From Pressing Problem to Parliamentary Policy: Our Moot Parliament Programme (MPP) Journey

Seventeen Hwa Chong students took part in the 2026 Moot Parliament Programme (MPP), a year-long policy planning programme organised by the Gifted Education Branch. Working in three teams, they researched pressing social issues, drafted proposed legislation and engaged in discussions on public policy and governance before the programme culminated in the Final Debates at Parliament House on 26 August.

HCI Team 6, comprising Cheng Heng Kent (4i2), Reuben Seah Woei Shiun (4i2), Zhao Zilin Wesley (4i3), Low Wen Yang Ayden (4i4), Wong Qian Jun, Brian (4i4), and Zhang Hanwen (4i4), was selected to debate as an Opposition delegation. The team was named Winner of the Round 1 Debate and Best Team (Opposition), while HCI also received the MPP Challenge Shield, its first since 2020!

HCI was also represented by Team 7, comprising Kong Qinghang (4i1), Tan Kai Yuan (4i1), Ethan Lee Yih Herng (4i3), Lim Jing Yang, Josh (4i3), Rutkevych Nikolai (4i4), and Ong Yixian Nixon (4P3); and Team 8, comprising Bai Zi Ang Brayden (3i1), Goy Shuh Xin (3i1), Chia Zhi Yang (3i4), Wong Hong Shyang, Sho (4A2), and Wan Zhi Kai (4i1).

Reuben reflects on the eight-month journey from identifying a social issue to drafting legislation and debating at Parliament House. 

Written by: Reuben Seah Woei Shiun (4i2, 2026)

“Mister Speaker, I beg that the Bill be read a second time.”

Heads hunched over the table. Pens at the ready. Backbenchers peering along the pews, their attention fixed on the lone debater standing at the microphone.

Over the course of eight months, 17 of us embarked on a long journey of policy discussion, refinement and consolidation. With the guidance of a legal professional who served as our expert mentor, as well as two undergraduate law students from NUS or NTU, we worked across three teams towards our final deliverable: a bill that either amended existing legislation or proposed a new law to address a pressing social issue we had identified.

Across the different schools we visited for discussions and activities, we not only had the opportunity to refine our bills with our mentors, but also learnt more about policy planning and governance as a whole. From sessions conducted by representatives from the Attorney-General’s Chambers on bill-writing to lessons on the five stages of the public policy cycle, we gained a better understanding of how policies are formulated and how different measures can be taken to support their implementation in practice.

Writing legislation to address complex social issues was certainly no easy task. From establishing a sui generis duty for persons in close proximity to a child to report suspected abuse, to protecting opportunities for students to participate in internships, and even amending the PDPA to address the needs of an evolving AI landscape, these issues often proved far more complicated than they first appeared.

Throughout the bill-drafting process, our mentors combined their expertise in legal technicalities with insights drawn from past parliamentary debates and case studies. Their guidance helped us navigate the complexities of each issue and clarify the many questions that arose along the way.

HCI Team 6

HCI Team 7

HCI Team 8

After many rounds of discussion and refinement, our three bills were finally submitted. Through the process, we gained a deeper understanding of the complexities of bill drafting and experienced a distilled version of the policy-planning process that governments undertake. We also learnt to think more critically from the perspectives of different stakeholders, considering not only how legal mechanisms might be implemented, but also whether they could produce unintended consequences for other groups.

To our delight, HCI Team 6 was selected to participate as a debating team in the final round of the MPP Debates, held on 26 August at Parliament House. The team opposed a bill introduced by NJC that sought to establish a responsibility for teachers to safeguard students’ welfare. Arguments were exchanged, trade-offs were weighed, and the debate eventually drew to a close with our team emerging victorious.

Our Team 6 debaters in action:

Zhang Hanwen (4i4)

Zhao Zilin Wesley (4i3)

Low Wen Yang Ayden (4i4)

While watching the other debates, some of us also took the opportunity to contribute during the backbenchers’ session, offering our perspectives on the bills under discussion.

At the end of the day, HCI Team 6 was named the winner of its debate and the Best Opposition Team overall. We were even more proud to clinch the MPP Challenge Shield as a school delegation, marking our first win since 2020 and a memorable return to the top.

Looking back, the programme taught us far more than policy planning. It taught us the importance of empathy when shaping public policy, and the need for nuance when addressing complex social issues. Just as importantly, it gave us the opportunity to connect with other youths who share the same interest in governance and public policy.

The curtains may have fallen on our MPP journey, but our interest in bill drafting and public policy will certainly extend far beyond the programme.

“Parliament is now adjourned!”