Singapore for Singaporeans?

[hquek]

Thanks chief, great one.


As to the comments on closing our doors to foreigners, on education. Thing is, we are talking about public education. Is there any country that makes it so easy for non-citizens to go to their public school? I’m not sure. Opening up to competition is one thing, but we are talking about national education here. Shouldn’t citizens have first bite?

On jobs. Singaporeans perceived as over paid, not willing to work hard? well it sure will be tough to clock in 12/14 hours on low pay when one has a family to support in SG these days. How to have family life if one is constantly at work?

If I don’t have family and will be in that country for only a few years, sure, I will work damn hard and won’t mind undercutting the locals there (esp if the amount I’m getting here will enable me to live like a king once I’m home). there are just too many stories I’ve heard personally about pp who are PRs and milk the system for all its worth - only to be planning to go back to their country of birth and live in their grand estate. It’s only human, I don’t blame them for wanting to do it. I just lament that my govt is encouraging them.

[verykiasu2010]

hquek:

Thanks chief, great one.


As to the comments on closing our doors to foreigners, on education. Thing is, we are talking about public education. Is there any country that makes it so easy for non-citizens to go to their public school? I'm not sure. Opening up to competition is one thing, but we are talking about national education here. Shouldn't citizens have first bite?

On jobs. Singaporeans perceived as over paid, not willing to work hard? well it sure will be tough to clock in 12/14 hours on low pay when one has a family to support in SG these days. How to have family life if one is constantly at work?

If I don't have family and will be in that country for only a few years, sure, I will work damn hard and won't mind undercutting the locals there (esp if the amount I'm getting here will enable me to live like a king once I'm home). there are just too many stories I've heard personally about pp who are PRs and milk the system for all its worth - only to be planning to go back to their country of birth and live in their grand estate. It's only human, I don't blame them for wanting to do it. I just lament that my govt is encouraging them.

some of it are the necessary evils .....

[buds]

3Boys:

buds:

Add resilience to that, 3Boys bro! :celebrate:


Being able to withstand any adversities and still come out strong.
It will pave for never say die attitude that whatever comes I'm still standing.

Indirectly, children will not be overwhelmed by challenges of any kind .....come wat may.

Indeed buds, resilience. I fear for my kids facing up to global competition........but not facing up to it and sticking our heads in the sand will be far worse.

Yup, agree..

It's like forever complaining & whining but not doing anything to do things differently to deal with it.. think out of the box.. if at first we don't succeed try other ways. With land-scarce SG, not many heads can fit aniwaes.

[resgmom]

Came across this by accident:


新加坡德明政府中学招生说明会 2012
Talk on Singapore Dunman High School Secondary Recruitment Exercise, for
No.2 Middle School Attached to Shandong Normal University, China

http://www.ssefz.com/article/article-info.shtml?articleID=fbff6383-8804-46b2-aa66-5b33323ab825

山东师范大学第二附属中学

5月15日，我校友好学校——新加坡德明政府中学招生说明会在我校报告厅召开。来自新加坡的连汉川老师、杨振光老师以及我校和育英中学的100多名家长参加了会议，会议由毛利新副校长主持。

会上，杨振光老师做了题为《中国初三学生赴新加坡学习项目》的报告，详细介绍了新加坡教育体制、选拔过程、奖学金情况等。之后，杨老师和连老师对家长们关心的问题进行了耐心细致地解答，对有关事项进行了说明。

会后，荆兆晶校长代表我校与新加坡两位老师进行了亲切的会谈，就教育教学等问题进行了友好而深入的交流，希望两校进一步加强交流与了解，增强感情与友谊，相互学习，培育更多优秀学生，为促进中新友谊的发展做出贡献。

It's becoming more and more common for the top schools in Singapore to give scholarships to top Chinese students, and they're aggressively recruiting there, top students = top \"A\" level results. The top Chinese students would be spoilt for choices from Dunman High, NYGH, HCI, etc. There's really no reason for them not to take up the all expense paid scholarships to study in Sg, which would also greatly increase their standing when applying to uni in the West (many of the top students will NOT stay in Sg - same for our own top Singaporean students not on govt scholarships i.e. no bonds). However, at least for Singaporean, their roots are here and they might want to come back someday. But these foreigner would never look back. Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

[oneheart]

Sun_2010:

oneheart:

Every weekend I bring my kids to the pool for swim lessons....everywhere I swim I bump into Pinoys, PRC & India Indians. Really feel outcast in my own ctry. y?

Why?

You have probably visited other countries for vacation. Did you feel like an outcast?
Yes vacations are fun but does not feel like home, but surely not like an outcast, or we would not be going there.
If you felt the pool was crowded I understand , but feel like an out caste ?? :?

Oh yes, the pool is definitely crowded but I'm not complaining abt that cos I chose to go to a public pool....not pte condo or country club pool :imdrowning:

It's just a metaphor to answer chief question on 'whether we even know what it means to be a Singaporean' How it feels like to be a Sgaporean...one of which is multi-racial with English as the mode of communication.

But with influx of FT esp those who can't speak a smattering of English...how? Maybe it's ok for you cos you used to live in China and can speak the language...but there are Singaporeans who don't and by having such foreigners in service sector, etc....what msg is being sent to these Sgporeans? You are not speaking our language?!?

There a a lot of other matters which is constantly being debated everywhere....pro's n cons of having foreigner...but yup, is our identity/culture of a nation being eroded, if not sooner then later?

Hey, I dun mind the competition....but is playing field level? They are cheaper...why are they cheaper? Better? hmmmm debatable.

As for public education....I agree with hquek...investment on education shld first and foremost be for children of Singaporeans. As per MOE vision/mission...moulding our future generation!

[snowfly]

resgmom:

Came across this by accident:


新加坡德明政府中学招生说明会 2012
Talk on Singapore Dunman High School Secondary Recruitment Exercise, for
No.2 Middle School Attached to Shandong Normal University, China

http://www.ssefz.com/article/article-info.shtml?articleID=fbff6383-8804-46b2-aa66-5b33323ab825

山东师范大学第二附属中学

5月15日，我校友好学校——新加坡德明政府中学招生说明会在我校报告厅召开。来自新加坡的连汉川老师、杨振光老师以及我校和育英中学的100多名家长参加了会议，会议由毛利新副校长主持。

会上，杨振光老师做了题为《中国初三学生赴新加坡学习项目》的报告，详细介绍了新加坡教育体制、选拔过程、奖学金情况等。之后，杨老师和连老师对家长们关心的问题进行了耐心细致地解答，对有关事项进行了说明。

会后，荆兆晶校长代表我校与新加坡两位老师进行了亲切的会谈，就教育教学等问题进行了友好而深入的交流，希望两校进一步加强交流与了解，增强感情与友谊，相互学习，培育更多优秀学生，为促进中新友谊的发展做出贡献。

It's becoming more and more common for the top schools in Singapore to give scholarships to top Chinese students, and they're aggressively recruiting there, top students = top \"A\" level results. The top Chinese students would be spoilt for choices from Dunman High, NYGH, HCI, etc. There's really no reason for them not to take up the all expense paid scholarships to study in Sg, which would also greatly increase their standing when applying to uni in the West (many of the top students will NOT stay in Sg - same for our own top Singaporean students not on govt scholarships i.e. no bonds). However, at least for Singaporean, their roots are here and they might want to come back someday. But these foreigner would never look back. Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

Foreigners also pay tax here...

[3Boys]

resgmom:

Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

[limlim]

verykiasu2010:

20 years ago, no Singaporeans wanted to be posted to China even with double or triple pay .... the Malaysians went on behalf of Singaporeans / Singaporean companies ..... they gained the experience and network while Singaporeans continue to whine in Singapore about PRC citizens fighting for their jobs here ..... this I saw with my own eyes in the company I was working for

And those who are willing to venture didn't quite get the chance to..... :sad:

[verykiasu2010]

3Boys:

resgmom:

Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

:goodpost:

to add on :

I hope my kids will be their classmates.

if they stay in SG, good for SG talent pool even if my kids were to \"lose\" to them in competition

if they go back to their home countries, there will be opportunities in future for my kids to call on them through work etc etc be it in gov't or in private sector ... immediately the alumni network kicks in and you are one up on your other competitors without such network

if my kids are in gov't service and those scholars returned to their countries also in gov't service, it will help to open doors and ease communication and diplomatic relationship between countries (read Obama and Netanyahu)

Singapore is not just red dot, it is a tiny dot. We need all the friends in and out of singapore. Better if they have been classmates and chit-chatted nonsense under the stars in bishan or bukit timah or jurong hill or tanjong rhu etc etc

[snowfly]

verykiasu2010:

3Boys:

[quote=\"resgmom\"]Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

:goodpost:

to add on :

I hope my kids will be their classmates.

if they stay in SG, good for SG talent pool even if my kids were to \"lose\" to them in competition

if they go back to their home countries, there will be opportunities in future for my kids to call on them through work etc etc be it in gov't or in private sector ... immediately the alumni network kicks in and you are one up on your other competitors without such network

if my kids are in gov't service and those scholars returned to their countries also in gov't service, it will help to open doors and ease communication and diplomatic relationship between countries (read Obama and Netanyahu)

Singapore is not just red dot, it is a tiny dot. We need all the friends in and out of singapore. Better if they have been classmates and chit-chatted nonsense under the stars in bishan or bukit timah or jurong hill or tanjong rhu etc etc[/quote]Me also hope tat... at least hope my kids can be motivated by their attitude of study hard