Audrey Wong Wai Yen
Singapore
“A means to bring people together with unity and not uniformity, meaning not to replicate programmes over and over again unless there is indeed interest within their respective fields. The Member's third point really is raising standards.”
“Therefore, I hope MICA will allocate funds for more research and scholarship on arts, culture and heritage, including resourcing critical writing platforms in Singapore, whether print or online, and tapping into the expertise and experience of writers, curators and critics living and working in Singapore.”
“There are certainly still areas for debate which other Members of the House have already raised: how to increase productivity levels and reduce dependence on foreign workers – just to name two ongoing long-term issues.”
“There is a saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and so a strong society is one where its leadership pays attention to those on the lowest rung of the economic ladder to enhance not only the material and economic well-being but also the social well-being of its people.”
“I think that where business is concerned, a lot of companies will find different ways and means to earn extra income and to get around the rules, and I hope that the Ministry will continue to be vigilant to some of these practices.”
“However, as a Bill that protects the family and especially the rights of children, the Women's Charter continues to be an extremely important piece of legislation for our society, and I thank the MCYS Minister for proposing the amendments. With that, I support the Bill. 5.40 pm”
The complete record
Every one of 130 lines we hold for Audrey Wong Wai Yen, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 1 of 3.
“A means to bring people together with unity and not uniformity, meaning not to replicate programmes over and over again unless there is indeed interest within their respective fields. The Member's third point really is raising standards. To date, we have about 200 seats for CET training across a variety of fields and that is done, for example, with Tisch as well as some of our own institutions. I think going forward, we are actually working not only with WDA, which funds some of the CET today, but also with our own institutes of higher learning, institutions like polytechnics, ITEs, and so on, to try and develop more appropriate programmes, including, as I have mentioned earlier, one of the things that we are going to introduce is a Specialised Diploma in Art Education.”
“So rather than let them be run by NAC and then have them very centralised, very similar, very uniformed, we are hoping that there would be people on the ground would be able to take care of the hubs. Where NAC can help is actually in terms of funding and training for instructors, for technical people and so on. Having said that, this is our thinking on this. We will have to see whether it really works because I do agree with the Member that sometimes we can build the facilities but, in terms of programming, in terms if making sure that it runs properly, that is quite another set of skills altogether. I am not so sure that we have a gap in skills as opposed to having sufficient people with the right set of skills. And that, I think, is the challenge. When, for example, the IRs came out, they are having "Voyage de la Vie" and "Lion King" and so on. In the preparation, they were really pulling a lot of people with the technical know-how out of the industry into their sphere. And because they were able to pay better, we – meaning NAC and our institutions – actually lost some of our people as well. Less so a gap in skills as opposed to having insufficient numbers per se. Creative Lifestyle@Work Fund. Yes, we can aggregate the information and we can make it more readily available but what we are hoping for is that companies will take it upon themselves to find creative ways to use these funds to seed programmes that will more readily engage their people. Some of them could have danced in school, in the university; some of them could have been playing instruments; some of them could have been interested in anime, for example. We want the companies to be creative rather than for us to dictate.”
“Sir, I would like to first thank the Minister for elaborating on the initiatives to make arts, culture and heritage part of our lives and I think we are in for exciting times ahead. There are three points on which I would like to seek clarifications. First is about the regional arts hubs and the heartland performing arts centres. My first question is, who would be running these? Second question, in relation to this is, in order for these hubs to run successfully, you need the people with the know-how to run them, you know whether it is technical production or curatorial expertise. So do we have a gap in these skills? Does MICA have a plan to develop this pool of people? Second clarification is on the Creative Lifestyle@Work Fund, which I think is a really new initiative and quite exciting. The question is, how will the companies and individuals, that want to implement arts and cultural programmes in the workplace, find the information to help them do so? How would they find, for instance, arts workshop providers, facilitators, concerts and such programmes? Information about our local arts is scattered at the moment. Would MICA consider some kind of structure to aggregate all these information about what is available so that it makes it easier for the companies to launch programmes? My third point for clarification is about the question of raising professional standards for the broadcast and production sector. I would like to know if MICA or MDA has a framework for CET and continuing professional development for the sector. RAdm [NS] Lui Tuck Yew: On the regional arts hubs: we are hoping that the people on the ground will be able to run these.”
“Let me take the House back to the year 1984 when the first episode of the Chinese television drama, "The Awakening" or "雾锁南洋" was telecast by the Singapore Broadcasting Corporation. It was a sensation. Our very own home-grown blockbuster television series, showing us the Singapore of our grandparents and parents. Today, we have "The Little Nonya" and other television series, some of which have a following in other countries. I am sure making "The Awakening" was a risk as our television audience was still used to a diet of foreign dramas. That is one reason to be thankful for Public Service Broadcasting. With the scrapping of radio and TV licence fees, people are understandably seeking assurance from MDA that the quantity and quality of broadcasting will not diminish. The value of PSB is that it goes beyond narrow commercial and advertisers' interests. It promotes social cohesion rather than sensationalism. I am glad the Minister has announced more arts and culture programming in the media. And I also hope that there will be more and better current affairs and children programmes. Like Mr Baey, I also would like us to look into radio programming and to developing radio as a medium for our cultural needs as well as for communication and more creative programming.”
“Sir, since I started my NMP term, I have received many emails from actors, talents and production crew about production companies delaying payment to them – in many cases, not paying them at all. In one recent case, a talent management company tallied up the total owed to them and to other individuals for a film production and the amount came up to over $300,000. The welfare of crew and talents, health and safety protection is also an issue. Sir, there is a need to increase professionalism and raise the business in ethical standards in the local production and broadcast industry. Would MICA consider measures to do this? For instance, encouraging staff of production companies as well as those who work freelance, to acquire relevant skills or to upgrade in areas like financial and human resource management and corporate governance. Or, perhaps MICA could consider adopting a principle of "Best Sourcing" and award grants and commission work to those production companies that demonstrate sound professional practices, so as to encourage the industry to raise its standards all round and ensure fair treatment of all who work in the sector, which I believe still has potential to grow, despite Mr Calvin Cheng's caveats. After all, Singapore is a very media-savvy population and I think we need to take advantage of this while we can.”
“Therefore, I hope MICA will allocate funds for more research and scholarship on arts, culture and heritage, including resourcing critical writing platforms in Singapore, whether print or online, and tapping into the expertise and experience of writers, curators and critics living and working in Singapore. Encouraging more scholarships and academic research in our museums is also important as that will enhance the quality, sustainability and vibrancy of the arts and heritage sector in the long term. 6.45 pm Finally, artists need audiences, and arts awareness is best developed from a young age. Thus, it is also crucial to set aside resources for the long-term development of arts-in-education practices and arts in school and for the continuing professionalisation of the arts education in Arts-in-Education sector. We also need to devote resources to develop expertise in creating, organising and presenting community arts and outreach projects. And in this way, we can then have arts and culture permeating more of our society. Short film grant”
“They host artists, writers and performers for a period of time and it gives the creatives the time to reflect and exchange ideas with their peers and time to incubate new works – that is to perform R&D. Here is an example of how an artist does research – Monday’s Straits Times featured an interview with Ho Tzu Nyen [shows hon. Members a news article ] who will represent Singapore in this year's Venice Biennale, the world’s oldest art international biennale art show. Tzu Nyen has become an internationally respected young contemporary artist. The article describes the process of research and development that Tzu Nyen undertakes for his artworks. Currently, he is working with collaborators on how to create clouds indoors for the Venice Biennale art piece. In this photograph, Members can see that he is trying out something to do with clouds, I believe. The article continues, "each new project typically plunges him into a monkish existence that lasts for weeks, marked by long hours of study into the topic’s facets in the areas of literature, history, science, and his pet subject, philosophy." To some extent, this artist has made adjustments in his lifestyle in order to devote his time and resources to his R&D. He and his wife live with his wife’s mother in a Tampines flat rather than buying their own flat. It is not just the artist’s own R&D that takes resources. The artist also requires critical feedback, and as Tzu Nyen’s example shows, he actually relies on other scholars and writers in the humanities, arts and social sciences for stimulation and working materials.”
“This is as true for the creation of new artistic and design works as it is in science and technology. And for Singapore to be a true global art city, we need good quality local content that is on par with international standards. In recent years, MICA has recognised the importance of nurturing new original content – the National Arts Council’s Arts Creation Fund is one example, which seed-funds the creation of new literary, visual art and performing artworks. I speak for many in the arts who hope that the increased funding for arts and culture will include resources for content creation by local artists. This includes, better resourcing of existing programmes and venues in Singapore, which are dedicated to new content creation and nurturing artists in their knowledge and their craft. For instance, these might include programmes at The Arts House, The Substation, the Esplanade, just to name a few organisations. We could also resource programmes that run over the medium or long term to allow artists to mature and develop major projects, such as longer-term residency programmes where artists have access to studio or rehearsal space, training opportunities, matching with collaborators and additional investors and access to technology. For Members of the House who are not familiar with how the artistic process works through a residency programme, please allow me to explain what a residency is. Artist residency programmes are not uncommon around the world and these are programmes that could be hosted by a museum, even by a library, an arts centre or by an arts organisation.”
“Some I know have become teachers – which is a good thing as they pass on their knowledge and passion to the younger generation – but others leave the sector altogether, and so I believe there is certain degree "talent drain" and "brain drain". How do we build up our sector’s capabilities so that talents are not just retained but actually can flourish? In the area of leadership development, I am sure that we will find visionaries and talents in our midst and we should aim to have our local institutions staffed and led by local talents who could walk into leadership positions anywhere in the world. I think this is something we should aim for. So how can MICA work together with the arts and culture sector, leveraging on existing know-how of private or public organisations, to build up our human resource capabilities, groom leadership and build capacity? It is clearly a task that MICA cannot do alone, it involves many stakeholders and I would suggest close partnerships with the private and people sector to drive this. Research and development for arts, heritage and culture Finally, my fourth cut on research and development for arts, heritage and culture. I would like to start here by quoting from Mr Lee Boon Yang, former Minister for MICA, as cited in the Renaissance City Plan III in 2008: "the nurturing of more artistic talents will take time. Perhaps even more time than it takes to build museums and concert halls. But this is an endeavour that we are committed to in order to ensure that the arts and culture in Singapore will always be able to stimulate, educate and anchor our people in this fast-changing world." Creativity thrives on innovation, and innovation comes from knowledge, research and experimentation.”
“Would MICA consider doing more to encourage corporate philanthropy and more innovative forms of philanthropy for arts, culture and heritage? Capacity-building for the arts sector Next, I move on to capacity-building for the arts sector. Madam, as the arts and creative industries have grown in the past decade, contributing to GDP and employment, they have also developed a need for capacity-building in the sector. And Mr Zaqy has also spoken on this earlier. We need skilled workers, talents, and leaders to drive sustainability and excellence. There is growing demand for professional development for not just the creative talent but also the backroom staff, the administrators, the technical personnel. These personnel include a wide range of jobs from art conservators to specialist art movers, exhibition designers, stage managers and so on. However, many organisations and companies in the creative sector are small scale and do not have the resources to plan proper professional development for their personnel. And we have just been talking in the MOM debate about productivity, training and so on. So how can we extend this to the creative and cultural sector? In addition, many artists and creatives actually work independently. For this group, the skills of self-managing careers, financial know-how and so on, are needed. Among this group, many do not receive regular CPF contributions or have a regular income, and this affects how far they can go. I have met many people who have given up trying to be an artist or even pursuing a "backroom" career in the sector even though they received formal training and many worked full-time for a few years.”
“So I have one main question with respect to "arts for all" – which is how can we better integrate and co-ordinate among all the different activities, organisations and agencies across the broad spectrum of arts, culture and heritage that take care of arts from city centre to the neighbourhoods? For instance, from the PA to National Heritage Board, National Arts Council, schools as well as individual arts groups. How can we do this so as to achieve greater appreciation and participation? Encouraging private sponsorship Next, encouraging private sponsorship. A thriving arts and culture scene depends on extensive support of the people, public and private sector. Private sponsorship, however, appears to be growing rather slowly. I mentioned in the debate on the Finance Minister’s Budget speech that the figures for arts sponsorship alone from 2000 to 2008 remained fairly consistent. But the figures for overall arts and cultural philanthropy actually increased to $47.7 million in 2007. This is overall philanthropy and not just for the arts. There was also a heartening increase in donations and loans of artefacts to the museums with the value of artefact donations hitting $2.36 million in 2006. With the number of major companies, financial institutions and high net worth individuals in Singapore, and with Singapore's economy doing very well, sponsorship should logically be increasing. Indeed, private and corporate support can actually take many different forms and not just cash donations and sponsorships. Support could include provision of space and artist studios, commissioning artwork and incorporating arts and culture in the workplace.”
“Madam, according to statistics from the National Arts Council, a population survey on the arts conducted in 2005 found that 62% of the population felt that arts and cultural activities enriched their lives and 57% thought that arts allowed them to broaden their minds and encourage creativity. This is very encouraging. In the Heritage Awareness Survey in 2006, more than 90% of respondents felt that it was vital to preserve Singapore’s heritage for current and future generations. Madam, these findings reveal that awareness of the value of culture, arts and heritage has increased substantially. But, despite these findings, talk to the average Singaporean and they will tell you that Singaporeans are not well-versed in arts and culture; they would rather watch a TV soap opera or movie blockbuster than go to the theatre, art gallery or museum. Yet, it is undeniable that arts and cultural activities have increased in our heartlands through grassroots organisations, CCs, the PA and through the schools as well – Mr Yeo has also mentioned this. In fact, I attended a performance at a community centre which attracted nearly 1,000 people and that was very heartwarming. A laudable example of an initiative that involves the young and the community is the National Heritage Board's "Heritage Trails" project. This also included students designing learning trails through a heritage area. However, the perception is that the public are still largely unaware of these efforts. The arts and cultural sector is not only the professionalised sector that we see at the Esplanade and the city-centre venues – it includes the community and localised events.”
“Sir, I would like to echo the calls by Mr Chan and Mr Yeo for more support for caregivers. Very often, the primary responsibility of caregiving for elderly parents falls on one child. This might be a married child with children or single, and increasingly remaining single, or a single parent. The emotional and financial burden is sometimes not fairly distributed among all the siblings. So, is there any means for us to offer more support to the primary carer for the elderly parents? For instance, have caregiver's leave so that the carer can take the parents to see the doctor in the same way that we have childcare leave. Perhaps an allowance for the primary caregiver, depending on income level. Also, for instance, giving more weightage to the primary carer's financial situation and financial obligations when we calculate the subsidies for healthcare, long-term care, day care, and so on. Here, I would also like to echo Ms Irene Ng's call to review the subsidy caps – the per capita income per household caps for qualification for these subsidies. I think we need to look into the emotional and psychological well-being of these carers as well, as we go into an ageing society.”
“There are certainly still areas for debate which other Members of the House have already raised: how to increase productivity levels and reduce dependence on foreign workers – just to name two ongoing long-term issues. The dissatisfaction expressed by ordinary Singaporeans so far, I believe, is a question of our expectations and aspirations. We need to guard against creating a social compact that is just transactional. Rather, our project in the coming years should include that of "ensouling" ourselves in order to realise the aspiration of the "best home for all'. With that, I support the Budget. 4.14 pm”
“I believe such a placement under Lifestyle entrenches a consumerist attitude towards culture. Also, the Lifestyle section tends to be dominated by celebrity gossip, and not only local celebrity gossip but Hollywood gossip, Taiwan entertainment scenes, and so on. This encourages the public to associate Lifestyle with the frivolous or disposable. I was also very interested when I was reading the online coverage of the Budget speech that there was no discussion of the increase in funding for arts and culture on the same evening, although there was a lot written about many other initiatives that were unveiled. I think this subtly reveals a certain attitude in our media. One suggestion that some people in the arts community have proposed is to consider guidelines to increase the proportion of local arts content in our media – for radio to play more local music, television to produce more local and arts-related programmes, cinemas to show a proportion of locally-made films, and even the museums to include a percentage of local works and artists in their annual programmes. This might foster pride in our own cultural offerings. We might learn some lessons from the Korean experience here. One of the commonly cited reasons for the rise of the Korean pop culture wave was actually the government's committed support for made-in-Korea content. I look forward to the day when we have a Singaporean wave going out into the world. I look forward to more details from the MICA Minister for the new initiatives for arts and culture going forward. Sir, to conclude, the Singapore Government has provided well for the people. The sound financial policies means that the majority of Singaporeans will benefit from the Budget this year.”
“2009, because of the recession, saw arts sponsorship falling drastically to $22 million. We cannot afford to just leave arts and cultural support to the Government alone – the private sector can come in to provide all kinds of support, including space for creation, programmes in corporate offices, and so on. We should look at developing more innovative corporate sponsorship practices. Better dialogue between Government, private and people sectors, that is, the practitioners and groups at community and professional level, is also needed in order to more fully develop the sector. Finally, the wide-ranging support for the project of "ensouling" Singapore requires another important partner, that is, the media. It is widely acknowledged among arts practitioners that the coverage of arts and culture in the local media is currently inadequate. It does not do enough to provide the public with the means to develop a deeper appreciation of the arts. It is not a question about providing more coverage. It is also about analysis, reflection and a change in attitude towards arts and culture, to go beyond seeing them as luxury items or something for the elite to dabble in. Media discussion and coverage of local artists in a knowledgeable fashion would also foster recognition of Singapore's own artists and their contributions. Currently, even though there has been a lot of publicity, a lot of buzz, about Singapore's art scene, few Singaporeans can name local artists even those who are successful in the international arena. Going to the online portal of our major news channels such as the Straits Times or Channel News Asia, one will find that there are no sections, separate tabs for arts and culture. It is subsumed under Lifestyle.”
“With online media being such an important feature of life today, even for the literary arts which traditionally depended on print, one should reasonably expect MICA to resource online publications and nurture the development of critical platforms for the discussion of arts and culture. Another initiative I would like to suggest is to look more deeply into arts and education and community arts programmes. The next stage of our arts development will be about reaching more Singaporeans and getting them to participate in arts and cultural activities. We should, at such community programmes and arts education programmes, go beyond mere exposure to broader, cross-disciplinary approaches that enable students and the public to see arts and culture as part of a greater whole. And this means practitioners with knowledge of best practices and methodologies, the development of more sophisticated programmes, such as programmes in schools where the Arts is combined with other subject domains such as Physics, Chemistry or Geography. Effective programmes require strong partnerships between the Government, people and private sectors. We need this partnership. I must commend the Government for its efforts to develop private sponsorship. However, I would like to note that the rates of sponsorship in arts are not increasing at the same pace as the overall development of the sector. The figures for arts sponsorship – solely sponsorship for the arts which does not include heritage, as reported through the National Arts Council – do not make for encouraging reading. While arts activities quadrupled between 1997 and 2007, the amounts for arts sponsorship between 2000 and 2008 remained fairly consistent at the $37 million mark annually.”
“To be honest, the artists I have spoken to are approaching the news of the additional funding with guarded optimism. Some are sceptical that things will improve, particularly for local artists, many of whom, including Cultural Medallion winners, are struggling to find affordable studio spaces or even housing, although they are already nearing retirement. There is a concern that additional funding and the arts will go towards international events like the recently-concluded art fair – Art Stage – or attracting more foreign productions. I believe that one key strategy, in order to develop content and to root culture in us, is to invest in capacity-building – developing talents, giving them time and space to create artistic works, as well as to enable the enablers – the production and administrative people behind-the-scenes. This means adequately resourcing existing arts organisations so that they can run incubation and content development programmes over the medium and long term. Initiatives should be sustained as results in arts and culture do not occur overnight. In addition, the creation of quality work requires two essential elements which so far have not been adequately supported by existing funding – that is, research and criticism. Research in the arts is not only carried out by academics: artists perform research into materials, methodologies and other aspects of the craft. Resourcing practitioners to do such research is important as well as resourcing more academic research in arts and cultural issues such as impact studies. Supporting and nurturing platforms for discussion of arts and cultural issues and practices are also important.”
“This involves developing the talents who create the content and make it meaningful to the public because ultimately, what makes a global city tick is its heartbeat, which is founded on the soul of its people. But, today, even among arts attendees, many approach arts with a consumerist mentality or a 5C's mentality: of acquisition, escapism and temporary relief from the stress of daily pursuit of material assets. If we are to be a global city with a soul, we should pay attention to our identity, to what roots us to this country, our heritage, our history, our literature, our values. Going further, it requires us to lose our apprehension of intellectual thinking and profundity, where "cheem" in Singapore's slang is a negative word. Without reflection, a city has no soul. I quote the Victorian writer, Matthew Arnold, who argued the cause of education for all. This was in the 1800s. He said, "Culture is a study of perfection, and perfection which insists on becoming something rather than in having something, in an inward condition of the mind and spirit, not in an outward set of circumstances." We should aspire to culture as an inward quality – not simply to increase the number of arts and cultural activities but to enable Singaporeans to understand more fully the places that they come from, the stories of their predecessors, their reasons for being. I am happy to say that I believe we have already started on this path. Projects such as the National Heritage Board's Heritage Trails and Heritage Town initiatives, which involve the community, are steps in the right direction. So, the question to ask and the question that the arts community has also been discussing, is how can additional funding for the arts be applied to the work of rooting culture among the people?”
“We should be careful that we – both the people and Government – do not end up inadvertently creating a social compact which is based on mere transactional relationships. This kind of relationship does not promote social cohesion or inclusive growth. Our society must be bound by values and an ethos that goes beyond materialism. We should strive to be a society where civic consciousness prevails and where there is pride in being Singaporean. Today, many Singaporeans are caught up in a consumerist pursuit of the 5C's. Having attained the 5Cs, they look for the "upgraded" 5Cs: not just a condo but a luxury home; not just a credit card but a platinum card, and so on. This has implications for our mission of making Singapore "the best home for all". A home is not based on material things. So, we need to think about "ensouling" Singapore, enhancing the intangible aspects of life here that make it worth living. In this respect, the Finance Minister's announcement of the additional $360 million for programme expenditure in arts and culture over the next five years is welcome news indeed. Arts and culture is part of the intangible assets of any society. For the past decade, artists and arts commentators have called on the Government to turn its attention to arts and cultural software development. Having buildings like the Esplanade, renovated the National Museum – and renovated beautifully, I might add – and now developing the National Art Gallery, the focus now is to turn to the content and, particularly, Singaporean content that will fill these buildings.”
“There are implications on many other aspects of life in Singapore. For instance, costs could be a factor for married couples' decision whether or not to have children or to have one, two, three or more. It also affects the ordinary Singaporeans' capability to care for their ageing parents, and so on, and so forth. We must also continue to alleviate the pressures on the lowest income group in our society and I believe this involves more than having schemes like ComCare, WorkFare, encouraging skills upgrading, and so on. It is also ensuring that all Singaporeans have access to affordable healthcare, childcare, elderly care, transport, and daily necessities. Thus, a low-priced, extensive, efficient public transport system, low-priced hawker centres and wet markets in housing estates should be considered essential amenities for public benefit. We should guard against handing over too many of these amenities to private hands although it makes business sense. That often leads to higher rents for stallholders and higher prices for the consumer and these simply add to the stress of living. Without doubt, the Government has provided magnificently well for the majority of Singaporeans. But, again, as they provide well for us, our expectations then just keep going higher. Take public housing, for instance. As Singaporeans come to expect more from their HDB flats, the HDB provided more varied types of housing, better landscaping, townships with all kinds of amenities and upgrading. We get benefits in many other areas too. As soon as a Singaporean is born, he receives money, starting with the Baby Bonus. Singaporeans, however, are caught in a cycle of "keeping up with the Joneses" and this leads us to making more demands on the Government.”
“Of course, one should take into account the fact that many who post comments online are outspoken critics of the Government and would tend to be critical no matter what the Government does. Nevertheless, I was still surprised by this and wondered why this was so. I think this kind of dissatisfaction merits a closer look. The question that such responses beg is: are Singaporeans' expectations too high these days? I have two observations in relation to this. Firstly, Singaporeans' aspirations are indeed rising sky high very quickly. And because the Government has actually met our aspirations so well, our expectations simply keep escalating. As our standard of living gets better, our expectations keep rising. Second, these escalating aspirations are taking place against the backdrop of rising costs and the perception that while Singapore is becoming a more vibrant city and we are doing well economically, it is ironically also becoming more difficult to live here. The inflation figures perhaps bear out some of these sentiments. The inflation rate for last month was at its highest level in two years. Among other issues, the concerns of the sandwiched class are worth paying attention to. Middle-income earners are worried that they will not have enough for retirement and young people worry that they will be priced out of the housing market. I hear very often from my peers, and I agree with them, how much harder it is to save today than it was in the past. And I understand very well the situation of the sandwiched class because I myself am part of it. I need to stretch my income to support my household which includes my ageing parents. It is definitely essential for the Government to keep an eye on rising costs.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, I rise in support of this Budget. Firstly, I would like to thank the Government for sharing Singapore's surpluses with the people through measures such as Growth Dividends, Workfare Bonus, reduction in personal income tax, increased public assistance, child development funds and so on, which are certainly welcome. Indeed, this is something few countries can afford today as they battle huge budget deficits. Singapore is fortunate that we are able to ride out the recession in a relatively short period of time and without too much hardship. This is also due to our strong fiscal policies. However, I understand from a number of public reactions that were reported in the press and from what I have heard on the streets, many Singaporeans seem to have expected more from this Budget. Indeed, Singaporeans have expressed that they have some concerns that are not alleviated by this Budget, particularly in addressing the long-term rising costs of living. Reactions are mixed from certain parts of the community. There is also the scepticism that this is a pre-election sweetener Budget. On the other hand, a large number of Singaporeans have expressed their satisfaction with this year's Budget. The REACH portal's respondents are generally happy with the Budget. On the other hand, when I was reading online media coverage of the Finance Minister's Budget Statement, I was quite taken aback to see an online poll in the Straits Times. It attracted 1,740 respondents and quite a large proportion, 47%, indicated that the Budget definitely did not meet their expectations. This was in the immediate aftermath of the Speech.”
“There is a saying that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link and so a strong society is one where its leadership pays attention to those on the lowest rung of the economic ladder to enhance not only the material and economic well-being but also the social well-being of its people. Ultimately, it is about social fabric of the nation. With that, I support the motion. 3.21 pm”
“Finally, when we talk about inclusive growth, I believe we should also include the socially and economically disadvantaged like the destitute elderly, troubled children from broken homes, and those who – for one reason or other – through no fault of their own find themselves left behind. This is a segment of our population who might feel that they do not share in Singapore’s prosperity. The Government advocates a "many helping hands" approach to social services which makes sense as this encourages the community to rally round and take the leadership in initiatives to help those in need. Here, the Government also plays an important role in funding and developing the capabilities of the many welfare organisations and charities that provide these essential social services – nursing homes, hospices, Family Service Centres and so on. At the same time, we can do more to encourage more corporate social responsibility among local companies and locally-based companies, to stimulate greater giving back to society and community. Major local corporations, particularly those with strong links to Government, can be encouraged to play a bigger part in the charity and social services sector. But these sources cannot replace direct Government assistance and intervention for the most vulnerable members of our society. Only with the commitment to inclusive growth can we make Singapore "the best home for all". The "all" is all-important here! Otherwise, we face the prospect of ending up with widening income gaps and an unhappy, underclass leading to social fragmentation.”
“One example is how the image of the Institutes of Technical Education (ITEs) has been refreshed to emphasise the value of its students to society, communicating the career possibilities of a less academically-inclined, more technical education. This was through the advertising campaign called "We Make You Shine" that was rolled out in 2008. In the spirit of according dignity and social value to low-skilled workers, I would also like to urge the Government to take the lead in encouraging employers to pay decent wages for workers and to provide job enhancement opportunities for them. For instance, for more companies and Government agencies to adopt the best sourcing practice – which Mrs Josephine Teo has described in some detail – rather than going for the cheapest tender in awarding cleaning contracts and jobs like that. I think more companies and Government agencies could adopt the best sourcing practice. Naturally, employers will be concerned at how raising wages will affect the bottom line. Hence, Government also has to continue to keep an eye on business costs and provide support and incentives particularly for the small and medium enterprises which form the bulk of Singapore's enterprises so that they can in turn better support workers' quality of life through creating better jobs and equipping workers with the skills through training as well as other job enhancement schemes. Concerns over rising business costs were expressed recently by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry when they presented a Budget Wish List for this year. This was reported by Channel NewsAsia earlier this month where they expressed that they were concerned about rising costs and called on Government to do more to help their cause.”
“Many low-paying jobs – cleaning, construction, production operators, some types of technical work like electricians, even retail assistants – are simply not accorded the respect and dignity that they deserve. I spoke on this during the Budget debate last year about the need for Singaporeans to appreciate the contribution of these workers who play a vital part in our economy. All workers need to feel that they are earning a decent wage for a decent job, and that it is enough to allow them to raise a family. When someone feels that he or she can support a family, it equips them with the confidence to confront other problems in life and at work and to contribute to the community beyond the immediate family. This in turn builds social bonds – it is "social capital". I urge the Government to continue to develop frameworks for upgrading these workers’ jobs, instill workers with pride in their skills and abilities. Such frameworks for professionalisation, accreditation and job redesign lead not only to higher productivity and incomes, but also better self-actualisation for workers. We have already seen a number of examples of how these frameworks of job redesign and training have contributed towards raising professional standards and changing the perceptions of certain jobs – for instance, security guards. The Government must continue to do this. In addition to job redesign and productivity, there is a question also of social attitudes towards these jobs. Perhaps the Government could look into how we can better inculcate a respect and appreciation among the population for "working with one’s hands".”
“The issue of rising prices, especially rising food, transport and housing prices, is a matter of urgent concern for most Singaporeans. One aspect of sharing the fruits of Singapore's prosperity with the broadest strata of society is ensuring that those with weakest earning power and their families do not suffer because of rising prices of basic necessities. This might be due to increasing business costs among other factors. Let me just cite one example: the takeover of wet markets in some HDB estates by private operators that resulted in increased rents for the market stallholders. Increased rents will translate into higher prices for customers. A private operator's primary concern is profit rather than the welfare of the public. On the other hand, the Government's concern is the public and, thus, Government can and should step in to ensure that housing estate residents, especially those from the lowest-income group have access to reasonably-priced food and basic necessities. No doubt, the pressure of the rising cost of living was a factor in sparking the call among certain quarters for a minimum wage law. It was heartening to see the Government openly discussing and debating the question of minimum wage. While the debate has rested for now, if the cost of living keeps rising, the call is likely to be re-ignited and it will be time for the Government to take up the debate again. I do not intend to debate on the pros and cons of minimum wage, rather I would like to focus on inclusive growth that leads to Singaporeans' overall well-being and not just material and economic well-being, because beyond raising the earnings of low-skilled workers through improving productivity, there is a question of quality of life.”
“Mr Speaker, Sir, thank you for the opportunity to join in this debate. I would first like to express appreciation to the hon. members, Mrs Josephine Teo and Mr Zainudin Nordin, for tabling this motion. In my short time as a Member of this House, I have seen a lot of discussions about and concern for the economically-disadvantaged population of Singapore: low-wage, low-skilled workers, those who have lost their jobs or their flats, those who find it hard to support their families, the children of such households, the destitute elderly, and more. Public housing policies, support and help for re-employment, schemes like Workfare, have been regularly debated in this House. I have no doubt that our Government is truly concerned about this segment of the Singapore population and really desires not to leave anyone behind. Hence, I would like to add my voice in support of this motion. In last year's Budget, the Minister for Finance declared the aim of raising the median Singapore salary from the current $2,400 to $3,100 in 10 years' time, confronting the reality that salaries for the Singapore workforce need to keep rising in order to keep pace with inflation. As we all know, however, low-wage and low-skilled workers like cleaners and technicians, the monthly salary for them still lags far behind the median. Some earn only $700 a month and earlier Mr Zainudin Nordin mentioned a worker who earns just $600 a month. Talk to any ordinary Singaporean today and it is clear that being able to make ends meet is an urgent issue, even for what we might consider middle-class, middle-income households. Last month, it was reported that inflation was at its highest level for the year, with the Consumer Price Index having risen 3.8% in November compared to a year ago.”
“I think that where business is concerned, a lot of companies will find different ways and means to earn extra income and to get around the rules, and I hope that the Ministry will continue to be vigilant to some of these practices. Finally, I would welcome further legislation to tighten other aspects of the recruitment of foreign labour, such as the requirement for standard service contracts. Currently, this is something that is recommended and, I think, a lot of agencies, especially those that place FDWs, have been attempting to use those standard service contracts. But there are still gaps in the application of this, and I certainly hope that the Ministry will encourage more agencies to adopt standard service contracts and if that does not work, perhaps at some future point to consider legislation. On that note, I would like to conclude by expressing my support for this Amendment Bill. 6.17 pm”
“I would like to thank the Minister of State, Mr Lee, for clarifying some of my questions on the new revision of fee caps. I have some other questions: firstly, what are the penalties for EAs that do not comply with the fee caps? I hope that he can reiterate the penalties under the existing laws. Secondly, I would like to ask if the Ministry will be introducing regulations requiring agents to itemise the fees that they charge workers and to declare the fees that they are charging workers in the Work Permit applications and how the Ministry intends to police these declarations. Thirdly, will there be regulation on transfer fees as well? The transfer fee is an issue that has been bugging a lot of employers as well as foreign domestic workers. Fourthly, I also note that there is currently no regulation over the fees that might be charged by agencies operating in the foreign workers' homelands who might be recruiting these workers and sending them to Singapore to be placed by partner agents in Singapore, that is, the Singapore EAs. This is actually one of the gaps that has affected a lot of foreign workers and, I believe, this is a long-standing issue. So I hope that the Ministry will continue to look into this matter and will perhaps, as Mdm Halimah has also suggested, also dialogue with the partner Ministries in those countries that send their foreign workers to Singapore. I hope that the Ministry will also continue to monitor all the fee mechanisms and all the fees that are being charged by the EAs in order to ensure that workers continue to be fairly treated and that they are not unduly exploited.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, thank you for the opportunity to speak on this Bill which is a most welcome piece of legislation and is particularly relevant for EAs placing foreign workers. With Singapore's pronounced need for foreign labour, new business opportunities have opened up and I am afraid that these also mean more room for unscrupulous business practices on the part of some of the EAs as well. These are practices that have little regard for the rights and welfare of foreign workers who are all too often perceived as little more than cogs in a machine and, thus, not accorded the dignity that all workers deserve. The amended Bill introduces legislation to strengthen the regulatory framework for employment agencies. I applaud the compulsory licensing of EAs and their employees, stricter criteria for key appointment holders in these agencies, stiffer penalties for infringements, and I am also pleased to see the creation of a new Commissioner of Employment Agencies which certainly will enhance MOM's capacity and power to investigate and to act against errant practices. In the past few years, more Singaporeans have become aware of some of the questionable business practices of some EAs, such as the problem of kickbacks with the courts' prosecution of offenders having received lots of media exposure. Other questionable practices include agencies that flout the rule on fee caps. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests that many agencies do not comply with existing rules. For instance, on 22nd March 2010, The New Paper reported two cases of workers who paid agents' fees of $7,000 and $9,600 respectively to come to Singapore to work but were not placed in jobs.”
“However, as a Bill that protects the family and especially the rights of children, the Women's Charter continues to be an extremely important piece of legislation for our society, and I thank the MCYS Minister for proposing the amendments. With that, I support the Bill. 5.40 pm”
“However, I would urge the Ministry to continue to streamline the legal procedures and to help these claimants. Sir, the Women's Charter first enacted in 1961 was certainly a ground-breaking piece of legislation giving protection to women and children and is the basis of our Family Law. It has been amended as society changed. The present amendments, I believe, reflect a balanced and logical approach to the realities of Singapore today, placing the needs of the most vulnerable segment of our society at its heart. I know men and women who have separated or divorced and understand how painful it is even for those without children. And I believe that our legislation constantly seeks to address the issues that surface as the situation in Singapore changes. Ms Ellen Lee has proposed that the Women's Charter be renamed the "Family Charter". The term "Women's Charter" could give the impression that the Bill is about conferring more rights on women and might give the mistaken impression that women have more rights than men when it comes to ending the marriage and maintenance. However, in fact, the Women's Charter is a Family Charter which affirms the family as the basis of our social structure yet seeks to ensure fair treatment of those who might be most badly affected when families break down, ie, women who are financially dependent on their husbands, women who are the primary caregivers of the children and the children who have the rights to a nurturing and secure environment as they grow up. I will not call for the Women's Charter to be so renamed as the Family Charter as I believe there is still a role for a Bill that specifically mentions women even in today's Singapore.”
“However, the Act is not very clear as to the purpose of the mediation or counselling. At this stage, it is clearly too late to require the couple to go for reconciliation as divorce proceedings are already in motion. It would be useful to spell out the guidelines on when such counselling or mediation sessions will be mandated. As Mr Lim Biow Chuan has also reminded us in a sobering manner, mediation and counselling is not a magic pill, and there are many reasons why people may choose not to go for counselling even if they are required by the Courts to go for it. I would like to suggest that perhaps it might be useful for the Courts or the MCYS to refer couples with children who are divorcing to Family Service Centres, for instance, or to the children's schools so that the situation can be continually monitored as the children go through this painful process. My final question concerns section 71B which gives the Court the power to order a maintenance defaulter to attend financial counselling. The Act does not specify what the consequences will be if he does not attend the counselling and how the order will be enforced. I turn now to the call by some members of the public requesting the Ministry to set up an authority or central body to facilitate the claims and payments for maintenance orders. As other Members of the House have pointed out, it takes time to apply to the Courts to enforce payments and as many claimants affected by this are less educated, are struggling financially and often need to work long hours as well as look after the children, it is difficult for them to keep going back to the Courts. I applaud the MCYS and the Courts' efforts in setting up new measures to facilitate the enforcement.”
“I understand that the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) has reported that its helpline has seen a number of such cases where the women were not even aware that they were not eligible for permanent residency. I hope the Ministry will seek further means to improve the situation for these women and to ensure the integration of non-Singaporean spouses into our society. The question of who should be prescribed to attend a marriage preparation course is very sensitive because it means effectively State intervention into people's private lives and private decisions. I am concerned that this could give rise to suggestions of discrimination against some of the Singapore population who may feel offended or stigmatised because the State might declare them, essentially, as not being ready for marriage. As Assoc. Prof. Paulin Straughan has mentioned, for divorcees, it could end up with them feeling stigmatised if they are asked to attend marriage preparation courses prior to re-marriage. On what grounds would a couple be selected to attend these courses? Does the requirement for attending the marriage preparation course extend to couples marrying under Muslim law? At present, religious groups already offer marriage preparation courses. As other Members have already expressed, there are concerns about how this would be coordinated with the MCYS' own programmes. Will there be common guidelines or frameworks for all these marriage preparation courses? What would be the content and who would be the ones delivering these programmes? I would also like to ask for clarification on section 50 about Court-mandated mediation or counselling for the couple or family. I presume this is to ensure that children should be protected.”
“So, for example, in the event of a defaulter who is reported to the credit bureau, if he regains his financial footing, there should be a streamlined process for him to inform the credit bureau and for the credit rating to be re-adjusted as quickly as possible. In addition, the attachment of earnings orders that are served on the defaulters' employers could be done in a discreet manner so that the person's employment is not jeopardised. Because if this person loses his job, the children that he is supposed to maintain are the ones who will suffer. I turn now to some questions for clarification. First, regarding the requirement for certain categories of persons to attend a marriage preparation course. I hope the Minister can clarify who falls under this class of persons. Will this include foreign spouses – non-Singaporean citizens who are not fluent in Singapore's main languages or familiar with our culture – as some of these may enter into marriage with a Singaporean through the auspices of a matchmaking agency? Marriages between Singaporeans and non-Singaporeans are increasing today. The report by the National Population Secretariat in 2009 indicated that in 2008, four in 10 marriages involving Singapore citizens are between a Singaporean and a non-Singaporean. Thirty percent of citizen births involve a non-Singaporean parent. There are more local men now choosing foreign brides through matchmaking agencies; and unfortunately these women can be put into vulnerable situations. For instance, they are ineligible for permanent residency and their husbands could send them back and cancel their social visit passes if the marriage does not work, thus separating them from their children.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, I rise in support of this Bill. First, let me place on record my thanks to the Ministry for the extensive public consultations before proposing the Bill. I am particularly supportive of the additional mechanisms in enforcing maintenance orders and the provision for persons to apply for financial relief after foreign divorce proceedings, subject to certain conditions. This latter provision, like many of the amendments, recognises the changing reality of Singapore society. Apart from the increasing number of marriages between Singapore citizens and foreigners, many Singaporeans today also live and work abroad and might get married or separated abroad. I applaud the tightened measures on payment of maintenance orders that include giving powers to the Courts to order community service for defaulters, requiring defaulters to post a bank guarantee against future defaults, credit bureau reporting and requiring divorcees re-entering into marriage to declare any arrears in maintenance. For this last amendment, I would like to ask if it might actually make sense, in fact, to require the divorcee to declare that he is under a maintenance order rather than only declaring his arrears. Nevertheless, the amended Bill certainly puts more teeth into the enforcement of maintenance orders, in light of the increase in the number of applications for enforcement – an increase of 10% between 2008 and 2009 – with a total of 3,585 such cases in 2009 alone. While we recognise the need to protect women and children who might suffer if the husband defaults on maintenance, there should also be a measure of fairness for those defaulters who might have genuine financial difficulty.”
“Thank you, Minister, for the very detailed answer. I have one supplementary question: how does the Ministry monitor the progress of its teaching scholars.”
“Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I would just like to make two points of clarification. Firstly, I am not calling for uniformity of curriculum or uniformity across the kindergarten levels because that would be disastrous. I think having diversity is important. Rather, I am calling for ways that we can spread the benefits and advantages of early childhood education to more people, especially the lower-income households. Secondly, I also do not intend to imply that pre-schools that charge lower fees offer a lower quality education. There are many different kindergartens, including those that charge lower fees, that are doing really good work. Finally, I want to thank the Minister of State for clarifying and updating us on all the outcomes of the recent initiatives on pre-school education. 5.09 pm”
“That way, we ensure continuity of aims, outcomes and holistic policy-making from early education through to primary, secondary and post-secondary education. With that, I second the motion. 3.05 pm”
“We will also be able to publicise learning points and best practices that will help parents in making decisions about the children's education. Periodic reviews of the pre-school landscape – which will undoubtedly keep changing quickly as our society progresses – will be useful as guides for parents as well as for pre-school education providers. And, certainly, as the cost of living increases, reviews that include the fee structure will also be very useful. Further, it would be useful to monitor the progress of the new training requirements of pre-school teachers that were introduced in the 2008 Committee on Improving Quality of Pre-school Education. The guiding principle of our education policy has always been to ensure that no child is left behind. That is why we introduced compulsory primary education, and why it is kept affordable. That is why we have financial assistance schemes for childcare and early childhood education. As our society becomes more affluent, it is our duty to ensure that those who are not doing as well do not inadvertently get left behind. Education has always been a great social leveller and Singapore’s emphasis on providing quality education has been a key factor in our transformation from a developing nation to a first-world nation. Today, we have an education system that is respected around the world. The system is ever changing since the needs and demands of our people change with socio-economic realities and, based on the demands now being placed on early childhood education, we should seriously consider including the pre-school system in our consideration of policies for the broader education landscape.”
“Here, I would also like to suggest one way to gain a constantly updated overview on issues of pre-school education, which could also serve as a "helpline" or channel of vital information for parents, is to have a network of sharing and consolidation of information among pre-school operators and educators which can be facilitated by the Ministry or handled by the Association for Early Childhood Educators and Association of Private Childcare Organisations. These measures might mean that the Ministry of Education would be the lead agency or take a more active hand in early childhood education in Singapore. Thus far, the oversight for early childhood education has been shared between the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. This might be due to some schools offering nursery or even pre-nursery programmes as well as pre-school. Perhaps, it is time to consider taking a more active hand, as our society now understands that a proper education of children commences at pre-school age (or even earlier), rather than at Primary 1. The starting line for a child's formal education experience has moved back to an earlier age. That is the reality that we have today. In calling for a review of the pre-school education landscape, I am not suggesting that the current system is inadequate. Rather, given the diversity of the pre-school landscape, parents’ anxieties, and the growing social recognition that the early childhood years are crucial for the child’s future, a review of the pre-school landscape would be useful in identifying best practices and where we are doing well, as well as identify gaps that we can address and areas for improvement.”
“Interestingly, academic skills are not particularly prominent in the core skills for children of kindergarten age that are listed in the publication "A Framework for a Kindergarten Curriculum in Singapore" published by the Ministry of Education a few years ago. This Framework suggests that a kindergarten curriculum should foster in children: Sound social and moral values; Good habits of working and playing with others; Positive self-concept and confidence; A strong sense of curiosity about things and objects around them; An ability to communicate effectively in English and a Mother Tongue Language; Physical control and manipulative skills; Positive attitudes towards a healthy lifestyle; and Positive family values and strong community ties. These are outcomes that I wholeheartedly agree with. Although these skills and learning outcomes are actually listed on the Ministry website, parents are still anxious about whether their children are adequately prepared, partly because many focus on academic skills rather than the social, emotional and behavioural aspects. Perhaps, some guidelines or benchmarks on academic skills for children at the point of entry of primary school would be useful. Hence, it might be timely for the Government to evaluate and consider how to rationalise the many different routes that children take towards Primary 1, ensure some continuity of the learning stream for the child from pre-school to Primary 1, and provide clear guidance to parents of what to expect from pre-school education.”
“Are the children adequately prepared for local school, Primary 1, by the time they graduate from K2?" A third quote: "My own conclusion: no need for a branded pre-school. Just attend enrichment classes." In such an environment, a child who does not attend kindergarten will soon lag behind his peers, even at the age of six. And furthermore, these concerns of parents beg the questions: firstly, is pre-school education, as it stands, not sufficiently catering to our children’s intellectual, physical and emotional developmental needs? I personally do not think this is the case. But some parents seem to be anxious about this matter. Secondly, what are the benchmarks for a child’s development when he or she finishes pre-school and what are the minimum literacy, numeracy and social skills we expect a child to have when he or she commences Primary 1? The range of pre-school programmes confuses the picture and parents may feel inadequate in assessing if their child’s learning is "sufficient" for Primary 1. Mr Sadasivan has noted that in the past, teachers in Primary 1 started teaching the basics of Mathematics and language; today, it is assumed that children enter formal schooling being able to do sums, fractions, and speak and write in two languages. In contrast, I think I only learnt fractions in Primary 2, and that was back in the 1970s. Now, even when children are given the academic grounding at pre-school level, given the range of pre-school programmes, it is inevitable that the whole cohort will enter primary school with very different experiences of learning and different levels of literacy, numeracy and personal development.”
“A parent I know recently wrote in a group e-mail conversation that primary school textbooks are "pretty basic" and it is essential for the child to read outside the textbooks in order to do well, which really reveals how competitive even primary school education is. Thus, a child, who has not picked up sufficient core literacy or numeracy skills at kindergarten and who lacks parental support, may be at a disadvantage. Furthermore, children now start music, art and dance classes at pre-school age, or even earlier. And as many schools now require students to have some minimum level of dance or music education before admitting them to music and dance co-curricular activities (CCAs), children who do not have enthusiastic or, perhaps, kiasu parents may end up being excluded from enjoying these CCAs. In fact, for many parents today, just attending nursery and pre-school is not enough. Children, as young as three and four years old, are being sent for enrichment classes or tuition to improve their Second Language skills, reading skills, and so on. The rat race starts before the child even understands the concept of examinations. Sending your child for enrichment programmes has become a norm, as can be seen in a number of online parenting forums. I will quote a few of the forum postings. First one: "My boy is three this year. He is currently attending PCF pre-nursery and now I cannot decide – should I continue with PCF nursery and send him for enrichment, or send him to a better school?" Therefore, the thinking is that PCF nursery or kindergarten is not enough, the parent wants to send the child for enrichment on top of the daily classes. Another parent says, "I have heard that the curriculum at a certain pre-school is more play-based rather than academic-based.”
“There are programmes in school to help the children catch up, but they have to make up for two years of learning within a few months. As many of these children come from lower-income households where there is often little parental support for their learning development, they may learn at a much slower rate. Mr Sadasivan has already spoken in detail on some of these children's difficulties. With the examinations being scrapped at lower primary, the child is automatically promoted to upper primary, perhaps, without a solid foundation in core language and numeracy skills, and this may not be due to the fault of his educators or the school. It is just simply that they do not have the parental or household support. And as much of the syllabus now requires a good grasp of the language as well, children who do not have the appropriate foundational language skills, in particular, will find it hard to keep up as they move up through the system. With economic prosperity, parents who are well-educated are more demanding and anxious that their child has the best head start for school. According to the Ministry of Education, half of all Primary 1 children today have at least one parent with post-secondary education. The children of well-educated parents, who are placed in good kindergarten programmes and learn quickly because of their environment, then set the pace in primary school. One could argue that this has always been the case. But in today’s school environment, it has become essential for parents to have a greater involvement in their child’s learning. They are reading the child’s textbooks, tutoring the child and sending the child to enrichment classes.”
“Rather it boils down to the main theme that Mr Sadasivan has already put forward in great detail – that the range of pre-school programmes and fees, combined with better educated parents’ anxieties today, the naturally competitive urge of Singaporeans, and the income gap that arises due to our rapid economic growth, could unintentionally lead some children to fall behind. It is not because the opportunities do not exist, but because the children are unable to access them due to various reasons – such as the low education and income level of their parents, which may be a factor in the parents' lack of awareness about the benefits of putting their children in pre-school as well as the financial assistance that is available to help them to do so. A report from the National Scientific Council on the Developing Child in the USA, published by the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, notes that stress experienced by children from families struggling to make ends meet, ie, very low-income households, may affect the children's development including the "development of brain architecture", whereas programmes of early intervention and pre-school education can be effective: "Creative, focused programmes of early childhood education have been shown to have lifelong benefits for children that persist 20, 30, even 40 years later." In brief, pre-schools and early childhood education play a part in developing a country's social and human capital. Let me explain this from a different perspective. As Mr Sadasivan has noted, a child who enters primary school without a kindergarten education is likely to be behind his peers in terms of literacy and numeracy skills.”
“Further assurance for parents comes in the form of a new voluntary quality assurance framework, where pre-schools evaluate their performance and programmes through self-appraisal as well as external assessors. This framework was introduced by the Committee on Improving Quality of Pre-School Education, chaired by then Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Mr Masagos Zulkifli, in 2008. Concrete measures recommended by this Committee included the Ministry providing curriculum resources such as a curriculum planning guide to pre-schools, grants for teacher training and an innovation grant for pre-schools to seek new ways to improve the quality of their teaching. All these measures were positive and a step in the right direction. The emphasis of the Ministry’s initiatives so far has been largely in the area of stepping up the quality of teaching, particularly in introducing educational and training levels for teachers, rather than any intervention in the programmes being offered by the schools. The Ministry has refrained from over-regulation on how pre-schools manage their business – and rightly so as each established pedagogical method used by a school has its own integrity and parents should have the freedom to choose an approach that they are most comfortable with. Since there was already a Committee on Improving Quality of Pre-School Education in 2008, why then should we call for another review of the pre-school education landscape? Well, the question today is not simply that of assuring quality teaching in pre-schools – that we know will continue to be under the watchful eye of the Ministry.”
“Thank you, Mr Speaker, for the opportunity to speak. I rise in support of this motion. Sir, I am not a parent but I have friends who are, and I am watching their children grow up – happily, they are growing up as balanced and healthy kids. As I have conducted or organised art workshops for school children, how children learn has also been of interest to me. I have been told by parents that the pedagogical approaches and programmes of the almost 500 pre-schools in Singapore are so diverse that selecting the most appropriate programme for their children is a daunting task. Operators of pre-schools run the gamut of non-profit organisations, religious bodies, to NTUC’s Little Skool House, the PCF Kindergartens and, finally, the most expensive private and international schools. As already mentioned by my fellow Member, Mr Sadavisan, fees at these schools could range from $100 – actually, just slightly below $100 – to $1,000 or more a month. This is a wide gap which is certainly not the case in our primary education system. Currently, how are parents assured that their children are being properly cared for and taught in a safe environment at the tender ages between four and six? Firstly, pre-schools have to be registered with the Ministry of Education. The minimum requirements for a school to operate include ensuring that its teachers have attained a certain minimum level of education and a Diploma in Pre-school Education Teaching. Under the new guidelines, by 2013, all new teachers will have at least five "O" level credits and a Diploma in Pre-school Education Teaching, and existing teachers will need to have an "O" level credit in English or a pass in English Language proficiency test, as well as a Diploma in Pre-school Education Teaching.”