Poly students urged to be bold and innovative in envisioning S'pore's future

Education Minister lists four new pressing issues that future leaders need to tackle

- Elisha Tushara Correspondent

Polytechnic students are encouraged to try to solve national issues amid geopolitical and economic pressures, an ageing population, as well as technological and climate changes.

In envisioning Singapore's future, they should be bold and innovative, while keeping their feet firmly planted on the ground and continuing to pick up new skills, said Education Minister Desmond Lee.

"There will... be opportunities for you to wrestle with the trade-offs as you try to solve complex national issues," said Mr Lee, as he asked students to imagine what education will look like in the future and how life in the city-state can be reimagined.

He made these remarks on Sept 15 in his first appearance as Education Minister at the opening ceremony of Polytechnic Forum 2025, held at Singapore Polytechnic (SP).

Speaking to about 500 student leaders from the five polytechnics in Singapore at the SP Convention Centre, Mr Lee encouraged them to discuss fresh insights and perspectives on what can be done to improve Singapore.

The forum, which runs until Sept 19, is an annual event held since 1996 for participants to engage with national issues through dialogue, learning journeys and activities alongside government and industry leaders.

This year's theme, Our Home Our Singapore, which celebrates six decades of nation-building, asks students to reimagine Singapore as a "Next Gen" city.

The theme in 2024 was Total Defence and the year before that, Green Singapore. In 2022, students discussed how to build a more caring and inclusive society.