comment on national day rally
The Prime Minister put forth several ideas and plans regarding education in his National Day Rally. How realistic do you find these plans and do what extent are they important to the future of Singapore?
In his rally speech, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong addressed the education policies in Singapore. New initiatives are being introduced too. He saw the need for the younger generation of Singaporeans to be more familiar with different languages, instead of being just a bilingual. We should not be complacent with knowledge of English language and our mother tongue. In my opinion, it is an intelligent strategy to implement the Malay Special Programme. By knowing a third language, greater social interaction between the different races is encouraged. In addition, the Regional Studies Programme which is going to be introduced in some secondary schools will create more opportunities for students to participate in exchange programmes and visits to some Southeast Asia countries. It helps to promote our ties with our neighbouring countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia where the vast majority speaks Malay. Moreover, we can made use of opportunities like overseas trips to deepen our understanding of each country’s culture. It is essential to constantly maintain our ties with other countries in the region given the fact that Singapore is a small country with limited resources. Hence, we have to make preparations and pave the path for any emergencies where we have to seek help from the neighbouring countries.
Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong also mention about the plan to build a fourth university in Singapore to create more university places for students. I think it is essential to expand the number of university places for students in order to cater to the number of students. When there are limited vacancies in the university, many will turn to alternatives in getting a degree like for instance, pursue the education abroad. Certain conditions like less stressful lifestyle, higher paid jobs can cause those who are studying overseas to put off their plans in joining the Singapore’s workforce. When this occurs, Singapore will be facing a loss of talents to boost the quality of our workforce and we cannot let this happen. It is a price that we cannot afford to pay if we want to stay competitive in this challenging economy where quality and efficiency of the workforce matters. Therefore, by building a fourth university is important to the future of Singapore.
commentary on top 3 blogs
I refer to Fiona Cher’s commentary on the article “5 out of 100 points enough to enter varsity in Taiwan”.
With regards to this issue, I share her sentiments. The purpose of an education system is to boost literacy rate and prepare students for employment. The so called “cream of the crop” is selected based on criteria like the university admission requirements. They have to meet a certain standard to ensure their capabilities. However, when minimum university admission requirement is lifted, everyone will be able to get promoted even if they are not up to the standard. Hence, Getting into university and graduating with a certificate will be a norm.
Forsake quality for equity? Yes, it is essentially important to ensure that everyone is given equal treatment. However, this situation is similar to entrusting an arduous task to an incapable person. The result will not be ideal. Similarly, undergraduates would not form a high quality workforce and may not be ready to face the challenges in the competitive world of today. Hence, as compared to equity, quality should be preferred.
It seems rather unfair that students in Taiwan are able to secure a place in the university with such low aggregate. One of them even managed to enter the university with a score of less than five points out on average out of 100 for each of the four subjects. On the other hand, the education system in Singapore is so different. As compared to the situation in Singapore, students are required to ace every of their subjects to get into more competitive courses like medicine law. We are taught that only the better ones can “survive” in this competitive society where education holds a significant degree of importance. Only the “cream of the crop” can be promoted to higher education. Thus, we are constantly reminded by parents and teachers to strive and excel in studies to keep up with the changing world. Hence, I think it is not a wise idea to relax university admission in Taiwan.
Can poverty ever be eradicated?
According to Kamala Sarup, Kathmandu, in order for a poor country to be relieved from poverty, it must certain technological abilities. Therefore, a poor country must import technology that produces more and better goods and services for its own people and for producing goods and services for trade with foreigners. However, this requires much capital which the poorer countries are lacking in. Despite loans from organizations like WTO, World Bank, poorer countries may not be able to achieve success in technology due to other factors like geography, economy and polity. The fact is irrefutable. In some cases, in desperation to spur economic development and rid poverty, poor people's basic technological needs are generally overlooked in this process. Local communities' knowledge and skills go unrecognised, and they are given little or no role in choosing, controlling and assessing the impacts of imported technologies.
Though it may be difficult in the process of eradicating poverty, but we should be optimistic about it. I agree with Jeffrey Sachs that we can help people to become more productive through various means like improving health, education, infrastructure and soil. For example, in South Africa and Zimbabwe, they have benefited from the transfer of simple technological solutions such as rainwater harvesting, seed conservation and drip irrigation. With these methods, they would be able to grow crops more efficiently. In some other areas, community-based disease control initiatives like the Practical Action Eastern Africa's community programme in Kenya have decreased the incidence of Chagas disease and the population of tsetse flies respectively. They will be less prone to certain diseases and standard of living can be improved.
These transfer of technologies from other countries marked the progress in these less developed areas and these are signs of success in the expedition to combat poverty. Hence, we should be optimistic towards the success of eradicating poverty.
