👨‍💼💬 National Day Rally 2024: All you need to know

There’s a big announcement on shared parental leave, and on the 40-year-old Gifted Education Programme. ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     ͏ ‌     August 18, 2024 [Singapore PM Lawrence Wong’s maiden National Day Rally, in 90 seconds](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0SgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbmF0aW9uYWwtZGF5LXJhbGx5LTIwMjQtbmRyLWtleS10aGluZ3Mta25vdy00NTUzMTU2P2NpZD1icmF6ZS1jbmFfQ05BLU5EUjIwMjRfbmV3c2xldHRlcl8xODA4MjAyNF9jbmEmbGlkPThscjM5czE2Z254ZVcDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) Once a year, the Prime Minister of Singapore delivers arguably the country’s most important political speech – the National Day Rally. Tonight was PM Lawrence Wong’s first, where he declared the government will help Singaporeans realise a “refreshed Singapore dream”. ~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0SgaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbmF0aW9uYWwtZGF5LXJhbGx5LTIwMjQtbmRyLWtleS10aGluZ3Mta25vdy00NTUzMTU2P2NpZD1icmF6ZS1jbmFfQ05BLU5EUjIwMjRfbmV3c2xldHRlcl8xODA4MjAyNF9jbmEmbGlkPW83NGNobmYxNDM1dVcDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~ (Photo: CNA/Wallace Woon)   "Realising our new ambitions will require a major reset – a major reset in policies, to be sure; but also a reset in our attitudes." PM LAWRENCE WONG   Here are the highlights of his speech: 1. He went big on families - A new Shared Parental Leave scheme will give working parents [10 weeks of paid leave](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvcGFyZW50YWwtbGVhdmUtMTAtd2Vla3MtZmF0aGVycy1wYXRlcm5pdHktbmRyLW5hdGlvbmFsLWRheS1yYWxseS0yMDI0LTQ1NTA3MTY_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9eXhtYW15Zjd5Nmd5VwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) when it's fully rolled out in April 2026 – a total of 30 weeks between both parents - There’ll be more support for couples having a third child, and those with even more kids. - Fees at government-supported preschools will be lowered to match the cost of primary school and student care. - From mid-2025, [singles will get priority access](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvYnRvLWhkYi1mbGF0cy1zaW5nbGVzLXByaW9yaXR5LWdyYW50cy1uYXRpb25hbC1kYXktcmFsbHktbmRyLTIwMjQtNDU1MzE3MT9jaWQ9YnJhemUtY25hX0NOQS1ORFIyMDI0X25ld3NsZXR0ZXJfMTgwODIwMjRfY25hJmxpZD1qOHFhNWFsNzZ4eGNXA3NwY0IKZrvL_8FmwZI8vFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAACj) to BTO flats to live with or near their parents. - Lower-income couples looking to get their first homes will get a higher Enhanced CPF Housing Grant. 2. He’s making the [Gifted Education Programme](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvZ2VwLWdpZnRlZC1lZHVjYXRpb24tcHJvZ3JhbW1lLXByaW1hcnktc2Nob29scy1uYXRpb25hbC1kYXktcmFsbHktMjAyNC1uZHItNDU1MzExNj9jaWQ9YnJhemUtY25hX0NOQS1ORFIyMDI0X25ld3NsZXR0ZXJfMTgwODIwMjRfY25hJmxpZD00NDhpamZ4Y2w2aWlXA3NwY0IKZrvL_8FmwZI8vFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAACj) for primary schools more accessible - Today, GEP students are sent to 1 of 9 schools offering the programme. This will end. - Every school will be equipped to identify and develop their own “high-ability learners”. 3. He’s introducing an [unemployment support scheme](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvaW52b2x1bnRhcnktdW5lbXBsb3ltZW50LWpvYnNlZWtlci1zdXBwb3J0LW5hdGlvbmFsLWRheS1yYWxseS0yMDI0LW5kci00NTUzMTYxP2NpZD1icmF6ZS1jbmFfQ05BLU5EUjIwMjRfbmV3c2xldHRlcl8xODA4MjAyNF9jbmEmbGlkPW91N2dqeW5ldWgxa1cDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) that’ll give lower- and middle-income workers up to S$6,000 over 6 months. 4. He shared what the Kallang area will look like in the future - It will have a new indoor arena that will fit 18,000 people, more than the Indoor Stadium. - The main road through the Sports Hub will be converted into a boulevard for pedestrians. - The [Singapore Sports School](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbmF0aW9uYWwtZGF5LXJhbGx5LTIwMjQtbGF3cmVuY2Utd29uZy10ZWFtLXNpbmdhcG9yZS1zcG9ydHMtc2Nob29sLTQ1NTMxNDE_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9aDhyY3Jncmlwa2YwVwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) will be moving to the area from Woodlands. Dive into the details [Parents of newborns to get extra 10 weeks of shared leave; total paid leave to increase to 7.5 months](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S6aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvcGFyZW50YWwtbGVhdmUtMTAtd2Vla3MtZmF0aGVycy1wYXRlcm5pdHktbmRyLW5hdGlvbmFsLWRheS1yYWxseS0yMDI0LTQ1NTA3MTY_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9a201OGQydjY3bWJ6VwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) [GEP will be revamped to cater to more students, all primary schools to offer high-ability programmes](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S_aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvZ2VwLWdpZnRlZC1lZHVjYXRpb24tcHJvZ3JhbW1lLXByaW1hcnktc2Nob29scy1uYXRpb25hbC1kYXktcmFsbHktMjAyNC1uZHItNDU1MzExNj9jaWQ9YnJhemUtY25hX0NOQS1ORFIyMDI0X25ld3NsZXR0ZXJfMTgwODIwMjRfY25hJmxpZD16ZjI2bW1yandpam1XA3NwY0IKZrvL_8FmwZI8vFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAACj) [Singles applying for BTO flats near parents to have priority; low-income couples to get higher grant](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S2aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvYnRvLWhkYi1mbGF0cy1zaW5nbGVzLXByaW9yaXR5LWdyYW50cy1uYXRpb25hbC1kYXktcmFsbHktbmRyLTIwMjQtNDU1MzE3MT9jaWQ9YnJhemUtY25hX0NOQS1ORFIyMDI0X25ld3NsZXR0ZXJfMTgwODIwMjRfY25hJmxpZD0yczhyOTFyOXZ6NXRXA3NwY0IKZrvL_8FmwZI8vFIbdHJpc3RyYW1iYWxkd2luOTBAZ21haWwuY29tWAQAAACj) [Singapore to aid involuntarily unemployed with up to S$6,000 but jobseekers 'must do their part' too](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S7aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvaW52b2x1bnRhcnktdW5lbXBsb3ltZW50LWpvYnNlZWtlci1zdXBwb3J0LW5hdGlvbmFsLWRheS1yYWxseS0yMDI0LW5kci00NTUzMTYxP2NpZD1icmF6ZS1jbmFfQ05BLU5EUjIwMjRfbmV3c2xldHRlcl8xODA4MjAyNF9jbmEmbGlkPXhxZTd6bnBvaXM0YlcDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) [Singapore Sports School to move to Kallang Alive precinct as part of masterplan](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbmF0aW9uYWwtZGF5LXJhbGx5LTIwMjQtbGF3cmVuY2Utd29uZy10ZWFtLXNpbmdhcG9yZS1zcG9ydHMtc2Nob29sLTQ1NTMxNDE_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9dDJyYmEyZjk1d3k0VwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) [Singapore to review rules and processes to reduce regulatory burden for businesses](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S0aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvcnVsZXMtcmVndWxhdGlvbnMtYnVzaW5lc3Nlcy1yZXZpZXctbmF0aW9uYWwtZGF5LXJhbGx5LTIwMjQtbmRyLTQ1NTMxOTY_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9eWZxcGVqZjdicXllVwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) [In push for bilingualism, more students to be allowed to study Higher Mother Tongue in secondary schools](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0S3aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbmRyLTIwMjQtYmlsaW5ndWFsaXNtLXN0dWR5LWhpZ2hlci1tb3RoZXItdG9uZ3VlLXNlY29uZGFyeS1zY2hvb2xzLTQ1NTMzMDE_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9ZjcwamR0cnJyYjR5VwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) [How the Gifted Education Programme has evolved through the years](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0SoaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS9zaW5nYXBvcmUvbmRyLTIwMjQtaG93LWdpZnRlZC1lZHVjYXRpb24tcHJvZ3JhbW1lLWhhcy1ldm9sdmVkLTQ1NTMzNTE_Y2lkPWJyYXplLWNuYV9DTkEtTkRSMjAyNF9uZXdzbGV0dGVyXzE4MDgyMDI0X2NuYSZsaWQ9ZmIzeG95aWRia2FoVwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) In Full: National Day Rally 2024 [[ratio] Â](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0QraHR0cHM6Ly93d3cueW91dHViZS5jb20vd2F0Y2g_dj1VcWR3SzB2RGtSMFcDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) ADVERTISEMENT [Ad](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0TMaHR0cHM6Ly9pbmJveC1hZHRhcmdldGluZy5tZWRpYWNvcnAuc2cvYWRzL2NsaWNrP2xpZD1nMzhueGpiazcxdGomY2lkPTIyYmNlNzY1LTBhOGQtNGQzZS1iNTQ4LWY2OTI0ZWRlNmU3NyQmdGFnX2lkPXNDbGRhTmpYd0lzJmVtYWlsPXRyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbSZzc29faWQ9MDU0NThiZDEtYWM4Zi00OTcwLWE2Y2MtNWJmYjFjOWMxMzU2VwNzcGNCCma7y__BZsGSPLxSG3RyaXN0cmFtYmFsZHdpbjkwQGdtYWlsLmNvbVgEAAAAow~~) [CNA](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0QxaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS8_bGlkPTRzOHpxY3Y5NHlxeFcDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) • [CNA Lifestyle](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0Q6aHR0cHM6Ly9jbmFsaWZlc3R5bGUuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS8_bGlkPXd6c3Y3dnFnMWRoY1cDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) • [CNA Luxury](~/AAQRxQA~/RgRopITLP0Q3aHR0cHM6Ly9jbmFsdXh1cnkuY2hhbm5lbG5ld3Nhc2lhLmNvbS8_bGlkPWRwNmJuZzg0YXo2bVcDc3BjQgpmu8v_wWbBkjy8Uht0cmlzdHJhbWJhbGR3aW45MEBnbWFpbC5jb21YBAAAAKM~) Like what you read? 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