National Day Rally 2025: Impact on Secondary Students

What changes for secondary students (practical impact)

1. More emphasis on character & citizenship + digital resilience. Schools will lean harder into values, empathy and judgment in an AI era; MOE will deploy more allied educators/teacher counsellors and put greater emphasis on Character & Citizenship Education (CCE). Expect more lessons and activities that train critical thinking about AI output and online content. The Straits Times
2. AI use moves from “avoid/ban” to “guided/critical”. Teachers are encouraged to turn AI use into learning opportunities—critiquing AI answers, showing working, attribution, and responsible use. Students should expect clearer school rules on when/how AI can be used in homework and projects. Prime Minister’s Office
3. Tougher anti-vaping regime, with school-linked education and referrals. Vaping will be treated as a drug issue with stiffer penalties (including jail for sellers of harmful vapes), plus a major public education drivethat explicitly targets youths. Schools will reinforce this with assemblies, CCE lessons, and referrals to cessation/support pathways where needed. CNA
4. More visible well-being supports on campus. With extra counsellors/allied educators, students should see faster access to help for stress, anxiety, online harms or family issues, and more proactive whole-class well-being programmes. The Straits Times
5. Sharper cyber-wellness expectations at home and in school. National guidance highlights limiting early-years screen time and, for older students, building digital resilience (healthy device rules, discerning media habits). Schools will likely tighten device norms and parent partnerships. gov.sg
6. Pathways awareness will start earlier. While the government-funded traineeships target post-secondary/tertiary grads, schools may ramp up talks/expos on industries and AI-enabled jobs so students make better subject/post-secondary choices. CNA