Rilek1Corner

Tag: student

  • SPF: Death Of 14 Year Old Male Student Under Investigation For Alleged Outrage Of Modesty – Procedures To Be Reviewed

    SPF: Death Of 14 Year Old Male Student Under Investigation For Alleged Outrage Of Modesty – Procedures To Be Reviewed

    In this case, a Police report was lodged about a molestation. Based on CCTV evidence, Police officers went to conduct enquiries at a school. To keep investigations discreet, the officers went in plainclothes and in unmarked cars. After discussions with the school officials, and the viewing of the CCTV records, Benjamin was identified as the boy in the CCTV records. He was brought to the Principal’s office by a school official and was spoken with in the presence of a Police officer. Before he was brought back to Ang Mo Kio Division, he contacted his mother to inform her of the Police’s investigations. The Police officer also spoke to the mother.

    While at Ang Mo Kio Division, he was interviewed by one Investigation Officer at his workstation in an open plan office with other workstations. He was fully cooperative during the interview. He was then released on bail and went back with his mother.

    The Police have been asked whether it should review the procedure to allow an appropriate adult to be present when a young person is interviewed. The Police will review and address this issue.

    Police investigations have not been completed. A Coroner’s Inquiry will be held upon the conclusion of investigations, where all the relevant facts will be presented to the State Coroner. At the inquiry, the family will also be able to raise all questions that they may have.

    Benjamin’s passing was tragic. The Police have expressed their deepest condolences to the family. They have met the family to address their questions on the case and provide clarifications on the actions of the Police officers during their interaction with Benjamin.

     

    Source: Singapore Police Force

  • A Third Of Students Go To School With No Pocket Money To Buy Lunch?

    A Third Of Students Go To School With No Pocket Money To Buy Lunch?

    Record No. of needy students helped.

    I refer to the article ”ST School Pocket Money Fund helps record number of needy students” (Straits Times, Oct 10).

    It states that ”Pocket money is given to students whose families meet the eligibility criteria of not more than $560 in monthly gross household per capita income.”

    Why not only for Singaporeans?

    According to the SPMF’s web site – “To qualify as a beneficiary receiving pocket money, the child/youth must be:

    A Singapore citizen or permanent resident”.

    I understand that almost all other financial assistance schemes are for Singaporeans only. So, why are PRs eligible? (“Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools“, Straits Times, Oct 1).

    If the assistance is confined to Singaporeans – perhaps the criteria may be less restrictive, such that more Singaporeans may qualify.

    Most restrictive criteria amongst all schemes?

    As to “Pocket money is given to students whose families meet the eligibility criteria of not more than $560 in monthly gross household per capita income” – I understand that last year’s criteria was “(the child must be) from a family whose per capita net monthly household income is not more than $450″, compared to the $560 gross income now.

    If this is the case – typically the net income after deducting say 20 per cent employee CPF contribution may be $448 ($560 gross income less 20 per cent CPF).

    SPMF’s criteria may be the most restrictive, of probably all the financial assistance schemes?

    For example, ComCare’s criteria is “Families with a monthly household income of $1,900 and below, or a per capita income of $650 can also qualify for assistance if they meet all other criteria”.

    So, why is SPMF’s criteria ($560) – $90 less than ComCare’s $650 per capita income?

    Only help for 2 years?

    As to “STSPMF is committed to helping children and youth who meet the eligibility criteria by providing them with school pocket money for 2 years” – in the previous year it said “providing them with school pocket money for at least two years. In exceptional cases requiring additional help, SPMF will extend the financial assistance to up to four years”

    – Why is it that the term of assistance is only for 2 years – is it still up to 4 years in exceptional cases now?

    From my experience doing volunteer work in financial counselling over the last decade or so – I have come across many cases of financial stress when SPMF assistance is terminated after 2 or 4 years.

    Since a child generally goes through about 13 years of education – why do we have this “2 years” restriction?

    Previously, some criteria don’t make sense?

    In fact, the criteria previously was arguably even more strange – “Secondly, post-secondary students who wish to receive aid in the past needed to have either tapped on the fund previously or have a sibling who is drawing on the fund. In future, all who meet the income criteria can qualify. This change will benefit new applicants and those from single-child families”.

    Why was there a need for either to “have a sibling who is drawing on the fund” or “to have either tapped on the fund previously”?

    Were those who did not “”have a sibling drawing on the fund”, or “tapped on the fund previously”, less deserving – until only recently with the changes announced?

    Number needing assistance increase more than 3 times?

    Notwithstanding the increase in financial assistance (probably to cover inflation) and the widening of the scope of cover – don’t you find it rather alarming that for a developed country like Singapore – the number of students helped increased from 3,375 in 2001 to almost 14,000 now?

    In this connection, Professor Tommy Koh said that “About a third of our students go to school with no pocket money to buy lunch” (“Three wishes for the New Year”, Straits Times, Jan 3).

    The assistance disbursed increased from $0.9 million in 2001 to the $7 million for this year, as reported in the subject news report.

    How much reserves?

    Its accumulated fund is $17.9 million.

    SG50 give $300,000 only?

    As to “We were fortunate to receive $300,000 from the Government through its Care and Share programme launched to celebrate Singapore’s 50th anniversary” – don’t you think that the Government should contribute more?

    Reciprocate trust with more transparency?

    Since the people have given their trust and mandate – shouldn’t we reciprocate by spending more to help Singaporeans.

    Leong Sze Hian

    * Submitted by TRE reader.

     

    Source: www.tremeritus.com

  • Singaporean Female Student, 12, Among Those Reported Dead In Sabah

    Singaporean Female Student, 12, Among Those Reported Dead In Sabah

    A top Sabah Parks official has confirmed that one of the two bodies brought down from Mount Kinabalu on Friday (June 5) belonged to a 12-year-old Singaporean girl.

    Dr Jamili Nais, Director of Sabah Parks, told The New Paper over the phone that the deceased person’s family was being notified.

    The student was among a group of 29 students and eight teachers from Tanjong Katong Primary School who went on the trip.

    A parent of a girl student on the trip, who declined to be named, said that the group were on a student leaders’ trip called the Omega Challenge.

    Meanwhile, all students and teachers of Greenridge and FuchunSecondary Schools have returned to Singapore at 12.20am on Saturday (June 6), the Ministry of Education said in a statement.

    These include 32 students and four teachers from GreenridgeSecondary School, and 26 students and four teachers from FuchunSecondary School.

    Parents have been kept updated on this and the situation throughout the day.

    For the families of the eight students and two teachers of Tanjong Katong Primary School who are missing, arrangements are being made to fly them to Kota Kinabalu on Saturday (June 6) morning.

     

    Source: www.tnp.sg

  • Faisal Manap Saran Agar Kemansuhan Yuran Peperiksaan Peringkat Nasional Diperluas Kepada Pelajar Sekolah Swasta, Privet Dan Pelajar Sambilan Politeknik, ITE

    Faisal Manap Saran Agar Kemansuhan Yuran Peperiksaan Peringkat Nasional Diperluas Kepada Pelajar Sekolah Swasta, Privet Dan Pelajar Sambilan Politeknik, ITE

    By MP for Aljunied GRC, Muhamad Faisal bin Abdul Manap
    [Delivered in Parliament on 4 Mar 2015]

    Puan,

    Belanjawan 2015, pada pandangan saya, membawa mesej perubahan pada pendekatan pemerintah dalam usaha untuk memperbaiki dan mendatangkan manfaat kepada rakyat Singapura. Dapat dihayati bahawa pendekatan pemerintah pada belanjawan kali ini lebih cenderung kepada pendekatan hala kiri atau pendekatan yang lebih memberatkan aspek-aspek keseimbangan sosial dengan memberi lebih fokus kepada pengagihan sumber-sumber negara kepada segenap lapisan masyarakat Singapura. Peralihan ini adalah sesuatu yang memberangsangkan. Seperti yang diucapkan oleh rakan saya Puan Sylvia Lim, Belanjawan kali ini lebih memberi penekanan kepada pelaburan sumber manusia serta jaringan keselamatan sosial. Penekanan yang sebegini amat diperlukan memandangkan keadaan jurang pendapatan dan pemilikan harta di Singapura yang membimbangkan.

    Puan,

    Dalam ucapan ini, saya ingin menyentuh 3 aspek atau perkara yang telah disampaikan oleh Menteri Kewangan Encik Tharman semasa ucapan belanjawan beliau, iaitu (i) Tabung Simpanan Pekerja atau CPF, (ii) Skim Ihsan Senja dan (iii) Kemansuhan Yuran Peperiksaan Nasional dan yuran peperiksaan Politeknik dan ITE.

    (i) Tabung Simpanan Pekerja atau CPF

    Parti pekerja ingin mengutarakan dua usulan bagi skim CPF.  Usulan yang pertama adalah menurunkan usia kelayakkan bagi pengeluaran wang dari akaun persaraan atau Payout Eligibilty Age, dulu yang dikenali sebagai Draw-Down Age. Buat masa sekarang, para pesara akan menerima pembayaran bulanan dari akaun persaraan CPF apabila mencapai usia 65 tahun, bermula dari 2018. Kami ingin mencadangkan agar had usia pengeluaran ini dikurangkan daripada usia 65 kepada 60 tahun. Kami percaya ini akan memberi keringanan kepada para pencarum jika mereka memilih untuk membuat pengeluaran bulanan lebih awal dari akaun persaraan mereka atas sebab-sebab yang tertentu.

    Usulan kedua Parti Pekerja bagi skim CPF adalah sesuatu yang pernah disuarakan sebelum ini iaitu untuk memisahkan Usia Kelayakan bagi pengeluaran wang dari akaun persaraan atau Payout Eligibility Age daripada usia persaraan. Ini adalah supaya usia yang membolehkan pengeluaran wang dari akaun persaraan akan terus kekal dan tidak terjejas walaupun usia persaraan meningkat. Kami mencadangkan sedemikian kerana sebahagian besar masyarakat Singapura merasa kurang senang pada perubahan had usia kelayakan bagi pengeluaran wang dari akaun persaraan yang sentiasa berubah dan meningkat. Dengan mengekalkan had usia kelayakan ini, ia akan memberi para pencarum lebih jaminan bila mereka boleh mengeluarkan wang dari CPF justeru dapat membuat perancangan yang sepatutnya.

    (ii) Skim Ihsan Senja

    Puan, perkara kedua yang saya ingin sentuh adalah tentang Skim Ihsan Senja. Skim ini adalah satu initiatif yang baik dan memang amat diperlukan. Skim ini membolehkan golongan warga Singapura yang berusia 65 tahun ke atas yang berpendapatan 20 hingga 30 peratus paling bawah menikmati sokongan kewangan seumur hidup.

    Puan, keprihatian saya tentang skim ini adalah tentang proses implementasinya. Proses implementasi adalah satu aspek penting yang akan menentukan betapa efektifnya sesebuah skim dalam mencapai tujuan utamanya. Menerusi pengamatan dan juga pengalaman saya dalam bidang kerja sosial, kriteria dan proses penilian yang terlalu ketat ada masanya boleh menyebabkan kes-kes yang tulen dan memerlukan terlepas peluang untuk mendapatkan bantuan.

    Seperti yang diketahui, tujuan utama skim ini adalah untuk meringankan bebanan kewangan yang dihadapi oleh warga emas yang telah banyak menyumbang kepada pembangunan Singapura serta untuk mencerminkan nilai kita sebagai sebuah masyarakat yang inklusif. Oleh itu saya harap pemerintah dapat melaksanakan skim Ihsan Senja ini dengan hati dan minda yang terbuka, fleksible dan penuh keihsanan agar skim ini dapat memberi kemanfaatan yang terbaik kepada warga emas kita.

    Puan, sepekara lagi tentang Skim ini adalah mengenai cara pembayarannya. Seperti yang dikatakan oleh Menteri Kewangan, pembayaran kepada warga emas yang layak akan dilakukan tiga bulan sekali. Saya berpendapat agar pembayaran dapat dilakukan sebulan sekali agar lebih mudah bagi penerima untuk mengurus bil-bil dan perbelanjaan bulanan mereka.

    (iii) Kemansuhan yuran Peperiksaan Nasional  dan yuran Peperiksaan Politeknik/ITE

    Perkara ketiga yang ingin saya ketengahkan adalah tentang kemansuhan yuran peperiksaan nasional dan yuran peperiksaan politeknik dan ITE. Saya mengalu-alukan kemansuhan yuran-yuran Peperiksaan Nasional seperti PSLE, GCE Peringkat ’N’, ‘O’ dan ‘A’ dan juga yuran bagi peperiksaan Politeknik serta ITE seperti yang diumumkan. Kemansuhan yuran peperiksaan nasional ini merangkumi setiap pelajar Singapura yang menuntut di sekolah pemerintah sementara kemansuhan yuran peperiksaan Politeknik dan ITE diberikan kepada pelajar-pelajar sepenuh masa.

    Disini, saya ingin meminta agar Kementerian Pedidikan membuat pertimbangan untuk melanjutkan kemansuhan yuran-yuran peperiksaan ini kepada pelajar-pelajar sekolah swasta dan juga kepada pelajar-pelajar politeknik dan ITE yang membuat pengajian secara sambilan.

    Puan, pada tahun 2013 Kementerian Pendidikan telah mengambil keputusan untuk melanjutkan Skim Edusave kepada setiap pelajar-pelajar Singapura yang berusia 7 hingga 16 tahun. Keputusan ini diambil selepas 20 tahun Skim Edusave diperkenalkan iaitu pada 1993. Dalam masa 20 tahun ini, ramai pelajar-pelajar yang tidak menuntut di sekolah-sekolah pemerintah atau awam telah terlepas peluang untuk meraih manfaat dari skim ini.

    Menteri Negara bagi Pendidikan, Puan Sim Ann, dalam ucapan beliau semasa perbincangan Pindaan rang undang-undang Skim Endowmen dan Simpanan  Pendidikan telah menyatakan bahawa Kementerian Pendidikan telah menjalankan kajian selepas debat COS 2013 untuk melanjutkan Skim Edusave dan setelah pertimbangan yang teliti, Perdana Menteri telah mengumumkan lanjutan sumbangan Edusave kepada semua rakyat Singapura yang berumur tujuh hingga 16 di Rapat Hari Kebangsaan pada tahun 2013.

    Puan, saya ingin meminta agar Kementerian Pendidikan dapat mengadakan kajian dan penelitian yang sama dalam perkara ini iaitu kemungkinan melanjutkan kemansuhan yuran peperiksaan nasional bagi setiap pelajar-pelajar Singapura, tidak terhad kepada pelajar-pelajar yang menuntut di sekolah pemerintah sahaja, serta mengambil langkah yang sama juga terhadap pelajar-pelajar politeknik dan ITE yang membuat pengajian secara sambilan.

    Puan, sepekara lagi yang saya ingin cadangkan adalah agar Kementerian Pendidikan turut membuat pertimbangan untuk melanjutkan skim FAS kepada pelajar-pelajar Singapura yang menuntut di sekolah-sekolah swasta atau privet. Saya rasa adalah penting bagi setiap skim bantuan pendidikan pemerintah dihulurkan kepada kesemua pelajar-pelajar Singapura kerana setiap daripada pelajar-pelajar ini apabila dewasa kelak akan menjadi warga yang menyumbang kepada pembangunan masyarakat dan negara.

    Puan, akhirkata, saya harap pemerintah dapat membuat penilaian yang serius tentang cadangan-cadangan yang telah diutarakan agar skim-skim yang disebutkan diatas akan mendatangkan lebih maanfaat kepada masyarakat Singapura secara keseluruhannya, ini sesuai dengan objektif pemerintah untuk membina sebuah masyarakat yang saksama dan inklusif.

    Terima Kasih Puan.

  • Cikgu Melayu buat hubungan sulit dengan murid

    underage1e

    A MOTHER noticed a love bite on her 13-year-old son’s neck.

    When she asked him how he got it, he revealed that it was from a teacher at his primary school. The woman was more than three times his age – and seven years older than the mother.

    Yesterday the 42-year-old teacher pleaded guilty to committing indecent acts on the youngster on a string of dates.

    A district court heard how he would play truant to join her on trips to the movies, Sentosa and the Botanic Gardens.

    They had met in early 2012 when the boy was in Primary 6. He was in the same football team as the teacher’s son, and she also taught Malay dance to his two sisters at the school – which is in the west of Singapore.

    The boy and his sisters became friendly with the teacher and her four children, and he would also chat with her on Facebook.

    One day in October that year, the lad set off for school in his uniform – but stopped to change, then met the woman for breakfast at McDonald’s at Nanyang Technological University.

    After taking a bus to a nearby park, she kissed him on the lips and gave him a love bite on his shoulder.

    They then went to see a movie at Clementi Mall before parting ways.

    She kissed him again on a trip to the Botanic Gardens on Oct 31, and did the same again at Sentosa the following day, as well as giving him another love bite on his shoulder.

    Two weeks later, they kissed and she bit his neck at the Botanic Gardens.

    But the following day, his mother spotted the mark and the boy spilled the beans.

    The parents informed the school and got their son to lodge a police report. The teacher was suspended, and charged in court.

    She cannot be named as it could lead to the identification of the minor.

    Deputy Public Prosecutor Santhra Aiyyasamy asked for an appropriate jail sentence yesterday.

    The maximum penalty for such offences is a $10,000 fine and a five-year jail term.

    She said the teacher had built a relationship with the pupil and taken advantage of him when he played truant.

    “Sexual exploitation of such young victims is completely unacceptable,” she added.

    Defence counsel Peter Fernando asked the court to consider placing the teacher on probation instead.

    He said his client had been suffering from a major depressive disorder when she committed the offences, but she is now coping well with treatment.

    The lawyer also said that his client, who had been teaching the Malay language for 11 years, was unlikely to break the law again.

    Her husband and family members were in court and tried to console her after the hearing. She will be sentenced on Feb 19.

    Source: [email protected]