Meeting the Needs of a Young Nation (1960s - early 1970s)

• Provide a place for every child• Building National Loyalty

– Daily Flag Raising & Pledge-taking Ceremony

• Fostering Social Cohesion– Common examination (PSLE)– Integrated School System (1960)– Bilingualism (1966)– Uniformed Groups (NPCC and NCC)

• Preparing for Economic Development– Technical Education introduced (1969)– More children in English-medium Schools by 1970s

Problems of Educationin 1960s and 1970s

• High Education Wastage– High percentage of school dropouts– Failure of education system to consider the

different learning needs of pupils– More attention to development of pupils

• Ineffective Bilingual Policy– Less than 40% passed both languages– Language used in school not

complementary with language used at home

Improving Quality of Education

• Streaming– Primary 3 (1979)

• Based on English, Mother Tongue & Mathematics• Vocational Institutes after Primary School

Proficiency Examination

– Primary 4 (1991)– Secondary Education

• Special, Express and Normal• Gifted Programme (1984)• Normal (Technical) (1994)

– ITE training

• Teaching Moral Values– Moral Education for Primary Schools

(1981)• A common set of desirable moral values

– Religious Knowledge made compulsory in Upper Secondary level (1982)

• Islamic Studies, Christianity, Buddhism, Hinduism, Confucianism, Sikh Studies

• Scrapped due to the fear of over-emphasis or conversion to certain religious beliefs

Improving Quality of Education

• Teaching Moral Values– Civics & Moral Education (1992)

• Emphasis on Shared Values• Introduction to various cultures in Singapore• Attitudes and values that were responsible for

Singapore’s success

Improving Quality of Education

• Encouraging Creativity– Innovation

• Seen as solution to the Singapore’s economic problems caused by global recession.

– More autonomy given to schools• Setting of own priority• Implementing programmes suitable

for the specific needs of the pupils.• Conversion of double-session to single

session

Improving Quality of Education

• Encouraging Creativity– Establishment of Independent Schools

(1988)• Flexibility in collection of school fees, admission of

pupils, recruitment of teachers & academic programme.

– Creation of Autonomous Schools (1992)• Additional funds & more flexibility in programme• Lower school fees than Independent Schools

Improving Quality of Education

Preparing for the Challenges of the 21st Century

• Promoting Critical and Creative Thinking– Project Work

• Use of Information Technology (IT)– Retrieving information from

electronic sources

Preparing for the Challenges of the 21st Century

• Introducing National Education (1997)– Celebration of significant dates (TD, IF, RH, ND)– Community Involvement Programme (CIP)

• Developing Talents– Introduction of Elective Programme (Arts / Music)

• Compulsory Primary Education (2003)– Common core of knowledge & skills for life-long

learning

Looking Back

• Constant Review – What worked in the past may not work in

the future• Tight control by Ministry versus more autonomy

• Current Affairs ST: 27/28 November 2001

– Education Minister Teo Chee Hean recently announced the need for wider choice in courses & in the way they are taught and tested in order for pupils to be better prepared for the new economy.

Education in Switzerland

Structure of Education System

• 26 different education systems in 26 cantons– Different cultural, linguistic and religious needs– People have a say in educational matters

• Compulsory Education– Primary and Lower Secondary Education made

compulsory

• Federal Government’s role– Maintaining the education standard

• Recognition of University Entrance Certificate issued at the end of Upper Secondary Education

– Ensures type of education complement with economic relevance

Vocational Training

• Vocational training schools – Many vocational training schools set up to

cater for pupils who did not want to go to universities after compulsory education

• Apprenticeship– A choice of 400 professions or crafts– Apprentices are trained both by private

companies and vocational schools– Certificate of Competence

• Choice to work or further education

– Highly valued in Switzerland

Simplified Diagram of the Swiss Education System

Source :http://edkwww.unibe.ch/e/eurydice/framesets/mainBildungCH_e.html

Simplified Diagram of the Swiss Education System

Preparing for Life in the Canton

• School Culture that Reflects Social Values– Practice in decision-making

• Bilingual / Trilingual Policy– English, Mother Tongue, Official Language

• Social Education– Local culture

• Sense of rootedness

– Strong bonds to school and community• Sports, School Outings, Project Work, Community

Service

Comparing Singapore and Switzerland

• Strong Emphasis in Education– Key to continued success & development of

the country

• Different approaches at times– To cater to the different needs of the 2

countries

• Similarities in some approaches– Life-long Learning– Sense of belonging

Health Care Services in Singapore

Providing Basic Health Care in the 1960s

• More hospitals and clinics• Island-wide Inoculation

Programme– Tuberculosis, smallpox– Routine Examination of children in

schools

• Clean-up of Singapore streets– Environmental pollution,

indiscriminate littering & improper disposal of rubbish

– Deterrents Fines– Public Campaigns

Improving Health Care Services in the 1970s

• Specialisation of Medical Services– Plastic & Reconstruction

Department at the Singapore General Hospital (1972)

• Polyclinics– One-stop Health Centres

• Outpatient Medical Care, Maternal & Child Health Care

– Conveniently located all over Singapore

• Improvement in hospital facilities

Issues in Health Care Services in the 1980s

• Self-reliance– Rising costs of health services– Personal responsibility to stay healthy

• Medisave Scheme & Medishield Scheme

• Medical Care for the Lower-income group– Class ‘C’ Wards– Medifund Scheme

• Medical Care for Senior Citizens– ‘Many Helping Hands’ Approach

• A Healthy Life-style– Health Education

• National Healthy Lifestyle Campaign (1992)

The Welfare State of Britain

Characteristics of the Welfare State

• The United Kingdom: the Welfare State • Asa Briggs, in a classic essay on the British welfare state,

identified three principal elements. These were – a guarantee of minimum standards, including a minimum

income; – social protection in the event of insecurity; and – the provision of services at the best level possible.

• This has become identified, in practice, with the 'institutional' model of welfare: the key elements are social protection, and the provision of welfare services on the basis of right.

• In practice, social welfare in the United Kingdom is very different from this ideal. Coverage is extensive, but benefits and services are delivered at a low level. The social protection provided is patchy, and services are tightly rationed.

Source : http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/wstate.htm

Origins of the Welfare State

• High Unemployment in Britain after World War Two– Poverty, Shortage of food and fuel– Beveridge’s report

• Government’s duty to end poverty, disease, unemployment

• Decision to create a welfare state– Aimed at ending poverty and sickness– To look after the citizens from birth to death– Every citizen was guaranteed a minimum standard of

living• Job, home and medical care

Means of Achieving the Welfare State

• Nationalisation of Utilities and Industries– These industries to be operated for the benefit of the

citizens and not making profits– To create employment and keep these services

affordable

• Provision of Social Welfare– Welfare Benefits

• Provision of Health and Medical Care– National Health Service (1948)

• Free basic medical service for all citizens

Problems of Welfare State

• Low Efficiency– Reliance on government funds to survive– Long waiting queues at hospitals and clinics

• Increase in Government Spending– Costs of welfare benefits unchecked

• The ‘Why Work’ Attitude– Little motivation to work

• Loss of businesses– More money to be generated from taxes to pay for

welfare services– Reduction in profits discouraged investments

The Shift from Welfare State

• British Government under Margaret Thatcher– To reduce expenditure caused by welfare services– Individuals to take care of own welfare & health

• Privatisation of Public Utilities & Heath Care– Competition would force companies to be more efficient

due to the need to generate profits– Provision of government subsidies reduced– End of free medical services for most people– Non-medical services contracted out in hospital

• Hospital to concentrate on medical specialities

Conclusion

• The Future of Welfare StateThe Future of Welfare State– Ageing Population

• Expenditure increasing but less taxes collected

– Welfare Programme could not be removed

• People are used to it• Government has little support from the population• Other ways of financing the costs of welfare

services must be found