Poverty line not needed: “Kueh lapis” yet so many needy students not helped?

[Confuseous]

“Very sad” education statistics?

To illustrate the failings of our “kueh lapis” approach to social assistance, I would like to highlight some statistics on education.

I have chosen the education statistics to hone in my contention, because in a sense, the problems of inadequate financial assistance in education for needy children are arguably not as visible in our daily lives. In contrast, for example, for healthcare – we can see people who can’t pay for healthcare; for homelessness – we can see the homeless, the homeless shelters; for poverty – we can see old people selling tissue papers, picking up empty drink cans, cardboard boxes; etc.

1)Independent schools?

Why is it that the percentage of students on subsidies in the independent schools was only about 7.8 per cent of the estimated total student population in the independent schools (2,700 divided by 34,769).

35% of households meet the subsidy criteria?

According to the Department of Statistics, the average monthly household income from work in 2012 was $6,183 at the 31st to 40th percentage.

Since the subsidy qualification criteria is up to household income of $6,000, does it mean that the percentage in the resident households population that may qualify for the subsidy is around the 35th percentile – that is about 35 per cent of all resident households.

- http://leongszehian.com/?p=6705

 

[PrinceCharming]

Serve the parents of poor students right if they vote and intend to continue to vote the PAP.

Poor students who do not receive help from the PAP should realize they do not owe any duty to vote the PAP at general elections.

 

[makapaaa]

From The Online Citizen:
http://www.theonlinecitizen.com/2013/11/4-3b-expressway-vs-18-kueh-lapis/

[h=2]$4.3b expressway vs 18 “Kueh lapis”?[/h]

November 16
00:542013

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by onlinecitizen5 Comments




By Leong Sze Hian
I refer to the article “Marina Coastal Expressway to open on Dec 29” (Channel NewsAsia, Nov 13).

Costliest $4.3b expressway
It states that “Singapore’s 10th and costliest highway, on a per kilometre basis, will open on Sunday, December 29 at 9am.
The S$4.3 billion Marina Coastal Expressway will be connected to the Central Business District by interim roads”.
My thoughts on the expressway
When Terry Xu, Executive Editor of theonlinecitizen messaged me as to whether I have anything to say about the $4.3 billion underground expressway, my first thought was:
Balance and proportion?
Everything is about balance and proportion. Sure, its good to have
Sacred cows?
… reserves stashed away for a rainy day
… Budget surpluses instead of deficits
… be self-reliant and not have a clutch mentality, etc.
18 Assistance schemes (Kueh lapis)?
My next thought was the news report that we have 18 assistance schemes (like “kueh lapis”) to help needy Singaporeans.
Only 1 scheme that really helps most people?
When I read the list of schemes, it dawned upon me that if ;

• you are not buying a house (Additional & Special CPF Housing Grants),
• you are not sick (Medifund, Community Health Assist Scheme, Intermediate & Long Term Care Subsidies),
• you don’t have young children studying (Kindergarten & Student Care Subsidies, Childcare Subsidies, MOE Financial Assistance Scheme, CDC/CCC Bursary for Post-secondary Students, MOE Bursary for Post-secondary Students),
• you are not disabled or destitute (Public Assistance, Schemes for Persons with Disabilities, Programmes for Persons with Disabilities), unemployed or below age 35 (Workfare Income Supplement),

Only two of the 18 assistance schemes may apply to you – Comcare and GST Voucher – Cash, U-Save, Medisave (which are supposed to only offset the GST increase.)
Only $102m to help the needy?
And how much did Comcare give in the last year? – only about $102 million against the subject $4.3 billion expressway. That is a ratio of about 1 is to 42.16.
What $4.3b can do for the needy?
To what extent will the lives of Singaporeans be better off by having this expressway, compared to what some of the $4.3 billion can do for poorer Singaporeans?
In this regard, I estimate that all the 18 schemes may only total to about $2 billion a year.
Never spend a single cent on healthcare, CPF and HDB?
Moreover, this may have to be analysed in the context that from a cashflow perspective, the Government does not spend a single cent on Healthcare, CPF and HDB.
Party Against People?
So, like a friend recently said to me – we have become a Party Against People. After writing the above, I can’t help but agree with him.

Edit note – ratio of 1 is to 4215.7 is changed to 1 to 42.16.