It's about 10:15 am now. I collected those comments on the PM's NDR speech with 11 or more likes. My proxy for resonance. I am particularly worried about Lois Lai "free this, free that" suggestion. Aichi Chong garnered 38 likes (I added myself later) which is way ahead of any other comment.
These days practically nobody view their children as their old age pension. This is good but we have forgotten a very important reason why people have so many kids in the past. Even biologists concluded that having many offspring is Nature's way of ensuring survival of the species. However we have interfered so successfully with Nature and gone to the other extreme. Poorer societies are closer to nature than us. They use less energy, control their environment less and they also have more children.
We will not solve our problem of low birth rate. Let's hope we are lucky since we aren't willing to pay the price to overcome a declining population.
Sharon Lee Those who arent satisfied with the speech probably have to reflect and rethink what makes you so difficult to please. Truly you must be awfully difficult. You are responsible for the progress of singapore too, not just the government.11 hours ago · · 18
Francis Oen Sir, I fully agree with you that we cannot be xenophobic but I feel that the influx has been too fast for both the residents and infrastructure to cope, hence the backlash. Also, immigrants today also will be the dependents of tomorrow when they age... Why then so much recently instead of in the future when the numbers require it... Also, on increasing TFR... Why not rebate of $50k on HDB housing loan for each child per family unit...3 kids then $150k off their housing loan so that they have more income to bring their kids up....11 hours ago · · 13
Aichi Chong Sir, I have 3 kids - 13, 11 and 8. I love kids and I would consider having one more. But after seeing my eldest through her PSLE last year, I decided against it. The thought of having to go through the PSLE 4 times, and the thought that I'd have to sacrifice time with my baby (if I had a 4th) to help my younger 2 with their PSLE, are factors that have changed my mind. For us, it's not about money, but rather what I foresee the kids would have to go through that hinders me from having a 4th. My children are deprived of a balanced childhood and the freedom of childhood. They are frustrated with how their studies dominate their lives. Their lives revolve round school, homework, tuition, supplementary classes, cca etc. I literally squeeze in 20-30 min of outdoor play time for them on weekdays. Competition in schools and in the workforce make work-life balance almost an impossibility. I believe that all parents want their children to be happy. But being mired in a pressure-cooker environment really leaves childhood much to be desired. Just my thoughts. Thks11 hours ago · · 37
Lois N Lai 1. Affordable housing = only one parent using his/her cpf is enough to pay for a house.
2. Free education for kids until a certain age < 7
3. Free medical for elderly > 70
4. Free medical for kids until a certain age < 5
5. Take out examination from certain terms at certain level.
6. Free transportation for elderly > 70
Sir, please take the bold steps before pressing us to have more kids.
George Sim What kind of "home" would this be if our children are going to be brought up struggling with the ever rising costs of living and ultra competitive society. What joy is in living when we have to work our whole lives to pay for a pigeon hole of a leasehold house.
Mr PM sir, your intentions are good but the focus is all wrong. We don't need to have the best airports, the largest seaport nor world class transportation. We need a home where we can be proud to raise our families in and a secure income to retire with. Not all men are born in Singapore with talents equal to your elitist team in white. Some of us struggle even with day to day living.
It would be excessively idealistic to expect everyone to conform to our meritocratic hamster wheel society.
I appeal to you to look upon Singaporeans first as human being, not as a per capita GDP statistic that you unabashedly boast to other nations.
David Moses Heng Sir, I watched the NDR while my wife and 5 kids went downstairs to have their ice cream break with my in laws. I thank God for them as they are here every sunday without fail to help out with the kids. But even as I watched, I can't helped but feel skeptical about what was shared with regards to the boosting child birth rate. (1) You urged Singaporean parents not to send their young ones to the un necessary enrichment and tuition at a tender age. But may I ask how when the local schools are pressure cookers and with so many kaisu parents out there wanting to out do each other from day 1, how can they be convince? As a young parent with very young children, I forebid my children to undergo such programs as i want them to enjoy their child hood. I even told them that all the I need of them is that they enjoy their school and do their best. In my course of work, I have come across students who will break down and cry for scoring 80/100 for their tests/exams because to them, they have failed. when probed, they shared that since they are in the best class in the school, anything less than a 100/100 is consider failure. (2) Prejudice against working mothers in the ministries. My wife was working in a Secondary school which was at depot road before relocation under MOE as a General Education Officer until this year when she was forced to resign from her much loved job. How come you may ask? Under the leadership of her principal then(she(the principal) has since been transferred to another school this year), there will be times when my wife, while she is on child sick leave as our children are down with sicknesses, would be scolded for taking child sick leave. And when she does take the leave, the principal would get the HOD to call her almost every other minutes and ask if my wife has any worksheets for her students. I also heard from friends whom are in the school that the principal would openly declared during the weekly meeting that if the teachers wants to be mothers or have more children, they should consider staying at home for the school DOES NOT want mothers to be teachers! There are just so many more of such encounters that I personally know off. I have also written to you previously on your wall before. But there are also excellent stories that I know off which makes me still hold a tinker of hope in MOE. Sir, I sincerely urged that while your team and you may have good and excellent policies, they should never be left to the sole discretion of the ground leaders. NOT MANY OF THEM are in sync with what is intended. (3) Flat size: Given my family size, the current flat would become way too small as the children are growing up. But the flats being build these days are way too expensive and small. Is there anything that your team and your government can help families like us? Sir, I love my Singapore and I am proud to be a Singaporean. I have also served with the SAF for 12 years before leaving in 2007 to start my own outfit doing youth rehab work and I have every intent to grow and build my family here in this little island I call home. Infact, I have been telling my children that daddy would strongly encourage them to sign on with the ARMY or Police force when they are off age. All I ask from you is for a chance, a chance to grow and nurture my family so that we would not be out place and out paced. Please do not ignore us OR leave us behind. Thank you.
Jessica Aw it's true that pre-schooler should enjoy their school activities more.. don't over-teach them, but when our children went to Primary school, their suffered because they couldn't catch up with the teachers teaching, it was like teachers would expect them to know their work readily from Tution centers beforehand and I am stay at home mum with 3 kids, age 9, 8 and 5, it's too expensive to send all of them for tutions so that they'll be able to cope with their school works... the only thing i can help my kids is to buy a assessments for them to do, but still, couldn't compete with those who went for tutions..when they scored 65-70, it was below average, when they scored 80, it was just average in the class and those with good results, were most in tution centers.. :(12 hours ago · · 12
Koo You Liang-Shaun Hi PM Lee, I'm a Special Education Teacher. I would like to enquire if there are any new initiatives or updates drawn up by the government with regards to Special Education sector? There are many wonderful initiatives and adjustments made to mainstream education over the years. As a Singaporean, I'm proud to see that. Hope u can do the same or more to Special Education. I remembered you have mentioned about an inclusive society in 2004. Hope to see u address more concern and issues about our special needs in Singapore so that they can be inclusive in our society too :) Many of our special needs students have tremendous potential to contribute to our society. Besides, our continuous belief and support in them, we also need the government to play an active role in helping them to maximize their potential beyond disabilities. As a SPED teacher, it is my ambition that every child here with special educational needs will reach their fullest potential in life, be able to hold a job to support themselves and their families :)10 hours ago · · 12
Raymond Lim Dear PM Sir, would it be possible to request the local university to offer part time PhD for business courses. Working personnel are equally as motivated to make both career and study work!12 hours ago · · 11
Punitha Charles When Mr lee said "please let your child have a childhood....', my 9 year old daughter looked at me. She said, "Did you hear that? I so like this Prime Minister!". You have a new fan Mr Lee:)
Thisis Ryan Sim Thanks for making Singapore a lovely place to stay in, ignore those Ppl that always complain, they have no idea how blessed they are living in Singapore.
Tim Siao Siao hopefully it is called to action, not just talk and talk and talk about it.14 hours ago · · 14
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