Character and Citizenship Education (CCE) has always been at the heart of Singapore's education system. In CCE, students learn to be responsible to family and community; and understand their roles in shaping the future of nation. The emerging trends and global developments that impact the society, such as social changes, globalisation and technological advancements are taken into consideration in the development of the CCE curriculum. The goal of CCE is to inculcate values and build competencies in students to develop them to be good individuals and useful citizens. Since 1959, various key programmes have been introduced to inculcate values, habits, competencies and skills in students. Some of these programmes include Civics and Moral Education (CME, 1992), National Education (NE, 1997), Social and Emotional Learning (SEL, 2005), and learning experiences such as Co-Curricular Activities (CCA).
The new CCE curriculum shifts focus from programmes to a common purpose. The desired outcomes of CCE are aligned to the Key Stage Outcomes (KSOs) and Desired Outcomes of Education (DOE). CCE is central to the Framework for 21st Century Competencies and Student Outcomes. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of the core values, social and emotional competencies and civic literacy, global awareness and cross-cultural skills that are critical for character and citizenship development of students.