Your Way Home with Hongbin Jeong

From November 2027, all full-time preschool teachers in Singapore will be guaranteed at least two hours of non-teaching time each week, giving them dedicated time to plan lessons, prepare resources, document children’s development and engage with parents. The move comes as workload remains the top factor affecting preschool educators’ well-being, according to an ECDA survey released in August. But with some centres already stretched for manpower, how will the new requirement work on the ground? And will two hours a week be enough to ease teachers’ workload and improve the quality of care for children? On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr Su Fen Cheong, Founder and CEO of Preschool Market and Associate Faculty at the Singapore University of Social Sciences, to find out more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever experienced a lift breakdown in your HDB block? Both lifts at Block 516 Bedok North Avenue 2 broke down on October 4, leaving residents to climb multiple flights of stairs for hours. One lift had already been out of service for more than a week before the second lift failed, raising concerns about the impact on elderly residents and those with mobility issues. On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong, Nadiah Koh and Alexandra Parada discuss the incident and how residents cope when lifts break down. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore plans to roll out a new national system in 2027 to block access to websites linked to phishing and malware, as part of its refreshed cybersecurity strategy. On The Big Story, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Dr. Weihan Goh, Associate Professor at the Singapore Institute of Technology, about how the Protective Domain Name Service will work and whether it can offer meaningful protection against cyber threats. With malware-infected computer systems detected in Singapore more than doubling from about 117,000 in 2024 to over 284,000 in 2025, they also examine how AI is changing the cyber threat landscape and whether this new approach can help Singapore get ahead of increasingly sophisticated attacks. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stocks, crypto and digital investments might be what you associate with Gen Z, but two young Singaporeans are making a case for something more traditional: gold and silver. On The Agenda, Hongbin Jeong speaks with Big Bullion co-founders Charmaine Chua and Ian Chan about building a precious metals business in their mid-20s, from starting out online to opening a physical store at Golden Mile Tower. They also discuss the growing interest in gold and silver among younger Singaporeans, why these traditional assets are catching their attention, and what this reveals about how Gen Z approaches investing and financial security. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singaporeans often head to Johor Bahru for cheaper food, groceries and everyday essentials. But what if moving across the Causeway doesn’t actually save you money? On What’s Trending, Hongbin Jeong and Nadiah Koh discuss the experience of a 37-year-old Singaporean father whose family’s monthly expenses rose by 10 to 20 per cent after relocating to Johor in 2022. So, is moving to JB really about saving money, or getting more out of what you spend? Would you take on the commute and immigration queues for a bigger home and more space, even if your expenses went up? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.