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Category: Singapuraku

  • SDP: MOE Must Downsize Class Sizes To Encourage Creativity

    SDP: MOE Must Downsize Class Sizes To Encourage Creativity

    The latest IMD report shows Singapore falling in ‘talent’ ranking. This is partly due to “inadequate investment and development of its own talents” (compared to being tops for attracting foreign talent) – a serious indictment of the PAP’s priorities.

    http://www.businesstimes.com.sg/…/singapore-losing-edge-in-…

    The report also cites the poor pupil-teacher ratio, ranking 41st for primary education and 35th for secondary education. This why the SDP proposes that our pupil-teacher ratio be halved to 20-1.
    http://yoursdp.org/publ/sdp_39_s_alternatives/education/26

    The Problem

    Our education system puts too much emphasis on exams and rote learning which kill creative impulses in our children. Also, these statistics paint a depressing picture of what the education system is doing to our children:

    • 20% of our children exhibit signs of anxiety and mood disorders. (The Straits Times, 2012)
    • One in three students say they sometimes think that life is not worth living because they fear exams. “That’s scary. What kind of life are we putting our kids through if they’re so frightened of examinations?” a psychiatrist said. (Far Eastern Economic Review, 2001). Children actually commit suicide because of the pressure they feel to perform.
    • The number of youths seeking psychiatric help increased by 16% from 2005, reaching 3,126 in 2010. More than half of these were primary school children. (The Sunday Times, 2010)
    • The number of children warded for “aggressive, suicidal or hallucination tendencies” at IMH jumped by 35% between 2005 to 2010. Mental health professionals attribute these problems to academic stress. (The Sunday Times, 2010)
    • Psychiatrists found that 12.5% of primary school children show signs of emotional problems including anxiety and depression. Researchers say that this might be an underestimation of the prevalence of mental health problems among children. (Singapore Medical Journal, 2007)

    1. Remove PSLE and delay streaming

    The stress of exams inflicts psychological trauma on children. It is not an intelligent approach to assess the abilities of primary-school students on a single examination.

    2. Cultivate creative minds

    Build confidence in children by helping them develop independent thinking, willingness to make mistakes, and perseverance in the face of failed attempts.

    3. Broaden curricula, reduce syllabi

    Subjects such as music appreciation, speech and drama, literature, etc. as well as periods for students to collaborate and interact to develop their creativity will be introduced to al schools.

    4. Reduce class size

    The SDP will reduce class size in our schools to 20 pupils per class from the current 40 to provide students with the necessary individual attention to help them develop academically.

    5. Introduce dedicated-teacher system


    One teacher will be assigned to each class from Primary 1 and follow them through Primary 3; another will take them through from Primary 4 to 6. This will allow students to bond with their teachers and give parents and teachers time to develop trust and cooperation.

    6. Scrap school and class rankings

    Comparing examination results and ranking students and classes detracts from the real purpose of education, which is self-improvement and self-actualisation.

    7. Encourage reading

    Reducing the current syllabus will free up students and allow them time to read for pleasure. A love of reading encourages life-long learning and cultivates a creative mind.

    8. Convert all schools to single-session ones

    School hours will be from 8 am to 4 pm during which time will be put aside for students to complete their assignments. This will allow teachers to help students with their work thereby ruling out the need for private tuition.

     

     

    Source: Chee Soon Juan 徐顺全

  • Former WP NCMP Concerned That Singaporeans Lack Ability To Cope In New Economy

    Former WP NCMP Concerned That Singaporeans Lack Ability To Cope In New Economy

    In telling the story his daughter had with a cleaner former Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) Yee Jenn Jong pointed out that the government’s aim to create many pathways to success beyond exam grades remains challenging.

    The cleaner at a preschool lamented that her son who is a student at a polytechnic was working part-time and hence not concentrating properly in his studies. Mr Yee’s daughter had to convince the cleaner that her son was picking up valuable skills which a classroom education will not be able to give him. Mr Yee said that the cleaner’s concern is typical of the average Singaporean parents.

    “We have been conditioned that the pathway to success in life is to score in exams. When you are studying, do not waste time on other things, even if these are useful skills to have or can help one to develop their character. If you are a student, just study. In many parents’ minds, grades are what matters.”

    The ex-NCMP also recounted the conversation he had with a “former high-flying government servant turned entrepreneur”, about Singaporeans being exams-smart but lacking the ability to cope in the new economy – an economy which requires innovation, creativity, resilience and many skills that one cannot train through the books.

    “When I mentioned about us consistently scoring tops in PISA assessments, he remarked that our education advantage like those measured through PISA often disappear in tertiary studies when one has to go beyond knowledge.”

    Mr Yee said that his former civil servant friend also shared his concern about high-flyers taking very safe paths. His friend worries that if Singapore continues to head this way, it will end up doing very safe things to meet short term KPIs, and not do things that are necessary for essential disruptive changes.

     

    Source: www.theindependent.sg

  • Grabhitch Nightmare: Stuck With Obnoxious Driver, Male Muslim Passenger Also Gets Bitten By Driver’s Chihuahua

    Grabhitch Nightmare: Stuck With Obnoxious Driver, Male Muslim Passenger Also Gets Bitten By Driver’s Chihuahua

    Hello everyone, I have a personal story to share with you. It’s an extremely important one if you are a frequent user of apps such as Grab or Uber.

    On 25 Dec, after my work had ended during my shift during X’mas eve, in the wee early morning of about 2am, I decided to take on Grabhitch (cos you know 50% off). Within minutes, my booking was accepted, and I received a call directly from the driver. But during the call, these were messages that he had conveyed to me:

    1) Firstly, he does not know where Harbourfront Centre taxi stand is, and insisted that I walk to him. He was all the way at the other side of Vivocity (near to St James Powerhouse). Mind you, I have been on my feet for the past 9.5 hours.

    2) Secondly, during the tele-conversation, he also mentioned that he is not driving the stated Mercedes-Benz car (plate number: SJV6527Z) in my booking screen. Instead, he was driving a silver Cheverolet.

    dog-bite-4

    Eventually, the driver and I decided to make a compromise, and picked me up at the bus stop in front of Vivocity, which is somewhat far from where I was. But I didn’t want to waste time further as I was so exhausted. As I walked to the car, I saw a dog, which initially I thought was a soft toy. As I got closer, I realised the driver had a REAL LIVING DOG (It was a small chihuahua as I got to know later) with him inside the car! While I was shocked, I didn’t want to kick up a fuss out of it. I really wanted to just get home.

    I mean I know it’s Grabhitch but it is just plain unprofessional to do that. I know there are many animal lovers out there who wouldn’t mind this. But I thought it’s just very basic courtesy to at least inform your passenger especially with a muslim-sounding name if he might be okay with it?

    So many lines crossed here; safety issues, health related issues, religious and cultural issues etc. Yes, I’m very much Muslim. However, at that point of time, I thought to myself that it’s just a dog, and the driver should probably have the dog well tamed to be comfortable with strangers. But I later realised that the driver is the one that needed taming.

    Throughout the entire trip, the driver didn’t stop being obnoxious. He lectured me about the ‘hitch culture’, and remained adamant about how he thought his way of “educating” me about the hitch culture was appropriate. He claimed that as passengers taking the Grabhitch option, it isn’t right to sit at the back and treat the owners of the car as our “cheapest drivers to get to our destination”.

    He further said that he was “doing a service to the community by allowing people to sit in his car at a very small fee and helping people reach their destinations”. He added on saying that many people don’t want to perform Grabhitch because of people like me. Like seriously?!!

    When I asked him if his dog is generally okay with strangers, he defensively lashed back at me and said,”My dog never disturb you, why you so concern about the dog?!!

    As I was trying to unbuckle the seat belt, the sound I made probably riddled the dog. The DOG THEN JUMPED AND BIT ME!

    I immediately told the driver I’m leaving, opened the door and slammed it shut. He didn’t even apologised or offered to take a look at my arm. I walked away quickly as I wanted to get away from the possible danger – like getting mauled by a ferocious dog.

    This all happened in the wee hours of Sunday morning after a tiring day at work. Like I said, all I wanted was to go home and get some sleep. And such luck had to strike me. Nevertheless, I have taken necessary steps to this whole issue and have approached the proper authorities.

    I have gone to the doctor at NUH who was very caring and concern while I was consulted by her. She even ensured that I ascertain if the dog is approved by the authorities by allowing me to call the Grab customer service hotline in the room, and patiently waited before making a decision to give me a rabies shot or not. It was not administered as we found that the dog was certified healthy, according to the driver who admitted that there was his dog in his car but denied that it has bitten me. Come on la, the mark is on my arm already. Whatever it is, his pet has already caused harm and injury to me.

    I have also gone to the police who have referred my case to Agri-food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA). Officers on both sides had handled the matter professionally and quickly. I even received a phone call from AVA the very afternoon, which was after Sunday and on Christmas.

    dog-bite-2

    Ultimately, this is a story of how my $6 Grabhitch ride became into $123.40 matter as I had incurred $117.40 worth of medical bill, that included a tetanus shot and antibiotics. This story is very much real, and has happened to me. It is no joke. So please be safe.

     

    Source: Rushdan Eilyaas

  • Syed Danial: A Message To Conservatives – Smile More Please

    Syed Danial: A Message To Conservatives – Smile More Please

    There is method in the madness.

    The ‘jubah sado’ (traditional Arabian attire for the muscularly-built) posting serves as an effective (methinks) preamble to the point I wish to make.

    Friends, in this ‘post-truth’ era, I think there’s a certain assumption that if one has conservative views, then he is not in touch with modernity. He is somewhat backward. Worse still, he is somehow linked to ‘extremism’.

    This is of course not true. I can’t believe I’m typing this. It’s worth makin it explicit. One can have views steeped in conservatism and still be in touch and quite adept with modernity – be it in embracing technology, being in the forefront of entrepreneurship, academia etc.

    Bringing me to my main point.

    We live in an era of so much fasaad. Right has become wrong and vice versa.

    Like it or not, that’s the environment we operate in. I feel in such an environment it really doesn’t help that a person whose views are conservative and steeped in the more than fourteen centuries of Islamic scholarship…. Also look severe and unsmiling. In a nutshell unapproachable.

    Again it may not be true. The person could be very friendly and kind.

    Fair or not, its the image of the conservative chap.

    In the interest of furthering the Dawah (invitation) why can’t we appear less ‘severe’? I bring up the ‘jubah sado’ to illustrate this point. Bear in mind we live in an age where it’s ok to be half naked in a foam party or dancing on bar tops. But wearing the jubah or thoube is considered ‘Arabism’ and somehow backward.

    Let’s celebrate our conservative values. If we are comfortable with it wear the jubah. Heck u don’t have to look so ‘severe’. I think it’s fine to jazz it up a little. There’s the jubah sado. Or the hooded Moroccan thoube. You get the idea.

    And very importantly let’s Smile more. I think we can all agree that’s the Sunnah (way) of Prophet Muhammad. And prophet Jesus, too, for that matter.

    So even in our dressing InshaAllah let dawah be our niyah. Wear cool stuffs. Smile more. And engage in meaningful conversations, putting across our principled stances with mauithatun Hasanah – beautiful preaching.

    Yeah and by the way, I see nothing wrong with the jubah pahlawan. ??Even the pink ones. Real men wear pink. They Juz don’t subscribe to the ideology of Pinkdot.

    Wallahualam.

     

    Source: Syed Danial

  • Power-Assisted Bicycle Impounded In LTA Enforcement Operation

    Power-Assisted Bicycle Impounded In LTA Enforcement Operation

    As part of our regular enforcement, LTA conducts periodic enforcement operations against the riding of non-compliant Power Assisted Bicycles (PABs) and unregistered vehicles on roads.

    During one of our operations last week, our enforcement officers stopped a rider who had been riding his device, with a motor capable of propelling it up to 80km/h, along Woodlands Street 83 and Woodlands Ave 4.

    pab-1

    The non-compliant device has since been impounded, and the rider is currently assisting LTA with investigations.

    We would like to remind everyone that only LTA-approved PABs affixed with an LTA seal, and in compliance with the following rules http://bit.ly/2hXQleE, are allowed for use on the roads. LTA will continue to conduct regular enforcement against errant PAB riders and unregistered vehicle drivers, to ensure the safety of all users.

    Let us all stay safe this holiday season and ride into a better 2017 ahead!

     

    Source: Land Transport Authority – We Keep Your World Moving

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