After Workers’ Party has called for it since 1994, Jamus Lim cheers Education Ministry's announcement of smaller class size pilot

Singapore's Member of Parliament Jamus Lim expressed his delight on Monday (Sep 21) over the Ministry of Education's announcement of a pilot project aiming to reduce class sizes in several primary schools. Minister Desmond Lee revealed the news during the Ministry of Education's workplan seminar on Sep 16. Lim, who is an Associate Professor of Economics, has been advocating for smaller class sizes since the Workers' Party (WP) first called for it in 1984, with the backing of its former secretary-general, Low Thia Khiang, a former educator himself.

While determining the impact of class size on student performance remains challenging due to the influence of private tuition, smaller class sizes enable better classroom management and provide students with more personalized attention. They also alleviate teachers' workload, as fewer students lead to a lighter workload. Lim highlighted that he is not only an educator but also a parent, making him a firm believer in the benefits of smaller classes for both teachers and students.

In 2021, Lim had approached MOE to inquire about the possibility of capping Singapore's class sizes at 23, a figure that aligns with the average class size in OECD countries. Presently, the class size in Singapore's primary and secondary schools stands at 33 students, one of the highest among advanced nations. Lim contended that reducing class sizes, particularly in challenging subjects like languages and mathematics, would lower the expenses families incur for private tuition, which he viewed as an implicit tax on households.