhanced its marriage and parenthood support over the years, he added. "As a community, we can also support young couples around us, such as through sharing our own journeys and lessons." In 2024, a total of 7,382 marriages ended in a divorce or an annulment, a 3.7 per cent increase from 7,118 in 2023, according to data from the Department of Statistics Singapore (DOS) on July 7. Marriages have been more stable in recent years. The average number of marital dissolutions per year between 2020 and 2024 was 7,291, lower than the yearly average of 7,536 between 2015 and 2019. The median age at which people got married in 2024 remained similar to that in 2023. Grooms in Singapore got married at the median age of 31.1, while brides wedded at the median age of 29.6 in 2024. Singapore's resident total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years, remained the same in 2024 from the previous year at 0.97. The 0.97 rate was a historic low in 2023, falling from 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021. In 2014, around 11 per cent of female residents aged between 40 and 49 who were ever married did not have any children, and this rose to 15 per cent in 2024. The proportion of such women who have one child rose, from 21.6 per cent in 2014 to 25.1 per cent in 2024. According to data from DOS in May, there were a total of 33,703 births in Singapore in 2024. This dropped slightly from 33,541 in 2023 and 35,605 in 2022. Similar to the trend in past years, fewer couples who wed in more recent years ended their marriages compared with those who wed earlier. The marriage dissolution rate before the 10th anniversary in a marriage fell among those who got married between 2006 and 2013, compared with the 2005 cohort. The proportion of couples that ended their marriage before their 10th anniversary fell from 17 per cent among those who wed in 2005 to 15.3 per cent for those who wed in 2012, and continued to decline to 14.4 per cent for those who wed in 2013. The most significant improvement was among Muslim marriages. Around 25 per cent of Muslim couples who wed in 2005 ended their marriage before the 10th anniversary, but this proportion fell to 18.2 per cent in couples who married in 2013. This follows government and community-led initiatives like more marriage preparation courses and marital programmes for couples at different stages of marriage over the years. MSF's report also pointed to a 2024 study by the National Council of Social Service on the quality of life of children, youth and caregivers, which surveyed 2,000 respondents. It found that nine in 10 parents of children and youth reported moderate to high family resilience scores. Resilience refers to the ability to cope with and adapt to challenges, or bounce back from difficult life events. Parents who report moderate to high family resilience did well in areas like communication and problem-solving, and have strong family belief systems, said the report. "I am encouraged as the report shows that Singapore continues to be a good place for families. Families are strong and resilient, parents are supported in child-raising, and Singaporeans are embracing a family-friendly society," said Mr Masagos. "Our collective efforts have brought us this far, and we must continue building on this."
AsiaOne
07-07-2025
- General
- AsiaOne
Fewer marriages and births in Singapore in 2024; greater stability for later cohorts, Singapore News
SINGAPORE — Fewer couples tied the knot in 2024, with a more than 10 per cent drop from the record-high number of marriages registered in 2022. A total of 26,328 couples registered their marriages in 2024, down from 28,310 in 2023 and 29,389 in 2022, during a post-pandemic surge when Covid-19 rules were relaxed. The 2022 figure is the highest since data on marriages was first published in 1961. These latest numbers were released by the Ministry of Social and Family Development on July 7 in its Family Trends Report 2025. The 37-page report laid out statistics related to stages of family life like marriage, parenthood, early childhood and ageing. The number of civil marriages dropped across all age groups in 2024, but the decline was most significant among marriages involving brides and grooms aged 25 to 34. The number of civil marriages involving brides aged 25 to 29 fell by 988 in 2024, and by 506 for those aged 30 to 34. Similarly, civil marriages involving grooms aged 25 to 29 fell by 758 in 2024, and by 583 for those aged 30 to 34. "Decisions surrounding marriages are deeply personal, but we can do more to assure couples if they do choose to start a family," said Minister for Social and Family Development Masagos Zulkifli, in a speech at the National Family Festival Appreciation Event held at One Farrer Hotel on July 7. Singapore has enhanced its marriage and parenthood support over the years, he added. "As a community, we can also support young couples around us, such as through sharing our own journeys and lessons." In 2024, a total of 7,382 marriages ended in a divorce or an annulment, a 3.7 per cent increase from 7,118 in 2023, according to data from the Department of Statistics Singapore (DOS) on July 7. Marriages have been more stable in recent years. The average number of marital dissolutions per year between 2020 and 2024 was 7,291, lower than the yearly average of 7,536 between 2015 and 2019. The median age at which people got married in 2024 remained similar to that in 2023. Grooms in Singapore got married at the median age of 31.1, while brides wedded at the median age of 29.6 in 2024. Singapore's resident total fertility rate, which refers to the average number of babies each woman would have during her reproductive years, remained the same in 2024 from the previous year at 0.97. The 0.97 rate was a historic low in 2023, falling from 1.04 in 2022 and 1.12 in 2021. In 2014, around 11 per cent of female residents aged between 40 and 49 who were ever married did not have any children, and this rose to 15 per cent in 2024. The proportion of such women who have one child rose, from 21.6 per cent in 2014 to 25.1 per cent in 2024. According to data from DOS in May, there were a total of 33,703 births in Singapore in 2024. This dropped slightly from 33,541 in 2023 and 35,605 in 2022. Similar to the trend in past years, fewer couples who wed in more recent years ended their marriages compared with those who wed earlier. The marriage dissolution rate before the 10th anniversary in a marriage fell among those who got married between 2006 and 2013, compared with the 2005 cohort. The proportion of couples that ended their marriage before their 10th anniversary fell from 17 per cent among those who wed in 2005 to 15.3 per cent for those who wed in 2012, and continued to decline to 14.4 per cent for those who wed in 2013. The most significant improvement was among Muslim marriages. Around 25 per cent of Muslim couples who wed in 2005 ended their marriage before the 10th anniversary, but this proportion fell to 18.2 per cent in couples who married in 2013. This follows government and community-led initiatives like more marriage preparation courses and marital programmes for couples at different stages of marriage over the years. MSF's report also pointed to a 2024 study by the National Council of Social Service on the quality of life of children, youth and caregivers, which surveyed 2,000 respondents. It found that nine in 10 parents of children and youth reported moderate to high family resilience scores. Resilience refers to the ability to cope with and adapt to challenges, or bounce back from difficult life events. Parents who reported moderate to high family resilience did well in areas like communication and problem-solving, and had strong family belief systems, said the report. "I am encouraged, as the report shows that Singapore continues to be a good place for families. Families are strong and resilient, parents are supported in child-raising, and Singaporeans are embracing a family friendly society," said Masagos. "Our collective efforts have brought us this far, and we must continue building on this." [[nid:712625]] This article was first published in The Straits Times . Permission required for reproduction.
