Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
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tamarind:
i agree. thats the sad part abt sporean kids. i myself have resolved to try n focus on this aspect of home learning cos its something that dd probably won't get much of in school. to me, learning together with the kid is part of the fun, isn't it? :celebrate: tamarind, maybe a new thread to start for u,hehe...
It is certainly possible for Singaporean parents to provide the same kind of learning at home, if parents bother to do some research. However, most Singaporeans are obsessed with enrichment classes and assessment books, thinking that this is the best way for kids to learn. The end result is that most Singaporean kids are very good at passing exams, at getting near perfect scores, at following instructions and producing answers that are exactly what the teachers want. They don't know much of anything else. -
tamarind:
What's wrong with national service? National service maketh a man! My hubby thoroughly enjoyed his army days and his close friends from all walks of life were from there.I have no problems with new immigrants at all, provided that they become citizens and let their sons go through national service.
The problem is with PRs. There are simply too many PRs in Singapore. I knew a highly paid manager, a Malaysian PR, who loudly proclaimed that she will never become a Singaporean citizen. Her sons are not citizens and will never go through NS. My hubby have a colleague from mainland China, she said that she will leave Singapore before her son turns 18 years old.
Just imagine, if there is a war, who will be left behind to fight for Singapore ?
I've a number of friends whose sons enjoyed their army stint too - and many of them had their leadership skills honed and recognised. :lol:
Sori - slightly off topic here. -
Blobbi:
This is so true.[/quote]On the one hand, we are not making enough babies to replace ourselves, our young people are not as driven as our pioneeers, few takers for the dirty, risky & low-paid jobs in construction, shipyards, hotels & restaurants, or for the well-paid but night-shift jobs, we don't have enough local talents to upgrade & diversify our economy, some of our cream opting for greener pastures overseas.......
Agreed.tree nymph:
[quote=\"tamarind\"]I have no problems with new immigrants at all, provided that they become citizens and let their sons go through national service.
The problem is with PRs. There are simply too many PRs in Singapore. I knew a highly paid manager, a Malaysian PR, who loudly proclaimed that she will never become a Singaporean citizen. Her sons are not citizens and will never go through NS. My hubby have a colleague from mainland China, she said that she will leave Singapore before her son turns 18 years old.
Just imagine, if there is a war, who will be left behind to fight for Singapore ?
That's why there's a broadening difference of the 'benefits' between the citizens and PRs. I think the PRs you know are mainly reaping the benefits of being a PR here and using it as a stepping stone to move on. There should be many like them around.
If not attracting suitable foreigners to fill these jobs, are there other feasible options? Once the new comers are here, we must create a melting pot enviroment & give them time to settle down.
When our ancestors came to Singapore, they thought they would make & save enough money & return to their motherland for retirement. But many became attached to & adopted the country. Similarly, many PRs have localised & naturalised, as their children grow up & made friends in the schools. And many PRs let their sons serve NS.
For those who left, they would have given some, if not all, of their best & most productive years to the country. We are better off with their contribution to our economy. -
Parent1:
This sounds like a win win situation for all.On the one hand, we are not making enough babies to replace ourselves, our young people are not as driven as our pioneeers, few takers for the dirty, risky & low-paid jobs in construction, shipyards, hotels & restaurants, or for the well-paid but night-shift jobs, we don't have enough local talents to upgrade & diversify our economy, some of our cream opting for greener pastures overseas.......
If not attracting suitable foreigners to fill these jobs, are there other feasible options? Once the new comers are here, we must create a melting pot enviroment & give them time to settle down.
When our ancestors came to Singapore, they thought they would make & save enough money & return to their motherland for retirement. But many became attached to & adopted the country. Similarly, many PRs have localised & naturalised, as their children grow up & made friends in the schools.
For those who left, they would have given some, if not all, of their best & most productive years to the country. We are better off with their contribution to our economy. -
MMM:
Yes, if they give back to our economy and society, and ultimately their next generation become citizens.
This sounds like a win win situation for all.Parent1:
On the one hand, we are not making enough babies to replace ourselves, our young people are not as driven as our pioneeers, few takers for the dirty, risky & low-paid jobs in construction, shipyards, hotels & restaurants, or for the well-paid but night-shift jobs, we don't have enough local talents to upgrade & diversify our economy, some of our cream opting for greener pastures overseas.......
If not attracting suitable foreigners to fill these jobs, are there other feasible options? Once the new comers are here, we must create a melting pot enviroment & give them time to settle down.
When our ancestors came to Singapore, they thought they would make & save enough money & return to their motherland for retirement. But many became attached to & adopted the country. Similarly, many PRs have localised & naturalised, as their children grow up & made friends in the schools.
For those who left, they would have given some, if not all, of their best & most productive years to the country. We are better off with their contribution to our economy.
Actually, I was also thinking of the table tennis players from China who have become citizens. I wonder how many will stay here... -
tamarind:
That is so true again, Tamarind. It's become so that even \"learning art\" is institutionalized!
It is certainly possible for Singaporean parents to provide the same kind of learning at home, if parents bother to do some research. However, most Singaporeans are obsessed with enrichment classes and assessment books, thinking that this is the best way for kids to learn. The end result is that most Singaporean kids are very good at passing exams, at getting near perfect scores, at following instructions and producing answers that are exactly what the teachers want. They don't know much of anything else.
Having said that, not going for classes is one thing. But instituting a \"love of learning\" type of atmosphere at home is tough because it takes away time for other pursuits like reading or doing sports. Where possible, learning should happen in school. After school is meant for other activities. But this is Singapore - I must be dreaming :(. -
Parent1:
Foreigners with masters degrees from good universities would not be asking for $2,000. With the right qualifications, there are companies in Singapore and elsewhere willing to employ them. Even starting pay within certain sectors is higher than $2,000 these days.Adam Khoo: The expats will rule Singapore
28 January, 2010
Out of 100+ resumes, more than 60% came
from expats. While locals fresh grads are asking for $2,500+ per month, I
have expats with masters degrees from good universities willing to get less
than $2,000! They know that if they can come in and learn and work hard,
they will eventually climb up and earn alot more. They are willing to
invest in themselves, pay the price for future rewards.
The foreigners who are willing to take a lower pay are either not getting any/much job opportunities at home, or $2000 converted back to their home currency is actually worth a lot more.
By the same token, I don't understand why do we need so many foreign workers in our service industry. Go to any foodcourt or retail outlet, you will see many PRCs or Filipinos doing the jobs that were done by Singaporeans/Malaysian PRs in the past. This brings to mind a fellow forumer's story of her Filipino maid who was offered a waitress job. Is it a case of the locals unwilling to take up such jobs (which I really doubt), or a case of businessmen trying to employ cheap labour from foreign countries, thereby artificially lowering the wages in such jobs? It is no wonder that the income gap between higher/middle income earners and lower income earners in Singapore has become wider in recent years. -
Busymom:
Foreigners with masters degrees from good universities would not be asking for $2,000. With the right qualifications, there are companies in Singapore and elsewhere willing to employ them. Even starting pay within certain sectors is higher than $2,000 these days.
The foreigners who are willing to take a lower pay are either not getting any/much job opportunities at home, or $2000 converted back to their home currency is actually worth a lot more.
By the same token, I don't understand why do we need so many foreign workers in our service industry. Go to any foodcourt or retail outlet, you will see many PRCs or Filipinos doing the jobs that were done by Singaporeans/Malaysian PRs in the past. This brings to mind a fellow forumer's story of her Filipino maid who was offered a waitress job. Is it a case of the locals unwilling to take up such jobs (which I really doubt), or a case of businessmen trying to employ cheap labour from foreign countries, thereby artificially lowering the wages in such jobs? It is no wonder that the income gap between higher/middle income earners and lower income earners in Singapore has become wider in recent years.
I'm from service industry and reasons why we prefer foreigners is not of lower salary $$ pay out- but is cannot \"TAHAN\" the fussy Singaporeans' attitude.
Offering the same job ( service retail) to Singaporeans and they will request not to work retail rotating shifts, must off on every Sunday and request to provide a chair in the shop...
If you don't believe you may ask around( Singaporeans) who is willing to work in retail hours + 1 offday on weekday + need to stand for 8 hours and willing to accept salary of $1300?
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MMM:
:offtopic: I understand your passion on self coaching,etc... But pls bear some consideration to other parents who have a number of kids and a demanding job. They got no choice but to seek enrichment classes. There are also parents who can't teach. So getting them to teach is causing much harm than good???? End of day, everyone/ parent is different. We all have our strengths and weaknesses.
I was actually responding to the following :foreverj:
was wondering if its possible for us to replicate this kind of learning at home? i mean, most of the parents here are educated, thinking individuals as well, aren't we? or perhaps, its also dependent on the profile of the kids who attend the international schools?
as for general knowledge, i believe we do have access to such info/material given the wonderfully equipped libraries we have in spore. just that parents have to spend some time to gather the material or at least to bring the kids to the library
I don't mean teaching English, Chinese, Maths, etc. I mean teaching kids to be more outspoken, confident, as well as general knowledge like what the others wrote above. Enrichment classes only aim at helping kids pass exams. Doing tons of assessment books only train kids to produce model answers. There are many other things that kids need to learn. Parents really cannot outsource all the teaching to other people.
I am already quite sad to see many young adults coming out of our education system whose knowledge is only limited to whatever they have to learned in schools to pass exams. They don't understand how things work and they don't know how to google and read and find out facts for themselves. They are scared of learning new things, and they are scared of speaking up to the authorities. I believe that this is the end result of attending too many enrichment classes and doing too many assessment books. In fact, many parents think that this is the only way for kids to learn. Kids should learn by reading a wide variety of good books, as well as real life experiences. -
Blobbi:
I agree that after school, kids should do other activities. But most Singaporean parents are so concerned about getting perfect scores. I know parents who hire private tutors for their kids who score over 90 marks. What kind of adults will these kids grow up to be ?
That is so true again, Tamarind. It's become so that even \"learning art\" is institutionalized!
Having said that, not going for classes is one thing. But instituting a \"love of learning\" type of atmosphere at home is tough because it takes away time for other pursuits like reading or doing sports. Where possible, learning should happen in school. After school is meant for other activities. But this is Singapore - I must be dreaming :(.
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