S'pore govt to launch ‘Adulting 101’ classes in IHLs, will cover topics like marriage & financial literacy

The government will introduce an "Adulting 101" programme in Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) to better support students as they transition into adulthood.

IHLs include polytechnics, universities, and specialised institutes like Lasalle College of The Arts and the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (NAFA).

The programme is one of over 20 initiatives under the SG Youth Plan, which was launched by President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Minister for Culture, Community and Youth and Senior Minister of State for Education David Neo on Jul. 25.

The plan aims to support Singapore's youths and help them thrive in today's uncertain world. It will be implemented over the next five years.

How to adult

The SG Youth Plan aims to help young Singaporeans build confidence and resilience, said the agencies in a Jul. 25 news release.

To that end, the Ministry for Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) and National Youth Council (NYC) will work with the Ministry of Education (MOE) and other government agencies to develop the Adulting 101 programme for IHL students.

In a media release, the agencies noted that "many youths feel that transiting to adulthood is daunting".

Key topics that will be covered during the classes include financial literacy and management, healthcare, home ownership, career development, relationships and marriage.

Adulthood among top 3 stressors

Between November 2024 and March 2026, MCCY and NYC engaged over 60,000 youths and collected over 415,000 responses from youths and stakeholders as part of the development of the plan.

The engagement found that adulting was among the top three stressors cited by youths, particularly during major life transitions.

More details will be shared closer to the launch of the scheme.