• IP addresses are NOT logged in this forum so there's no point asking. Please note that this forum is full of homophobes, racists, lunatics, schizophrenics & absolute nut jobs with a smattering of geniuses, Chinese chauvinists, Moderate Muslims and last but not least a couple of "know-it-alls" constantly sprouting their dubious wisdom. If you believe that content generated by unsavory characters might cause you offense PLEASE LEAVE NOW! Sammyboy Admin and Staff are not responsible for your hurt feelings should you choose to read any of the content here.

    The OTHER forum is HERE so please stop asking.

Half think S'pore a good place for kids

metalslug

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,172645,00.html?


S'POREANS POLLED ON QUALITY OF LIFE
Only half think S'pore a good place for kids
Some blame education system here for stress
By Veena Bharwani

August 08, 2008




WE don't find Singapore a conducive place to raise children.


This was what a significant 30 per cent of 1,256 respondents said in an online survey.

The results, released on Tuesday, showed that 51 per cent considered Singapore a conducive place while the remaining 19 per cent did not have an opinion.

These findings are telling, considering Singapore's reputation as a safe place with a world-class education system.

The online survey was conducted by MyMailMoment.com, a lifestyle research portal of SingPost, to coincide with National Day.

It was part of a broader survey of 2,017 people, who were asked their opinion on nationalism, politics, job environment and cost of living.

The respondents were aged from 16 to 74 - with the bulk (66 per cent) being 21 to 40.

Men made up 59 per cent of the respondents

EDUCATION WOES

The education system here was cited as a major reason for Singapore being unconducive for raising kids.

The respondents said it was too tough and demanding.


Another reason was the difficulty in striking work-life balance.

Said Madam Judy Kho, 49, a mother of two boys aged 17 and 15: 'The education system is tough for the kids. There's so much homework and every one seems to be striving for good results all the time.

'It always seems to be about getting all As for the exams.'

She said that her children seemed to be missing out on their childhood.

Said Madam Kho: 'I see them spend most of their time studying. They bury their heads in their books and mug for exams.

'I'm not sure if this is the place for kids to have a good childhood anymore. I especially pity those who are not doing well academically. They seem to suffer the most.'

Another parent, Mr Mashor Silar, 49, who has two sons, 24 and 15, agreed.

He said: 'It's not the same as when we were growing up.'

Educators contacted by The New Paper had mixed feelings about the survey.

Said Ping Yi Secondary School principal Julia Woo: 'I had a fun time in school when I was growing up. It's different now for my children.'

She said her children, a second-year NTU student and a second-year JC student, work very hard to keep up with their peers.

GENERATION ISSUE

But she added that the challenges faced by kids today are different from those of her generation.

She said: 'We have to be able to innovate and be flexible. This is all part of progress. And we have to prepare our kids for these challenges.'

Parents can also help their children cope, she said, by stressing work-life balance.

But not all thought that Singapore was a tough place to bring up children.

Consultant psychiatrist Brian Yeo cited Singapore as one of the best places in the world to raise kids, because of its safety.

He felt that often, the problem was in dealing with one's own expectations,

He said: 'If you want your kids to have a tertiary education, then it becomes more challenging and stressful.

'But in comparison to kids from other countries like Korea - where the education system is even more stressful - students here have an advantage in terms of language. Once they go to university abroad, they can at least speak English.'

There were also those who questioned the survey itself.

Consultant clinical psychologist Danny Ng, 47, said he was cautious about such surveys as they are convenient avenues for people to express their unhappiness.

RESPONDENTS' BIAS?

He said: 'People sometimes tend to complain in such surveys. Happy people, in general, do not do surveys.'

Mr Ng agreed that Singapore is a good place to raise children.

He said: 'Look at other countries, where it's not safe for girls to travel in public transport at night.

'Singaporeans also tend to make quick judgments based on their holidaying abroad. You cannot compare Singapore to another country if you have just gone there on holiday.

'You must live in the foreign country for at least three to five years before comparing it to Singapore.'



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


About the survey


MyMailMoment, an initiative by Singapore Post, has held 14 online surveys this year on subjects like lifestyle, money matters and travel.


The two National Day-related surveys were conducted between 17 Jun and 29 Jul.


Respondents had to register with the portal and were given a user name and password, to prevent them from doing the survey more than once.


Of the National Day poll respondents, 87 per cent were Singapore citizens. The rest were permanent residents and foreigners living here.


On completing the 26-question survey, respondents could claim points redeemable for prizes.


MyMailMoment started in January and has 8,000 registered members.
 
Last edited:

metalslug

Alfrescian
Loyal
http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg/news/story/0,4136,172644,00.html?

COMMENT
At least here, the stress factors are within your control
By Santokh Singh

August 08, 2008




I DO sympathise with the respondents who feel Singapore is not conducive to bringing up children. And their reasons can be justified to an extent.

It is mostly true that our education system is very competitive, being based mainly on academic excellence.

And it's not made any more fun with principals and teachers fixated on the ranking and banding system. Just ask our students taking the PSLE, GCE O and N levels, which are around the corner.


If you don't believe them, then walk into a school near your home and look at the number of remedial classes, supervised self-study sessions and mock examinations (yes, you read right, MOCK exams) going on.

It is also true that our work environment, again based on appraisal systems that place a premium on ranking and banding, can be stressful.

Just follow the recent debates on marriages, having children and the latest dialogue on working mums, and you get the drift.

But it's not all gloom and doom.

Had this poll been conducted with expatriates or returning Singaporeans, it's likely the results would be different.

Family and friends who have migrated tell me that they miss the organised, disciplined system which values substance, even if it is over-tested, over form.

They will probably tell you that exam stress is positive when compared with the fear of sending their children to schools where bullying or, worse, senseless beatings are a norm.

There are horror stories of schools in the West where drugs are sold and students show up with guns. The numbers of deaths in schools have been rising in some of these countries.

While our system's extremes revolve around academic and examination stress, they surely pale in comparison with meaningless violence and loss of lives.

Eventually, it may boil down to a lifestyle choice.

If parents value their children's happiness, they could perhaps not add to their kids' stress by pushing them too hard to excel.

There's nothing wrong in not being among the best, so long as they do well enough to get a decent education and hence, a decent future.

It's all about work-life balance - if we value our time with our families, then we must create that time.

Even if at the expense of promotions and better pay.
 
Top