5-year plan to identify, build skills for the future

September 19, 2014, 1:59 am

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Steps to help workers have quality jobs as economy transits to next level
By Amelia Tan, The Straits Times, 18 Sep 2014

WORKERS will get more access to training, career guidance and job market information to help them navigate an economy that is being shaped by the twin forces of technology and competition.

Companies will also partner government agencies and educational institutes to anticipate and identify future skills that will grow in demand.

These new moves were laid out by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam yesterday in a five-year plan which will see Singapore's economy transit to the next level.

Speaking at the launch of the new Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar yesterday evening, Mr Tharman said technology is sweeping a wave of changes across the global economy.

Automation has begun to replace human tasks across a broad swathe of jobs and even professional jobs such as auditing, legal advice and surgical tasks are being shaped by computerisation and machines, he said.

Developing countries are catching up with Singapore and competition is heating up, he said.

"We cannot change the world, but we can respond to and take advantage of the way the world is changing," he said. "We have to take advantage of new technologies and new global consumer demands to ensure that we remain a vibrant economy, and we give every Singaporean a chance to have quality jobs and fulfilling lives."

Singapore's economy is evolving to become an advanced economy. This will require workers with a mastery of their skills, honed by experience and time.

"We must cherish and respect the mastery of skills - the knowledge, practice and passion that goes into mastering skills, no matter what the job. That has to be our ethos as a society," he said, adding that this is at the "heart of an inclusive society".

Singapore will aim to build a continuing education system which will "intertwine education and the world of work", he said.

"It (the system) will enable every Singaporean to maximise his potential, from young and through life. It will build an advanced economy and ensure us a fair society," he added.

To do this, the Government will provide a full suite of career services that will help Singaporeans plan for their future careers.

Workers will have to be prepared to be lifelong learners and continually equip themselves with new skills, said Mr Tharman.

To smooth the way, employers will be roped in to work closely with the Government to envision the needs of the future economy and workforce.

The standard and quality of the training industry will also be raised, said Mr Tharman.

To drive the new plans forward, a new SkillsFuture Council, chaired by Mr Tharman, will be established. It will be made up of government agencies, the labour unions and employers.

Rounding off his speech, Mr Tharman said that what Singapore needs is "a meritocracy through life, not a meritocracy that's based on what you achieved at 18 or 24. Where you are assessed on your performance at every stage of your life, regardless of where you came from or what you started with. Assessed on your performance - that's a true meritocracy".

Respecting mastery of skills is the heart of an inclusive society: Tharman
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia, 17 Sep 2014

Learning to "cherish and respect the mastery of skills", and "the knowledge, practice and passion that goes into mastering these skills, no matter what the job" - that has to be Singapore's ethos as a society as the Republic moves into a new phase of its development, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam.

Speaking on Wednesday (Sep 17) at the opening of Singapore's second Continuing Education and Training (CET) campus, Mr Tharman said this ethos lies at the heart of an inclusive society: "We must be a place where everyone has an opportunity to build their strengths, develop the skills that enable them to maximise their potential, earn their own success and contribute to society. We want to help everyone develop the skills relevant to the future and we must build a future based mastery of skills in every job."

Mr Tharman outlined three areas where changes should take place in order for this mastery to happen. Firstly, individuals will have to take ownership of their learning and development. Secondly, employers need to take ownership of developing their workers and valuing their contributions based on skills. Finally, Singapore's education and training institutions will also need to take ownership to provide high-quality training to prepare students for work and life.

NEW COUNCIL SET UP

To that end, a new SkillsFuture Council will be set up to drive initiatives aimed at giving every Singaporean the opportunity to develop themselves to the fullest. There will be an emphasis on mastery of skills, across the board, even for degree-holders.

The council will be a tripartite committee chaired by Mr Tharman, and comprise Government, employers and unions. It will develop an integrated system of education, training and progression for all Singaporeans. It will also look at ways to promote industry support and social recognition for individuals to advance based on their skills.

This was announced at the launch of Singapore's new CET masterplan - known as CET 2020, it will support efforts to restructure the economy and build a career-resilient workforce. The masterplan follows on the heels of the recently-released Applied Study in Polytechnics and ITE Review (ASPIRE) report, which seeks to give every Singaporean the opportunity to progress in life, whatever his starting point.

The ASPIRE Committee's proposals aim to ensure that fresh polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) graduates have relevant and deep skills that lead to good jobs that pay well. CET 2020 follows through to address the needs of working adults.

Bringing all the pieces together will be the SkillsFuture Council. Mr Tharman said the council will look at ways to help Singaporeans master skills relevant to the future, adding that the good jobs of the future will involve both thinking and doing, and constant learning "in every field and up and down the line". "We must aspire to move beyond competence and doing regular jobs, towards mastering skills," he said.

'FUTURE-ORIENTED' EFFORTS

The most challenging part of SkillsFuture is probably changing employment practices, he said. "Changing the way in which industries recognise skills and working together amongst companies so as to be able to have a credible system, a credible skills framework that employees can identify with and employers and companies know it is worth something - it is not new to us but this is an area that requires development."

Efforts will be "future-oriented" as the Government works with employers and unions to identify the skills needed for specific industries.

Mr Tharman elaborated: "It involves firstly, identifying the skills and manpower needs of each sector, not just identifying the existing gaps, skills gaps or mis-matches but also anticipating future skills that are going to be needed - given advancements in technology, given the way global competition is shaping up and given new business models. So identifying skills and needs is the first task.

"Second is to articulate clear progression pathways for workers to advance based on skills in each sector. So Singaporeans can see rewards for them in developing their skills and advancing."

ADDRESSING EMPLOYERS' CONCERNS

He also touched on concerns by some employers who are reluctant to invest in training, for fear of losing their trained staff. This in turn leads to workers leaving their jobs, because they feel their bosses are not developing their capabilities.

Mr Tharman said this "vicious cycle" must be broken. He said a sectoral or national skills framework will ensure a ready supply of skilled workers across the board and this in turn, will benefit employers.

"We have got to raise the water level, so even if you lose your people, you raise the water level of skills for all your employees, in the industry, so that all boats are raised. You might not keep all your employees but when you hire new people, they too come with skills because some other employer has invested in their employees."

He said the Government will provide support, resources and even funding. Key to all this is also a broadening definition of success - where Singaporeans can achieve "meritocracy through life".

Mr Tharman said: "Not a meritocracy based on what you achieved at 18 or 24, but a meritocracy through life where you are assessed on your performance at each stage of your life regardless of where you came from, what you started with.

"That is true meritocracy and we must aim to develop that meritocracy and we can because we have the culture, we have the resources and we are going to work together to achieve this.

AREAS OF FOCUS FOR CET 2020

The CET 2020 Masterplan has outlined three areas of focus - valuing skills at the workplace; helping individuals make informed learning and career choices; and enhancing the quality of CET courses.

By 2030, it is projected that two in three Singaporeans will be professionals, managers and executives (PMEs). An increasing number of mid-level jobs will be replaced by machines, with technological advancements. Those most vulnerable will be mature workers above the age of 40, who face the highest risk of losing their jobs and greater challenges getting new ones.

The masterplan aims to keep the workforce relevant and to meet the needs of industries so that Singaporeans will remain employable. A key strategy is in ensuring the supply of right skills - skills that are sought after by employers.

To do so, companies will play a bigger role in training and development. The Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will work with sector-lead agencies, employers and the unions to develop sector-specific manpower and skills requirements over a five-year period. It will look at initiatives to attract, develop and retain talent. Details of the sectoral manpower strategies will be announced at a later date.

Mr Ng Cher Pong, chief executive of WDA, said: "The starting point will be about industry development, it will be about business challenges and from there, we can talk about how those industry trends - what are the implications for skills and competencies. Then we can talk about how the different stakeholders can come together and then develop different solutions for this.

"The game changer is that the relationships will have to change. The roles of each of the parties involved will have to be different. Employers will have to step forward now and be more actively involved in defining the skills we need, defining the manpower requirements and also being involved in rolling out interventions. These include measures to attract, retain and develop their talent. Likewise for individuals and training providers."

WSQ FRAMEWORK, SUPPORT FOR SMES TO BE ENHANCED

The Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) framework - a national certification system that recognises individuals for their skills - will be expanded across sectors. It will underpin the development of skills progression pathways, for both fresh graduates and adult workers.

Manpower and training support for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) will also be enhanced. Currently, there are five centres that provide advisory services to SMEs.

To help individuals, there will be an online national education, training and career guidance portal. This will incorporate personal assessment tools, information on courses, as well as the national jobs bank. More career coaches will be deployed at career centres.

And to enhance the quality of CET courses, ITE, polytechnics and private educational providers will play a bigger role in offering CET courses. There will also be more structured workplace-based learning through Place-and-Train programmes, and more online learning resources to make learning flexible and mobile.

More job and training guidance for workers
More career coaches and quality training providers to help them move up ladder
By Amelia Tan And Marissa Lee, The Straits Times, 18 Sep 2014

WORKERS will get more help in choosing jobs and charting their careers through a range of programmes by national training body Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

There will be more career coaches, a new online portal with job information as well as quality training providers to help them move up in their careers, Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said yesterday.

Some of these moves will start as early as secondary school to help prepare Singaporeans for the future needs of the economy.

"Even when you're in secondary school, it's good to have a vague idea of what your strengths are, what your aptitudes are, what you might be interested in," he said.

"Not choosing a course based on what your A-level scores qualify you for, what your GPAs (grade point averages) qualify you for - choosing a course based on your interest, what you feel you will be interested enough to keep learning, to keep progressing on, and to apply yourself with passion in."

WDA chief executive Ng Cher Pong said the aim is to get individuals to "take responsibility and ownership for their own career and skills planning".

To do this, a one-stop job and training portal will be launched.

This website will provide information on jobs and advice on how workers can progress in their careers with training. Workers will get a better idea of their strengths and interests through self-profiling tests and games at the Lifelong Learning Institute in Paya Lebar.

More career coaches will be hired to ensure that workers get career guidance and advice on training. There will also be more online courses rolled out so that workers can learn at their own pace while juggling their work duties.

WDA will work with employers to roll out structured on-the-job training programmes for workers. Firms will be asked to develop standardised benchmarks for workers' skills. This will help guide workers in upgrading skills and charting their career paths.

WDA will determine if workers meet these benchmarks through "application-based and outcomes- driven" tests, said Mr Ng.

Mr Gilbert Tan, chief executive of the National Trades Union Congress' training arm e2i, agreed that training workers to pick up skills needed by the industry will convince bosses to give them time to go for courses.

"Training should be conducive ... to business operations, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises," he said.

Lifelong learner bounces back after retrenchment
By Marissa Lee, The Straits Times, 18 Sep 2014

WHEN 47-year-old Jai Prakash lost his job during a company restructuring in April last year, he was not distressed.

The former distribution and marketing manager had already been thinking about his future career, so he brought his resume down to his neighbourhood Community Development Council.

The plan was to take a course in workplace safety. "I have a lot of experience in this, but not a lot of paper certification," said Mr Prakash.

But the counsellor, on reading Mr Prakash's resume, advised him to widen his job scope.

"He saw that I had more than 17 years of experience in logistics and said, 'Why don't you become a trainer? This market has the potential to grow'," recalled Mr Prakash. And so he did.

He enrolled in the Advanced Certificate in Training and Assessment (ACTA) course, and took classes at the Institute for Adult Learning together with about a dozen others.

After a subsidy for Singaporeans, Mr Prakash paid only about $300 for a course worth thrice that sum.

And after four months of intensive night classes, exams and assignments, Mr Prakash became a certified trainer.

In March, Mr Prakash took up a new post as operations manager of a chemical logistics company, after applying to more than a hundred firms.

His pay range has not changed, but he does see the ACTA course as another tool under his belt that helps him do the job better, and future jobs as well.

"It comes in useful when I work with subordinates," he said. "If I had not gone through the ACTA course, I wouldn't have understood how to get people to do things in a more effective manner. It's a very good investment," he said.

Mr Prakash's learning journey is far from over. He has since completed another course in workplace safety and is set on obtaining a business degree some day.

"There is no end to learning," explained Mr Prakash. "I believe one must have an open mind and adapt to changes."

He hopes that the Government's new Continuing Education and Training Masterplan will set the same tone for firms here, because he has experienced the other side of the coin.

Years ago, he had asked his employer, a manufacturer, for permission to leave work half an hour early each evening, so that he could attend a diploma class. It turned him down.

"I was very disappointed," said Mr Prakash. "I think the new plan will help companies see that when employees are better equipped, they will benefit too."

Employers to get more say in skills needed
By Joanna Seow, The Straits Times, 18 Sep 2014

EMPLOYERS will have more say in the types of skills the workers of the future should have.

They will work with unions and government agencies to identify the skills their industries will need down the road as part of the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) masterplan for adult education for the next five years.

These Sectoral Manpower Strategies will anticipate the changing needs of the future economy, said Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam last night.

This is one of the main thrusts of the Continuing Education and Training (CET) 2020 plan, he said.

"Employers must take ownership of developing every worker, planning their careers and valuing their contributions as they advance in skills," said Mr Tharman.

"This is probably the most challenging part of SkillsFuture," he said, referring to the new council that will drive the plans forward.

"It's about changing employment practices, changing the way in which companies develop and recognise skills and working together among companies (in each industry), so as to be able to have a credible system."

The WDA will also build on the existing national training programmes and develop competency frameworks for various sectors, he said. These will guide companies in planning career progression for their staff.

Students and workers will have standardised benchmarks to guide them in upgrading their skills and planning their careers from the post-secondary years onwards.

Detailed plans for each sector will be announced by the respective government agencies.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) will also get more dedicated centres, each with more staff to provide consultation on manpower and training issues. There are 12 SME Centres now.

Association of Small and Medium Enterprises president Kurt Wee was happy with the new changes and said that having clearer career pathways should foster a stronger level of commitment between employers and staff.

"For SMEs, one of the issues is very high turnover, so bosses may fear training someone who leaves soon after," he said, adding that if workers are focused on growing in their jobs, SMEs will be better prepared to invest in them.

Singapore National Employers Federation executive director Koh Juan Kiat said it "welcomes the comprehensive initiatives to help companies build a competent and skilled workforce, which is necessary for sustainable growth".

The WDA said it will also introduce more online components to courses, and raise the quality of CET programmes and that of adult educators. More structured workplace- based training is in the works. Human resource expert David Ang said these changes will improve productivity as staff can spend less time in classrooms away from the workplace.

Post by Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA).

CET revamp to help employees make better career, learning choices
By Siau Ming En, TODAY, 18 Sep 2014

Under the new Continuing Education and Training (CET) Masterplan unveiled yesterday, the Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will be helping individuals make better-informed career and learning choices, as well as getting employers to be actively involved in building and valuing their employees’ skills.

Under the blueprint — which will support the work of the new tripartite committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam — WDA will work with lead agencies, employers and unions in various sectors to identify the specific manpower and skills required for each sector over a five-year period and spell out the measures needed to meet these requirements.

Building on existing Singapore Workforce Skills Qualifications (WSQ) frameworks, the agency will also develop competency frameworks for each sector to support the development of pre-employment training and CET programmes. These will guide human resource practices, such as recruiting and planning employees’ pathways for career progression, for instance.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of the official opening of the Lifelong Learning Institute, WDA chief executive Ng Cher Pong said: “The focus will be on changing three key relationships — that with employers, with individuals and with training providers.”

WDA began a review of its masterplan last year, which was focused primarily on expanding the national CET training capacity and developing tripartite cooperation in national CET efforts. Noting that the proportion of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) that provided structured training in 2012 was slightly lower than the overall average, WDA said it hopes to reach out to more SMEs by partnering SPRING Singapore’s network of SME Centres to provide manpower and training advisory support.

WDA will also partner the Education Ministry to help individuals make better learning and career choices: An online education, training and career guidance portal will be developed. The portal will allow individuals — beginning from the time they start school, and throughout their careers — to chart and review their education, training and career developments.

WDA also plans to increase the pool of career coaches at its career centres, while raising the professional competencies of the existing pool of some 80 coaches.

More place-and-train programmes — including those targeted at fresh polytechnic and ITE graduates — will be introduced as part of efforts to provide more structured workplace-based learning. More courses adopting both classroom and online learning will also be introduced.

Related

Lifelong Learning Institute

Learning for Life

CET 2020: Transforming the CET System to Build a Competitive Economy and a Career Resilient Workforce

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Singapore's health-care system tops efficiency ranking among 51 economies

September 20, 2014, 5:32 am

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The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

SINGAPORE overtook Hong Kong to top a ranking of the most efficient health-care systems, as the Government boosts spending on medical services to support an ageing population.

The South-east Asian nation was rated first among 51 economies, according to an annual ranking compiled by Bloomberg that tracks factors including life expectancy, the cost of health care as a percentage of gross domestic product and total medical expenditure for each person.

Hong Kong dropped to second place and Italy was ranked third, while the US was 44th and Russia last.

"I describe Singapore's system as the least imperfect in the world," said Dr Jeremy Lim, head of Oliver Wyman's Asia-Pacific health and life sciences practice.

"If Singapore can successfully balance the increased funding availability with prudent measures to curb inappropriate and over-consumption which society as a whole accepts and supports, the future would be very promising."

Singapore will spend close to $4 billion over the next five years to help Singaporeans benefit from MediShield Life, a new universal health insurance plan, to be implemented at the end of next year.

It has also set aside $9 billion as part of a Pioneer Generation Package.

Bloomberg's ranking of the most efficient health-care systems took into account year-on- year changes to the criteria used.

Hong Kong's health-care cost per capita increased 38 per cent from a year earlier to US$1,944, (S$2,455) while Singapore's rose 13 per cent to US$2,426, according to the ranking published yesterday.

Singapore's life expectancy gained 0.4 years in the same period to 82.1 years, compared with Hong Kong's 0.06 years rise to 83.5 years.

Singapore's consumer prices rose 1.2 per cent in July from a year earlier, while Hong Kong's inflation quickened to 4 per cent from 3.6 per cent in June.

Hong Kong has higher utilisation rates and public medical expenditure, while Singapore's health-care spending is more targeted, said Dr Phua Kai Hong, an associate professor of health policy and management at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore.

The average length of stay in hospitals in Singapore for patients aged 65 years and above rose to 8.2 days last year from 7.8 days in 2010. More beds are being added, but as the population ages, the bed crunch may get worse, said Professor David Matchar, director of health services and systems research at Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School in Singapore.

BLOOMBERG

NSmen get to take charge of own fitness training

September 20, 2014, 6:09 am

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100 in trial to use tracking devices to monitor exercises on their own time
By Jermyn Chow, The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

OPERATIONALLY ready national servicemen (NSmen) will be allowed to use fitness tracking devices to monitor their physical fitness training on their "own time own target", to borrow the popular army slang.

This is to give them free rein over how they want to train for their Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT), instead of having them supervised by fitness instructors at physical training classes.

As part of a four-month trial which started yesterday, 100 NSmen will wear a Fitbit band or activate a Global Positioning System- enabled smartphone app to log in completed exercises in the self-administered IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT). They have to run or jog for at least 75 minutes a week, clocking about seven minutes a kilometre, to be counted as having done one IPT session.

The IPT is a voluntary programme for all NSmen - but especially those who fail their IPPT - to get fit through 10 75-minute coaching sessions spread over 12 months. Those who choose to work out on their own are expected to improve on their previous IPPT results.

The latest move is part of recent efforts to make IPPT training less of a chore for NSmen, who have to juggle family and work commitments.

Colonel Chua Boon Keat, who heads the Singapore Armed Forces' (SAF) National Service Affairs Department, said the armed forces is relooking the way its citizen soldiers train to stay in shape.

"(It is) a big mental shift from looking at how to control everything to one that frees up possibilities where (NSmen) can do it on their own time... it is up to them to choose what suits them best."

NSmen can now choose from five workouts that include ball games and aerobics, among other recent changes.

In another trial, citizen soldiers can work out in more convenient locations downtown and in residential areas, instead of only in army camps. Furthermore, NSmen will now get paid for signing up and attending IPT sessions.

Col Chua told reporters at a media briefing that those who sign up and attend supervised IPT classes will be given "service pay" to "recognise the time and effort spent coming for an SAF-sanctioned activity".

When asked if people will find ways and means to game the train-on-your-own system, Col Chua said the SAF trusts citizen soldiers to "do the right thing".

"There is only that much 'stick' you can impose on a person. After a while, it is not effective any more... We believe NSmen have the maturity and understanding that these (moves) are meant to help them."

Second Defence Minister Chan Chun Sing, who is also Minister for Social and Family Development, dropped in on the first IPT session in Bishan Park last night. He said letting NSmen take charge of their own fitness will motivate them to do more for the defence of the country.

"At the end of the day, we can provide all these options, we can provide all this flexibility... fitness is (still) an individual discipline issue. Most of us... will require conscientious training, including myself."

Post by cyberpioneer.

How NSmen can train to pass IPPT


IPPT Preparatory Training (IPT): 10 sessions spread over 12 months.

- Choose from five 75-minute workouts that include ball games and metabolic circuit training.

- Undergo training in four army camps or five new downtown and residential locations. The new venues are Promontory @ Marina Bay, the Co-curricular Activity Branch in Bukit Timah, Bishan Park, Jurong Central Park and Punggol Park.

- Do-it-yourself training.

- NSmen to use fitness-tracking band Fitbit or the Health Promotion Board's Interactive Diet and Activity Tracker (iDAT) smartphone app to log in their exercises.

- Have to run or jog for at least 75 minutes, clocking about seven minutes per kilometre, per week.

- Expect to improve on their previous Individual Physical Proficiency Test (IPPT) result.


Remedial Training

NSmen who fail or default on the IPPT or IPT have to complete their 20 sessions within one year.

Related

SAF trials do-it-yourself IPT

Trial to let NSmen train for IPPT closer to home

New 3-station IPPT from 1 April 2015

Household incomes up, with bottom 20% seeing fastest rises

September 20, 2014, 7:23 am

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Residents also spending more each month than five years ago: Survey
By Aaron Low, The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

HOUSEHOLDS here enjoyed rising incomes across the board over the past five years, with the bottom 20 per cent experiencing the fastest pace of growth.

Residents here are also spending more every month compared with five years ago, with more money going into higher-quality and more expensive goods and services, such as eating in restaurants, spending on air travel and pay-TV.

These snapshots of the average resident household's income and spending patterns were captured in the latest Household Expenditure Survey, which polled more than 11,000 households.

The survey showed that average monthly incomes of resident households here rose 5.3 per cent a year between 2008 and last year, slightly slower than the 5.6 per cent annual rate in the previous five-year period.

But it was the lowest income group that had incomes rise the fastest over the period. Those at the bottom saw average monthly incomes rise by 6.6 per cent a year, growing from $1,466 to $2,022.

A big part of the reason that incomes at the bottom rose quickly was financial help from the Government, which includes aid such as the Workfare Income Supplement and GST Vouchers.

The Department of Statistics, which conducted the survey during October 2012 and September last year, said regular government transfers accounted for 9.3 per cent of this group's total income.

In all, government rebates, subsidies and financial aid came to nearly 90 per cent of the bottom group's average annual household income per household member before any transfers took place.

The data also gave a glimpse of the changing lifestyles of Singaporeans. The resident family now spends $4,724 on average a month, up from $3,809 five years ago. About 30.1 per cent of the monthly expenses went to housing and related expenses.

The next biggest item on the list was food, accounting for about 26.5 per cent of total expenses. Residents here spent $1,188 a month on food.

Transport came next, with households here spending about $811 on average a month. But the bulk of this expenditure was on private road transport, which cost $574 a month on average. Households here spent just $167 a month on public transport.

Together, all three items accounted for nearly two-thirds of monthly expenses on average, noted the Statistics Department.

But while things did get more expensive, with inflation at 3.1 per cent a year on average over the past five years, the Statistics Department also noted that increases in household expenditure "partly reflect lifestyle changes and spending on better-quality products and services".

In all, growth in household income continued to outpace growth in expenditure, a trend which bodes well for households, said OCBC economist Selena Ling. She noted that the past five years had been a difficult period, starting with the recession as well as rising inflation.

"Given all that, it's encouraging that we see incomes outpacing expenditure growth. We are seeing the effects of fiscal help for some of the poorest households," she said.

Incomes rise faster for HDB households
5.2% growth a year outpaces figures for condos and landed property
By Janice Heng, The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

IN THE past five years, household incomes rose across the board, but they did not do so evenly.

Households in Housing Board flats had higher income growth than those in condominiums and landed property. And although income from work went up, it now forms a smaller proportion of overall household income.

HDB household incomes grew 5.2 per cent a year on average, according to the Department of Statistics'Household Expenditure Survey, conducted every five years.

The latest survey is based on data from 2012 to last year.

In contrast, incomes rose 3.6 per cent a year for households in condos and other apartments, and 4.2 per cent for those in landed properties.

In absolute terms, the gap is still stark. The average monthly income was $7,900 for HDB households, while it was $20,536 for households in condos and $26,058 for those in landed properties.

But with incomes growing faster at the bottom, the income gap seems to have narrowed, noted SIM University economist Randolph Tan. The bottom fifth saw annual income growth of 6.6 per cent, compared with 4.7 per cent for the top fifth.

Overall, household income growth was driven by rises in work and non-work incomes.

Business income rose an average of 5.2 per cent a year, while employment income rose 3.9 per cent. Non-work income grew the fastest, at 22 per cent a year.

The differing growth rates meant that although employment income still forms the bulk of income, its share has fallen.

It accounts for 78.6 per cent of household income, down from 84 per cent five years ago.

Business income continued to account for 11 per cent of income.

But the share of non-work income doubled to 10.5 per cent, from 5 per cent five years ago.

It was especially significant for households in the bottom fifth.

Such households get an average of $536 in such income each month. This represents more than a quarter of their income, up from less than a fifth five years ago.

More than half of this is from sources such as relatives and friends, as well as Central Provident Fund payouts. Retiree households form a quarter of households in the bottom fifth.

But much non-work income also comes from the Government, for instance, in the form of GST Vouchers and Workfare Income Supplement scheme payouts.

For households in the bottom fifth, almost $1 out of every $10 in income comes from regular government transfers, noted Nanyang Technological University Assistant Professor Walter Theseira.

"So, a large part of their income increase is because of the increase in generosity of transfers."

But this is not a good strategy in the long run, he added. "The Government will need to look at policies that help them increase their job earnings."

Those at the top are also getting more income from non-work sources, with an average of $2,956 a month. But this is mainly rental and investment income.

Govt help boosts income, cuts costs for the poor
By Janice Heng and Walter Sim, The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

HELP extended by the Government has boosted the income of low-income households and reduced the amount they have to spend, according to the Household Expenditure Survey released yesterday.

Households living in one- and two-room Housing Board flats receive an annual average of $10,067 per household member in government transfers, rebates and subsidies. This is close to their annual income per member before transfers, which is $10,145.

Similarly, households in the bottom fifth receive an annual average of $5,560 per household member in transfers, on top of their $6,183 pre-transfer income per household member.

This is the first time that the survey, done every five years, has looked at the effect of government transfers on household income and spending. The significant impact they have on poor households comes against the backdrop of increased efforts to address the widening income gap.

For instance, the Workfare Income Supplement scheme, introduced in 2007 to top up the pay of low-wage workers, was enhanced in 2010 and 2013 to cover more workers and give higher payouts.

But the bulk of government transfers is in the form of rebates and subsidies. These include subsidies for education and housing, as well as HDB rental rebates. One- and two-room HDB households receive $8,064 in rebates and subsidies annually per member.

For taxi driver Ng Thong Eng, 51, medical subsidies make a big difference. He and his 84-year- old father have ailments such as heart problems, and their medical bills are subsidised by 95 per cent. That, he said in Mandarin, is "a huge burden off my back".

His 44-year-old wife, who works as a part-time cleaner, also receives Workfare payouts.

Economist Randolph Tan, however, warned against relying too much on transfers. "The main concern is that one cannot hand out money from an empty kitty."

The Government should continue to give transfers, "but in a considered manner", he said.

All income groups forking out more for finer things
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

HOUSEHOLDS in all income groups are spending more, driven by changing lifestyles and an appetite for the finer things in life.

Overall, household monthly expenditure rose by 4.4 per cent a year on average - from $3,809 to $4,724 - between 2008 and 2013.

This was higher than the annual increase of 2.6 per cent recorded over the previous five years.

The Department of Statistics gave this bird's eye view of spending levels and patterns in its latest Household Expenditure Survey, out yesterday.

The survey showed that housing, food and transport continue to make up the biggest share of household expenditure.

Households spent an average of $811 a month on transport, up from $700 previously.

The increase is due mainly to higher expenditure on flights and private transport. Public transport expenditure rose from $157 to $167 a month over the same period. Private transport expenses - mainly cars - rose to $574 a month, from $531 five years ago, mostly due to more spending on car maintenance and petrol.

People are dining out more often and at more upscale eateries. Households spent an average of $764 a month dining out, up from $592 five years ago and $466 a decade ago.

The proportion of spending on restaurants, cafes and pubs also rose to 35 per cent of food services, up from 22 per cent 10 years ago.

More households - 42.1 per cent - own a car now, up from the 38.3 per cent who did five years ago.

Middle-income households experienced the biggest increase in spending. The average monthly expenditure of this group rose by 5.5 per cent a year.

Sales manager David Koh, 49, felt that his family of four spends more today compared to five years ago. He and his civil servant wife, 40, together take home about $9,000 a month.

"When we stock up on groceries for the week at the supermarket, we can spend $200 now, when we used to spend $100."

Efforts to narrow income gap bearing fruit but challenges remain
By Aaron Low, The Straits Times, 19 Sep 2014

IF THERE is one key takeaway from the latest Household Expenditure Survey, it is that the drive to help the lowest income group is bearing fruit.

The Government began to pay much more attention to the lower-income group almost 10 years ago, when the income gap started to grow wider, fuelled by globalisation, free movement of cheap labour and technological progress.

These forces rewarded high-skilled talent, but pushed down wages for low-wage workers even as they ravaged jobs in the middle for many countries, including Singapore.

The Government began its efforts to close the gap in earnest when it turned the Workfare Income Supplement into a permanent scheme in 2007.

Then, over the following years, it sharpened its redistributive policies, giving more to those at the bottom, and in a more targeted fashion. Examples of such efforts include the regular goods and services tax (GST) rebates, U-Save vouchers, and education and health subsidies.

Yesterday's national survey findings showed that such policies have had a positive impact on the group near the bottom.

Average monthly incomes for this group rose by 6.6 per cent a year over the past five years, much faster than the 5.3 per cent average rate for all groups.

Significantly, too, for the bottom 20 per cent, income grew just 4.5 per cent a year in the previous five-year period.

To be sure, the pace of growth means little especially if the incomes differ so much between the top and bottom earners.

Average monthly income for the top was $24,544, more than 12.13 times the $2,022 for the bottom 20 per cent.

But the gap between the top and bottom was even bigger - more than 13 times - the last time this survey was conducted.

So, it is fair to say that progress has been made.

Qualitatively, the expenditure figures also give hope that lives for those at the bottom are improving.

The survey showed that those at the bottom were spending on items such as mobile phones and pay-TV.

Five years ago, just under one in four of the bottom 20 per cent of households had pay-TV. Today, some 39.2 per cent of households are watching cable television.

Mobile phones, seen as essential in today's Internet era, also saw higher penetration among low-income households. Nearly nine in 10 now own at least one mobile phone, up from seven in 10.

The digital divide remains, but is narrowing.

The proportion of households in the bottom 20 per cent which have Internet subscription and access nearly doubled from 29.8 per cent to 49.5 per cent. But among the highest earning households, 95.2 per cent have such access.

Does this mean the battle against inequality will get easier?

No. The opposite is probably true: It will get harder from now on.

OCBC economist Selena Ling said: "With the large chunks of the puzzle already in place, such as Workfare, we will probably see a stabilisation of income growth at the bottom from now on."

The next step must be to see how the Government can continue to narrow the gap without draining the state's coffers.

To do that, it will have to continue to judiciously target its financial aid and subsidies. It will also have to start thinking about raising taxes - Robin Hood-style - to fund subsidies for those at the bottom.

The Government has said that it will not raise taxes this current term. However, we are just slightly beyond the mid-term, so some serious thinking on this front may be in order.

How the Government balances these different pressures, with an election looming in 2016, will be keenly watched - and felt.

'Income gap closing but poorest may not feel effect'
Higher cost of living may have muted rise in household income: Observers
By Charissa Yong, The Straits Times, 20 Sep 2014

EXPERTS welcomed the news that the income growth gap between rich and poor has narrowed in the past five years but also questioned the extent to which the lowest-income earners are better off.

The four economists and four Members of Parliament were responding to the latest Household Expenditure Survey, released on Thursday.

It found that average monthly household income went up from 2008 to last year, with the bottom fifth experiencing the fastest pace of growth.

But the observers said the higher cost of living may have dampened the effect of higher incomes.

The bottom fifth of households saw average monthly incomes rise by 6.6 per cent a year over the five-year period, while inflation was 3.1 per cent a year on average.

DBS economist Irvin Seah said: "Their increase in average household income in terms of purchasing power is significantly less than what the 6.6 per cent growth figure suggests."

UniSIM economist Randolph Tan said: "The bad news is that the low income are still the most badly hit by price rises."

The survey also found that the bottom fifth of households still spend more than their regular take-home pay. Households in this group earned $2,022 a month on average, but spent $2,231.

But the gap between expenditure and incomes has narrowed from five years ago, the Department of Statistics said, adding that households may have other sources of income not reflected in the survey, such as from property sales or lump-sum Central Provident Fund withdrawals.

Mr Seah said the gap between income and expenditure could be because more in the lower income group are retired, and spending more on needs like health care.

Ang Mo Kio GRC MP Inderjit Singh said that if the higher expenditure was due to higher prices of basic items, instead of spending on pricier items, then he was worried that "inflation will negate rising income levels unless wages can rise even faster".

But improvements to the incomes of the poor have been significant, driven almost entirely by government transfers, said the economists and MPs.

For one- and two-room households, the average annual income per member was matched nearly dollar for dollar by government transfers like GST Vouchers and the Workfare Income Supplement.

Barclays economist Leong Wai Ho said: "We might be finally starting to reverse the widening of the income gap."

But it may not be sustainable to rely indefinitely on transfers to further improve the lot of the lower income as that requires strong economic growth to generate revenue, said the experts.

Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Zaqy Mohamad said: "The last thing you want is for everyone to have expectations that the Government will always step in and fill the gap when workers have low pay."

Instead, the focus should be on growing real wages, said Bank of America Merrill Lynch economist Chua Hak Bin, Nanyang Technological University economist Walter Theseira and Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC MP Zainal Sapari.

"It's best to look at subsidies and transfers as measures to keep households afloat while we look at how to help them be able to earn more," said Dr Theseira.

Such measures should include training and upgrading the skills of low-wage workers to raise their pay and give them more opportunities, said Dr Chua and Holland-Bukit Timah GRC MP Liang Eng Hwa.

New survey gives snapshot of typical retiree households
By Janice Tai And Linette Lai, The Straits Times, 20 Sep 2014

A TYPICAL retired household here draws a monthly income of $1,735, half of which comes from investments and contributions from family members or friends.

A retiree household living in a three-room flat spends an average of $1,000 every month, of which a third goes to food and another third to housing, utilities and health expenses.

These snapshots of the average retiree's income and spending patterns have been captured for the first time in the latest Household Expenditure Survey, which polled more than 11,000 households.

The number of retiree households, defined as those comprising solely non-working people aged 60 years and over, has more than doubled in the last 13 years to 77,481. About 40,000 of them live in three- or four-room flats.

The retiree households have also been found to form a quarter of households in the bottom fifth of the population where income is concerned.

"The data is interesting as it is rare but it is insufficient for planning purposes," said Ms Peh Kim Choo, director of the Hua Mei Centre for Successful Ageing under the Tsao Foundation, which works closely with the elderly.

"Nowadays, post-retirement periods can stretch to 30 years so it will be good to know the costs needed for different retirement phases and whether those needs are being met."

The Department of Statistics, which conducted the survey during October 2012 and September last year, said the majority of these elderly households fell under the lower-income groups because they do not get income from work. Some may rely on children living elsewhere or social support to meet their needs while others finance their retirement using savings and investment returns.

Retiree households are also spending more every month. They shelled out an average of $1,700 last year, compared to $1,300 five years ago.

However, the bottom fifth of these households spent only $480 a month, compared to $4,120 for the top 20 per cent.

The divide that has emerged in the retiree class is also apparent when income levels are considered.

On average, those who retire in condominiums and other non- Housing Board apartments have a monthly income of $3,851 - six times that of those who live in one- and two-room flats, and more than double that of those staying in five-room and executive flats.

But this gap is not as wide as that between the poorest and the well-heeled segments in the general population. The survey found that households in condominiums and other non-HDB apartments earn an average of $20,536, about 10 times the income of those in one- and two-room flats.

Experts say that the gap between these groups narrows in retirement because people stop working.

"It's largely because of the loss of income from work, which hits richer people far more as a proportion of their income than poorer people," said Assistant Professor Walter Edgar Theseira of Nanyang Technological University.

"In retirement, the rich generally have investment income streams to fall back on, whereas poorer retiree households are very dependent on government transfers, subsidies and family contributions."

National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan also noted that the lowest-income households actually spend more than they earn each month, while even those who live in condominiums and other apartments are earning just $428 more on average than they spend.

This is worrying, she said, because health-care expenditure tends to go up as the population ages. "(The latter) are just about able to cover their expenses. All it takes (to put them in the red) is for expenses to go up when they fall ill."

She's 'retiring comfortably'
By Linette Lai, The Straits Times, 20 Sep 2014

Retired teacher Lucy Tay, 65, lives with her 70-year-old husband in a flat in Jurong.

Together, they spend about $1,200 a month, mostly on food and utilities.

On her own, Madam Tay uses up about $2,000 a month on things like shopping or eating out, adding up to a combined expenditure of around $3,500 for the two of them.

Some of the money comes from her savings, she said, although the investments made when she was younger are also beginning to bear fruit.

"I bought endowment plans and shares," she said. "The income is not fixed, so it's hard to say how much I get every month."

She also gets around $900 in monthly payouts from the Central Provident Fund. Her husband, a permanent resident, does not get these.

"One thing I can safely say is that I'm retiring comfortably," Madam Tay said.

"I consider myself lucky," she said. "If I want to go for a meal, I just go."

Patients don't always know best

September 21, 2014, 7:35 pm

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That's why, sometimes, they need to rely on the doctor and on family.
By Chong Siow Ann, Published The Straits Times, 20 Sep 2014

MANY years ago, I had a patient with schizophrenia who, when she was well, was an affable homemaker and loving wife. But when unwell, she would transmogrify into an aggressive, unreasoning person with a particular paranoid delusion about her husband.

Unfortunately, she was prone to such relapses of her illness because she was frequently non-compliant with her medication despite repeated efforts to educate her on the need to take her pills.

These relapses finally drove her husband to desperation and to resort - on his own initiative - to administering the medication covertly in her daily cup of morning coffee, which he would make for her. But because she was suspicious, she would insist that he take the first sip.

Her husband told me this after he became worried that the regular, unwanted, partaking of the medication would cause him untoward effects.

Non-compliance with treatment is common in psychiatry, where a lack of awareness of the existence of the illness itself is a manifestation of some form of mental illness.

This is the most common reason why people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder refuse treatment.

However, it is not only mentally ill people who are wont to refuse treatment - people with physical illnesses who do not have any mental illness are also known to reject medication.

In the treatment of the sick, the ethically correct thing to do is to ensure that patients understand and acknowledge their illness and its ramifications before proceeding to make their own decision whether to accept the treatment or not.

Implicit in a typical patient-doctor interaction is the principle of informed consent and patient autonomy, where an adult patient who is mentally competent has the legal right to refuse any medical or surgical treatment.

In those instances where patients accept the prescribed treatment, their decisions and rationality are seldom questioned.

It is when they refuse that their mental competence for decision-making becomes suspect. There is no universally accepted definition of this sort of mental competence.

The ability to understand information about the illness, implication of the subsequent treatment decision, and capability to say yes or no in a consistent way with regard to treatment are among the legal standards commonly used.

Reasons for saying no

PEOPLE who fulfil that narrow legal standard of competence do make decisions contrary to medical advice. Patients do not just use expert medical advice and evidence as the sole or even main factor in their decision-making.

Instead, these patients make choices based on their values, beliefs and priorities in life as well as on their life experiences (and possibly those of relatives and friends).

These can be influenced by other sentiments and emotions, such as mistrust of the medical services, fears of adverse effects arising from treatment, and loss of personal control.

And there is that obliterating effect of a serious or chronic illness on one's selfhood and identity, which redefines who you are and what you can or cannot do.

This is something that most people find repugnant.

Quite a few of my young patients with chronic mental illness simply loathe taking their medication - not because they do not think they need it but because it is a daily reminder of their illness.

Patients who refuse treatment often confound and frustrate their doctors who tend to see them as irrational, difficult, mistaken or ill-informed - especially when the doctors have gone some way in advising and persuading them.

The patient-doctor interaction can go sour: The rebuffed doctor might withdraw and become detached, and the patient might feel abandoned. Ideally, in such a situation, the doctor should then reassess the patient's decision-making capacity and make more time for further discussion.

The model that is aspired to is "shared decision-making", where the doctor explains the options and their possible outcomes, the patient discusses his concerns, values and preferences, and they jointly reach a decision that is best for that patient.

What might not be obvious is that there are some patients who might not be able to be engaged at this level of decision-making, despite appearing to be cognitively intact.

In a study published in 1997 in the journal Psychosomatics, 10 per cent of hospitalised patients with ischaemic heart disease had substantial difficulty acknowledging the nature and severity of their disease.

This was something that could render their decision-making capacity rather suspect, even though "they looked to be functioning like the person on the street", said Dr Paul Appelbaum, a psychiatrist with the University of Massachusetts Medical School and author of the paper.

"In our experience, we are more likely to see errors made in the direction of assuming competence on the part of people who may be fairly impaired, than incorrectly assuming incompetence in people who are not impaired."

'State of sickness'

A STUDY published in 2001 in the medical journal, Annals Of Internal Medicine, found that some very sick patients had impaired decision-making abilities.

This relatively small study was conducted on 63 hospitalised patients with either serious illnesses like Aids, pneumonia, cancer and heart failure, or who had undergone major surgery such as a coronary heart bypass. The patients were first found to be mentally competent on a test called the Mini Mental Status Examination.

But when they were given a series of seven cognitive tests, they performed in the manner of children below 10 years of age.

The authors commented that the finding "does not mean that they are childish; rather they are in a state of sickness".

Precisely how this "state of sickness" rendered these adult patients to this regressive state is not known.

Although the study has its limitations and its findings are preliminary, it suggests that the trauma of being acutely ill, the disorientating effect of being in hospital, and the effects of medications and surgery might act in some ways and stricken a person's mental faculty in a more covert way.

The author of that paper, Dr Eric Cassell, opined subsequently in the New York Times (in October 2001) that it is not only "grossly unfair" but also "an abuse of a patient to put someone in a position to make decisions when they do not have the capacity to make them", and that these patients need "somebody who is able to find out what is in their best interest, someone to help them to come to a decision that represents their beliefs".

Writing in The New York Times in 2011, Dr Eric Manheimer, the medical director of Bellevue Hospital Centre in New York, described his experience of undergoing treatment for throat cancer.

During a particularly harrowing and trying hospitalisation, he decided that he had enough.

"I refused further radiation and chemotherapy. I lay in my bed and watched the events around me - the distress of my family, the helplessness of my doctors - without anxiety, comfortable that I had made the correct decision," he wrote.

But though his doctors could not override his decision or persuade him to change his mind, his wife could and did. At her quiet but steely insistence, he acquiesced, largely because he "did not have the energy, or perhaps the will, to disagree". He completed the treatment, recovered and resumed his work and life.

"My dreams of dying were not the products of anxious moments of terror. The life force had simply slipped away and made me ready to die. It had also rendered me incapable of making the right decision for myself. My disease was treatable and the odds were favourable. My doctors were professional and gentle but ultimately could not decide for me," he reflected.

"When neither doctor nor patient can make the right decision, it is vital to have a caring family - though even here the legal and ethical issues are complicated."

Gone are the days when a doctor would dictate the terms and the patient could be expected to comply docilely. Today, there is much emphasis on a patient's autonomy and the right to self-determination. But an unquestioning deference to this principle and at the expense of all other considerations can actually not be in the patient's best interest.

While truly competent patients should not have treatments forced on them, mentally incompetent patients should be protected from the harmful consequences of their unwise decisions.

The writer is the vice-chairman, medical board (research), at the Institute of Mental Health.

Joint govt effort to better unclutter lives of hoarders

September 21, 2014, 9:05 pm

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New task force will work with community groups to identify and help those who hoard
By Janice Tai And Toh Yong Chuan, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

Several government agencies have come together to deal more effectively with the growing problem of elderly people who clutter their flats with numerous items they hoard.

They collect cardboard boxes, plastic bags, canned food, newspapers and umbrellas and, in the worst cases, stack them up from floor to ceiling, making it impossible to move around freely inside their flat.

The Sunday Times understands that those involved in the new task force, led by the Ministry of National Development, are the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Social and Family Development, the police, the Housing Board (HDB), Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF), National Environment Agency (NEA) and People's Association.

Also involved is the Institute of Mental Health (IMH), because hoarding can be a symptom of obsessive compulsive disorder or dementia.

The new task force will work with community groups to identify those who hoard, clean up their flats, which can be potential fire traps, and send them for medical treatment if they need it.

It allows the different bodies to tackle the issue "in a more coordinated and sustainable manner", a National Development Ministry spokesman told The Sunday Times.

Currently, residents are simply advised by HDB officers to remove items, the spokesman said, adding: "For compulsive cases, the HDB will work with social workers, grassroots leaders and the SCDF to provide counselling and help."

Up till now, problem hoarders were dealt with in a piecemeal fashion, said Ms Julia Lee, director of Touch Community Services' Seniors Activity Centre.

If items caused obstruction in public spaces, such as common corridors, the town council would step in. The NEA would be alerted if hoarding caused an infestation of pests, such as cockroaches. If the items were deemed a fire hazard, the SCDF would get involved.

Ms Lee said: "It is important to address hoarding, as the clutter may affect health and safety, cause conflict with family and neighbours, or is a sign of isolation and loneliness."

Voluntary welfare organisations welcomed the joint effort by the task force, given the serious problems hoarding can cause.

Doctors at IMH treated a 50-year-old woman who lived in a three-room flat in Toa Payoh that was so cluttered with junk that every time she needed to shower, she had to move items out of her bathroom.

She had a decade's worth of newspapers, old electrical appliances and umbrellas, among other things. The flat was so packed that she ended up sleeping in the corridor.

The woman has improved with treatment, and is no longer hoarding items. The town council has cleared out her flat.

Social workers from Touch, who visited 600 flats in two rental blocks in Geylang Bahru over the past two years, found 30 with significant hoarding or self-neglect.

The number referred to the IMH for hoarding has increased gradually over the years, said its consultant Rajesh Jacob, though figures are not available.

From January to last month, HDB also received feedback on 23 hoarding cases, the same number it handled for the whole of last year.

These figures are likely to be the tip of the iceberg, said those who work closely with the elderly, because cases go unreported, or those who exhibit such behaviour refuse to seek treatment.

200 pairs of scissors, knives and more...
By Toh Yong Chuan, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

Madam Ng Moey Chye had more than 200 pairs of scissors and knives, 400 paper fans, 100 bamboo sticks, 100 umbrellas and 30 trolleys.

These are things that the 83- year-old former Samsui woman had collected over 15 years, and they were piled to the ceiling of her one-room rental flat in Bukit Merah.

She could not get into her kitchen, and had to crawl to her bed on a path the width of a magazine.

Volunteers from Keeping Home Alive cleared her flat of the clutter one week ago, but it was not an easy task.

"She agreed to part with the items only after we told her we would sell them to the rag-and-bone man," said 44-year-old Fion Phua, who founded the volunteer group.

Now, Madam Ng's collection has been reduced to 32 umbrellas, 11 clocks, 10 chairs and seven trolleys.

She did not like being asked about hoarding. "My things are not dirty, no cockroaches and bedbugs," she protested. "They give me some financial security. I stopped working 15 years ago, so I need to collect things to sell."

But she admitted: "I did not get round to selling them because my leg hurts and I cannot walk much."

She still collects cardboard to sell daily, supplementing the public assistance money she gets each month.

When asked about her scissors and knives, she said: "I was a cleaner at a Jurong clothes factory. After it closed 20 years ago, the scissors were discarded, so I kept them."

Madam Ng, who never married, is glad that the clutter was cleared. "The room is now more airy and spacious," she said.

But she is not about to stop collecting things, she said.

Related

Hoarders: They can't bring themselves to throw stuff away
Get tough now on fire hazards in HDB estates

Punggol to get better links to highways

September 21, 2014, 11:40 pm

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Road expansion project to meet anticipated growth in traffic will be completed by 2019
By Carolyn Khew, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

Punggol residents can look forward to less congested roads and better connectivity from the expressways to where they live.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called for a tender to expand the intersection of the two expressways that lead to Punggol - the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway (KPE) and Tampines Expressway (TPE) - so as to ease traffic flow.

It will also construct a new arterial road linking the intersection to Punggol to offer motorists greater access to the town.

Construction is expected to begin by the middle of next year after tenders are awarded.

When the project is completed by 2019 as slated, it will provide a new link between Punggol and the TPE.

Currently, those using the expressways to access Punggol can use only two exits on the TPE - Punggol Road and Punggol Way.

"The new project is needed to meet the expected growth in traffic demand generated by the growing Punggol Town and provide better access to the expressway network," said an LTA spokesman. He added that it will also support future plans for the area, which has been zoned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority for industrial use.

The expanded intersection, or interchange, will also provide a more direct connection between Punggol and the KPE, said the spokesman.

Punggol, a new town in the north-eastern corner of Singapore, is expected to get busier.

Works are under way to transform its town centre into a vibrant hub over the next few years.

A major mall, Waterway Point, will be completed by the end of next year. This will be followed by Punggol Town Square, a community gathering space next to Waterway Point.

The Housing Board will also launch more than 3,000 units, in blocks as tall as 26 storeys, next year in Punggol Northshore.

The tender contract involves the construction of a new flyover over the TPE as well as new vehicular bridges.

These bridges will be constructed across Sungei Serangoon next to the existing Halus Bridge, across Sungei Blukar for the new link road to Punggol Central, and across Sungei Serangoon for the link road to Punggol Central.

Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Dr Janil Puthucheary, said the expansion will help to ease congestion, especially during peak hours.

"Having improved accessibility is certainly something that residents have been asking for," he added.

Bank executive Jennifer Chan, 58, believes the expansion will help reduce crowded roads.

Said the Punggol resident: "It's very congested on the roads in the mornings. It takes 20 minutes to get from Punggol Road to TPE."

Pre-school career path to focus on skills

September 21, 2014, 11:42 pm

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Teachers may also get better pay with new initiative
By Priscilla Goy, The Straits Times, 20 Sep 2014

PRE-SCHOOL teachers will get a career pathway that focuses on their skills instead of qualifications - and could see bigger pay packets to go with it.

The initiative to help staff in or entering the sector was announced yesterday by Minister for Social and Family Development Chan Chun Sing.

Speaking at the annual Early Childhood Conference at Singapore Expo, he urged pre-schools to pay their staff more - making the point three times during his half-hour speech.

"I will do what I can to help you... manage your costs," he said. "But I hope that you translate some of these savings into lower fees for our children and better pay for our teachers."

In a message to staff, he said: "My promise to you is that I will take care of your career development, your remuneration, and you help me to take care of the Singaporean children."

The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) and Singapore Workforce Development Agency (WDA) will work with operators over the next year to develop a more structured career framework, in line with recent recommendations from the Applied Study in Polytechnics and Institute of Technical Education Review (ASPIRE) committee, which focus more on competencies than paper qualifications.

The agencies will draw up the competencies required at each job level and aim to offer more development opportunities at different career stages.

Pre-school professionals face different entry requirements, depending on which class level they care for.

About 80 per cent of Singapore's 14,000 pre-school staff are qualified to at least diploma level. The rest have certificates or are being trained.

For those without diplomas, the polytechnic continuing education and training (CET) diploma will recognise skills acquired on the job or from prior training - reducing course hours by up to 25 per cent.

They now need five O-level credits to be eligible for the CET diploma, but from next year this will be reduced to three, though they must also fulfil other criteria such as having at least a year of relevant work experience.

For poly and ITE students taking courses in pre-school education, internships will be increased from three months to six - giving them more time to apply skills they have learnt.

There will also be more discretionary admission to diploma courses in pre-school education, and a training grant which sponsors poly students' course fees will be extended to ITE students. More details on the enhanced internships and CET diploma will be released early next year.

Post by MSF Singapore.

Playgroup teacher Nur Aini Mohammed Ayum, 22, who graduated from the ITE in 2010, is currently not eligible for the CET diploma as she does not have five O-level credits. Said Ms Aini, who will sit two O-level examinations next month: "Some people may not have scored well enough... to get into polytechnics, but they have the experience and should have more opportunities to upgrade themselves."

A brighter SPARK for parents
Singapore Pre-school Accreditation Framework being fine-tuned to better serve parents
By Janice Tai, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

Parents will be getting more help in selecting pre-schools and managing their children.

The national pre-school accreditation scheme is being fine-tuned to help parents zoom in on the best schools, said Senior Minister of State for Education and Law Indranee Rajah at an early childhood conference yesterday.

"This will help parents more easily identify which pre-schools have key traits that stimulate children's development," she said.

She said parents also find it daunting sometimes to figure out which early childhood research or approach is credible, so more parenting workshops and online resources will be rolled out.

From next year, a new commendation category will be added to the Singapore Pre-school Accreditation Framework (SPARK).

This is for pre-schools with outstanding classroom practices, such as having the centre leader follow up with teachers on teaching strategies after observing them, as well as close monitoring of children's play, among other criteria.

The SPARK accreditation, which evaluates education programmes for children aged four to six in kindergartens and childcare centres, is voluntary but serves as a guide for parents to identify good schools.

About 380 pre-schools are expected to be certified by the end of the year.

At the event at Singapore Expo, Ms Indranee also shared the findings of the first national early childhood parenting study, which polled 3,800 parents.

It found that parents are knowledgeable about child development. Most consider physical, social and moral development important.

However, parents also said they need more help in supporting their children's social and emotional development. One-third of them said they need help coping with their children's tantrums.

Ms Indranee said the Early Childhood Development Agency will work with pre-schools to roll out parenting workshops on these topics and create online resources.

Mr Siram, 35, who has a four-year-old son, said parents will find the revamped accreditation system useful. "Nowadays, there are so many pre-schools with so many different approaches, so this serves as a baseline guide," said the founder of a technology firm, who goes by only one name.

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Singapore Summit 2014 Dialogue with PM Lee

September 22, 2014, 1:45 am

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Worries: ISIS threat, Asian stability

By Rachel Au-Yong, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

The rise of a group of jihadists in Syria and Iraq, and growing nationalism in Asia, are two things that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong thinks about before he goes to bed.

The first worries him because the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) is not a problem just for the Middle East, while the second threatens peace and stability in Asia, he said.

He was responding to questions at The Singapore Summit dialogue.

ISIS, which has captured large swathes of territory and committed atrocities such as beheadings, has fighters from the United States, Europe and South-east Asia, including Malaysia and Indonesia, he said.

"What is it which has possessed people who want to go and do such things in a faraway land? If they destroy their own lives, that is one thing. If they come back, and bring back trouble to our societies, that is more difficult to contain, so we have to worry about it," he said.

Even though governments can take measures to weaken ISIS, "you can't fundamentally change the texture of the society and the people there. When you are gone, the problem will come back", he said.

"What we can do in our own homes is to watch the security, confidence and trust-building between different communities and make sure... the Muslims have leaders who will stand up and say that ISIS is not Islam, that it is evil, and we repudiate them and condemn them. Fortunately in Singapore, we have got religious leaders who have said that and said that emphatically."

Occasionally, some people are led astray, and Singapore has been lucky to discover them early. But some slip through: "We have a couple in Syria and Iraq, including a woman with teenage children... And the children are part of this. So it is something to be taken in absolute seriousness."

On his other worry, Mr Lee noted that there was rising nationalism, such as in China, Japan and some South-east Asian countries: "You can see it in the territorial disputes... in the tone it has taken in national debates, in an exaggerated and often very harsh and nasty way in the Internet discourse."

He said it was important to have peace and stability if the region was to prosper. This can only happen with good relations between major powers, and space for others like Singapore to survive and grow.

On building trust in the region, where some countries distrust China over its maritime claims, he said that words would not solve the problem: "It has to play out in the way China acts, in the way regional countries respond and the interaction between them because it is not just China, it is also the other claimant states which have to take measured, reasoned, reasonable, proper views and approaches consistent with international law."

Income gap issue needs 'real solutions'
Redistributing wealth, equipping people with right skills among the measures, says PM Lee
By Tham Yuen-C, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

INCOME inequality has become the fashionable thing to talk about at cocktails, in articles and even books. But the the way to deal with the growing gap between rich and poor is through real and concrete solutions, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday.

Among them are equipping people with skills that are in demand in the economy, and redistributing wealth so that everyone has what former prime minister Lee Kuan Yew called "chips to play with".

These are among the measures that individual governments can take, PM Lee said, adding: "The income inequality will be there, but in absolute terms, we can improve lives for nearly everybody in the society, provided they work and are prepared to make the effort."

He made these remarks in a dialogue at The Singapore Summit, where he was asked questions ranging from Singapore's growth model and the Trans-Pacific Partnership, to Scotland's quest for independence.

The annual conference, organised by government agencies, brings together chief executives and financial leaders. Themes this year included sustainable growth, Asia's economic integration and the global energy market.

On inequality, he was asked how Asian governments can arrest the trend caused by rapid growth.

To this, he said inequality was not the result of rapid growth. There was inequality in Europe, the United States and Japan, where growth has slowed.

Rather, globalisation and technological advancements were what contributed to the trend.

Workers now had to compete with hundreds of millions of lower-paid workers joining the global economy from China and India. And technology has seen jobs automated - with robots and computers taking over tasks of skilled workers.

Acknowledging that income inequality caused social tensions and unhappiness, and that solutions were needed, he cautioned against "theoretical solutions", such as having a global wealth or income tax.

What governments can do is to help people get skills that are in demand - not just for those with a university education, but those who are technically inclined.

Singapore has also taken other measures: public housing and home ownership, and providing good subsidised education and high quality health care to all.

"And therefore, we level up and we enable a greater sense of equity and justice in the system," he said.

To another question, he said the process of reinventing Singapore so it can stay competitive was neverending. The country had to find ways to move ahead despite the resource constraints it faces.

"What we need to do is to reuse and exploit over again the spaces we already have: higher, deeper, smarter, better integrated, better designed with urban planning, with economic renewal," he explained.

"It is really the renewal of your people and their skills and to be able to engage them... to operate in a consistent and aligned direction, and not all pulling in different directions. Lots of smart guys, results zero, which happens in a lot of countries. But (this) must not happen in Singapore."

Asked why there were those here who were not satisfied despite having much of what many others in the world would want, he said he had accepted this as the human condition: "That wherever you are, (you would) like to be better, and wherever you are not sometimes appears to be better."

He added: "I think we are at a good level by international standards. But I would be very saddened if we concluded that we are unable to improve because we have reached perfection. That is the surest way to go downhill... No society is static and reaches a level of perfection. We will always want to have that passion to improve. But you should also have some of the Buddhist acceptance that resources are finite and desires are unlimited."

At the 45-minute dialogue, he was also asked if countries should allow free movement of labour to spur growth and reduce inequality.

He said Singapore had to manage its population and workforce growth so as not to tax resources and infrastructure.

"If we just open our doors and say everybody can come, free movement of labour, tomorrow, there will be one million people on their way here, maybe more. Some will fly, maybe more will come by boat, and I think it will be a very different Singapore. So, you can't do that," he said.

"We have to grow in a way that is sustainable, and we must be able to manage the inflow in a way that talent can come in and people who can make contributions to Singapore can come in and will be welcome in Singapore. And that is what we are trying to do."

PM LEE ON...


 

The viability of an independent Scotland

Everybody believed, and we believed, that an independent Singapore was not viable, and it happened to us, and we proved ourselves wrong. So, it may be that you can do the same with Scotland... But if you are looking to the future, you really have to be part of a bigger whole. In Singapore, we tried to do that. We wanted to be part of a bigger whole in Malaysia, and we went for it. It didn't work, and we came out and we accepted this. We have made this work thus far. In Scotland, you are more like Canada next to America, rather than Singapore in the middle of South-east Asia. So, your odds are not as long as ours were in 1965. But why do you want to do that if you can have the advantage of having your cake and eating it too? In Singapore's case, we had no choice and went the other way, and succeeded.

Cyber security

The digital economy is a big part of the solution to improving Singapore. We talk about a smart city, big data, having sensor networks... all these are marvellous things. But you must have systems which are secure. We have had some incidents, data stolen, sometimes from the Government, fortunately not serious ones, sometimes from the private sector. So, it is something that we are taking seriously. We need to upgrade some of our systems. We have got Singpass, which is an ID to access all your government services, and we really need to go on two-factor authentication, because everybody in the world knows that half the passwords in the world are spelled p-a-s-s-w-o-r-d.



 

Hopes and concerns for Indonesia

For the last 10 years with President (Susilo Bambang) Yudhoyono, there has been stability and certain basis for ASEAN countries to work together big and small. What we would like to see in the next phase is for that happy state of affairs to continue.

President-elect Jokowi has come in with a very strong mandate, he has got a very clear sense of the needs of the ordinary citizens. He wants to do good for the country. He started off talking about (the) difficult subject (of) reducing subsidies on fuel, which are taking up a quarter of the state's budget and squeezing other urgently needed spending on hospitals, education, infrastructure, and so many other things. We wish him every success...

There are pressures in every society. You asked me about nationalism earlier. I think we have to watch how nationalism develops in Indonesia as well as in other countries. And we have to watch whether the changes which the new President will want to make will help to consolidate and strengthen his position to do more good or not.

Delays in TPP 'could affect US presence in Asia'
By Rachel Au-Yong, The Sunday Times, 21 Sep 2014

It is important to press ahead and conclude talks for a Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said yesterday, as he suggested that the United States' economic footprint in the region could be affected by a failure to do so.

The US-led TPP involving 12 economies from the Asia-Pacific, South-east Asia, Australia and Latin America, has significant economic advantages, including for Washington - which says it wants to have a strategic and significant presence in the Asia-Pacific.

Mr Lee said having a presence "is not just battleships and aircraft carriers and aeroplanes. You have to have trade, goods exchanges... interdependence. And the TPP is your way of doing this".

If the US did not do this, it would be "giving the game away", he added.

Mr Lee was responding to a question on negotiations to conclude a TPP free trade deal, which are stalling, and what it would mean for the US in particular, if no agreement is reached.

Noting that promises to reach a deal had been made three years in a row, he said: "I think this is our last chance to fulfil our promise, and if we don't fulfil our promise this year, we will be running into American elections in two years' time, (and) will have further delays of indefinite nature".

For economies involved, the TPP affords advantages, including allowing for regional cumulation.

This means the value-add content of products, which are manufactured in different countries, can be brought together and qualify for benefits like lower tariffs. Hence, a country can enjoy more of the gains from free trade.

Other TPP benefits include electronic commerce and Intellectual Property protection

"It is a major step forward and a major factor that can contribute to stability and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific. One day, the Chinese may want to join, and before that, the Koreans may also want to join. Then we will have free trade in the Asia-Pacific," he said.

He told the audience that there already were other variations of trade agreements in the region that the US was not party to, adding: "We are all in Asia, interacting and trading with one another. Our trade with China has become the biggest trading partner around the world, bigger than America and bigger even than Europe last year. It hasn't been so for many years, but it is now. It is so for many of the ASEAN countries. Even for Japan, China is the biggest trading partner. Even for South Korea.

"So, you don't promote trade, what are you promoting? What does it mean when you say you are a Pacific power? It just does not make sense."

Lawmakers in the US Congress have different calculations, he said, but added that there may be a fresh opportunity after American mid-term elections. These are scheduled for November.

Talks on the TPP have been delayed by intricate market access negotiations between Japan and the US. Besides Singapore and the US, other members are Mexico, Canada, Chile, Peru, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam.

Lee Kuan Yew receives Global Citizen Award

September 23, 2014, 7:22 pm

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By Jeremy Au Yong U.S. Bureau Chief In New York, The Straits Times, 23 Sep 2014

AMERICAN dignitaries and global figures paid tribute to former Singapore prime minister Lee Kuan Yew in New York on Sunday, when he became the first Singaporean to receive the Atlantic Council's Global Citizen Award.

At a ceremony, the likes of former United States secretary of state Henry Kissinger and former US envoy to Singapore Jon Huntsman hailed Mr Lee as one of the world's foremost statesmen.

Dr Kissinger, who gave the opening remarks at the event, described Mr Lee as "one of the great men of our time" and noted that his forceful streak had been evident decades ago.

He said of the time he first met Mr Lee at Harvard University in the 1960s: "He came to my attention when he told some faculty members with whom he didn't agree, 'You make me sick'."

Dr Kissinger is among the previous recipients of the award from the US think-tank. Others include Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri and International Monetary Fund chief Christine Lagarde.

The award recognises global leaders who have made exceptional and distinctive contributions to the strengthening of the transatlantic relationship.

This year's ceremony was held at the Hall of Ocean Life in the American Museum of Natural History. Mr Lee did not attend it and Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam accepted the award on his behalf.

In remarks before presenting the award, Mr Huntsman, now Governor of Utah, said he was grateful for all the wisdom and advice Mr Lee shared with him.

"His astute world view shaped by over five decades of leadership pervades any national or cultural boundaries," Mr Huntsman said.

Mr Shanmugam, in turn, said Mr Lee has always been a strong advocate for the US, even when such views were unpopular.

"He was certainly one of the most outspoken advocates for the US presence, both economic and military, in Asia and... he did so in the 1960s and 1970s long before it was fashionable to say so.

"He knew that the US presence was vital to maintaining peace and balance in Asia as the Asian economies grew in the last 50 years. And that has contributed significantly to American prosperity and security."

Mr Shanmugam is in the US to attend the United Nations General Assembly. He will also launch the Lee Kuan Yew chair at the Brookings Institution today.

ITE student wins cookoff for Gordon Ramsay internship

September 23, 2014, 8:07 pm

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By Rebecca Lynne Tan, The Straits Times, 22 Sep 2014

First-year culinary arts student Koh Han Jie, 21, from ITE College West's Institut Paul Bocuse beat three other contestants to be the first intern at Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen at Marina Bay Sands.

Koh, along with three other students representing Shatec, Culinary Institute of America and At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, had 10 minutes to cook a mystery ingredient, which later turned out to be eggs.

The cookoff was held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre on Monday morning. Ramsay is slated to open an offshoot of Bread Street Kitchen at the integrated resort in April next year.

The contestants had to cook eggs three ways: omelette, poached and soft-boiled.

Ramsay said: "The humble egg just got serious."

He added that he was keen to see which style of egg each young, aspiring chef would cook first.

For the participants, the 10 minutes passed by too quickly.

As Ramsay went from station to station, tasting and critiquing each participant's eggs, he also quizzed them on the cooking methods and the rationale behind them.

For instance, when reviewing their poached eggs, he asked if they had added vinegar to the water and if they had swirled the water in the pot before cracking the egg into it; and how long they cooked each egg for.

Mr Koh's eyes lit up when Ramsay cut into his runny-yolk poached egg and pronounced it "perfect".

His omelette, which included a touch of cream to create a richer texture, was slightly runny in the middle, and was brushed with melted butter to add flavour and a sheen to the surface.

Mr Koh says: "I was very nervous at first and my hands were shaking. But I kept telling myself not to sc*** up."

Post by Institute of Technical Education, Singapore.

Ramsay learns from mistakes
After being burnt in partnerships, the celebrity chef is more cautious now about joint ventures
By Rebecca Lynne Tan, The Straits Times, 23 Sep 2014

His restaurant at Marina Bay Sands (MBS) is due to open only in April next year, but Michelin-starred celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is already saying he might open another one here.

"I think the next stage would be a slightly more upscale Gordon Ramsay two or three years down the line, especially (given) some of the locations here now, (which are) breathtaking," he tells Life!.

The chef was in town for the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix and to talk to the media about his new restaurant here. He is here with his business partner of 14 years, Mr Stuart Gillies, 48, managing director of the Gordon Ramsay Group.

On why the duo decided to bring their Bread Street Kitchen concept here, Ramsay says: "Bread Street Kitchen hatched coming out of a recession and the timing was perfect. It taught us a lot and that's why we're bringing it to Singapore - because it is such an exciting concept.

"But it is not just selling a name with a label and sending over a chef - it's a lot more than that. And we've been guilty of that in the past."

The first Bread Street Kitchen is at Bread Street in London, near St Paul's Cathedral, and is a large, buzzy restaurant with a bar. He recently opened an offshoot in Hong Kong.

The Singapore restaurant will have 120 seats, a terrace and span about 6,000 sq ft. The restaurant's interior here will be similar to its other outlets and take on an industrial-warehouse theme. Ramsay says he hopes to have a brigade of 120 to 130 staff, of which about 45 to 50 will be in the kitchen.

He says he has been interested in the food scene here since his first visit in 1998. At the time, he was one of several guest chefs, including the Pourcel brothers and Alain Ducasse, who were headlining a food and wine event at the Raffles Hotel. He remembers conducting a culinary class for 25 housewives and then indulging in Singapore's street food at a hawker centre until 4.30am.

Asked what took the group so long to open a restaurant here, the Scotland- born chef says with a laugh: "Multiple TV shows and 25 restaurants."

The infamously foul-mouthed chef, better known for popular television shows including Masterchef US and Hell's Kitchen, runs restaurants that span cities such as Paris, Doha and New York.

Ramsay adds: "I think also, to be honest, four years ago (when Marina Bay Sands opened), we weren't ready for it.

"We were transforming and turning around London and we were also coming out of the end of a recession. Also, we were restocking - we were getting set to expand cautiously."

He is the latest celebrity chef to add to the existing suite of restaurants at MBS, which already include outfits by top names such as United States-based chefs Daniel Boulud of db Bistro Moderne, Sydney's Tetsuya Wakuda and Wolfgang Puck of the steakhouse Cut.

However, Ramsay is reportedly embroiled in a US$10-million (S$12.7- million) lawsuit with ex-business partner Rowen Seibel over now-shuttered restaurants in the United States.

Asked if he is worried about his new partnership with MBS, having been burnt by former partnerships, he says: "I've always been good at learning from mistakes. And there is not anyone in the world who hasn't made those mistakes.

"So you come back strong and you learn. What we have been careful with over the last three years is choosing our partners smartly, in a way that we look at existing operations first in terms of what they've got, who they have attracted... and how they propel that talent."

On his global expansion and more recent foray into Asia, he says: "We're not licensing our name to a contract caterer. This is quite serious for us. We don't just sell a franchise because we want to get rich. It's a partnership and it's a mechanism that both parties have to work equally hard to make successful."

The menu at Bread Street Kitchen here will be adapted to suit the culture and palates here, into "a Singapore-style and blend", in terms of using local ingredients and harnessing local talent.

Prices have not been finalised, but Ramsay says the restaurant is "not going to be a $250 a head, fine-dining restaurant... It's not going to be seriously expensive. Clearly, it's not going to be cheap, but it's going to be value for money".

Dishes at yesterday's sneak peak included lobster and quail Scotch eggs with gem lettuce and bottarga; and a bitter chocolate tart with honeycomb.

Yesterday, he also selected the first local intern for his new restaurant. First-year culinary arts student Koh Han Jie, 21, from ITE College West's Institut Paul Bocuse, beat three other contestants after a mystery-ingredient cookoff.

Mr Koh, along with three students representing Shatec, Culinary Institute of America and At-Sunrice GlobalChef Academy, had 10 minutes to cook a mystery ingredient, which turned out to be eggs. They had to be cooked three ways: omelette, poached and soft-boiled.

Ramsay pronounced his runny-yolk poached egg "perfect". Mr Koh says: "I was nervous and my hands were shaking. But I kept telling myself not to s**** up."

Related
Gordon Ramsay selects Bread Street Kitchen intern in cook-off
Bread Street Kitchen: ITE student is Ramsay’s Intern

A bus on the road to save kidneys

September 23, 2014, 8:22 pm

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NKF bus to offer free health checks, raise awareness amid rise in kidney failure cases
By Adrian Lim, The Straits Times, 22 Sep 2014

WITH four new cases of kidney failure diagnosed every day in Singapore, the National Kidney Foundation (NKF) launched an educational bus yesterday which will take to the road to raise awareness about prevention.

It will tour schools, community centres and religious organisations over the next year, in a bid to reach out to 50,000 people.

On board the bus, visitors can learn about the importance of kidneys, what causes them to fail, as well as the treatment options, through interactive touchscreen games and videos.

Free health screenings will also be offered. Besides measuring cholesterol and blood glucose levels, the screenings will include a serum creatinine test to indicate the health of a person's kidneys.

The number of kidney failure cases diagnosed each day here has risen by a third since 2010. According to the United States Renal Data System, Singapore had the world's fifth highest rate of kidney failure in 2012, behind Mexico, the US, Taiwan and Japan.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said yesterday that the foundation must go beyond providing blood dialysis treatments to raising community awareness and getting people to eat and live in a healthier manner. The foundation must also look into ways to provide more support for peritoneal dialysis -a home-based treatment in which the body's abdominal lining is used as a filter - and promote kidney transplant as another treatment option.

Speaking at an NKF outreach event held at ITE College East, Mr Gan said diabetes and hypertension are the two leading causes of kidney failure here.

Next year, NKF plans to launch a second educational bus that will focus on diabetes and also offer health screenings. NKF chief executive Edmund Kwok said the foundation must provide more public education. He said more awareness is needed to encourage people to donate their kidneys, and that it is "not an easy road" for them to take.



Between 2010 and 2012, there were just 179 kidney transplants, down from 225 between 2007 and 2009.

He added: "People will step forward when they see the need, and if they are suitably informed... With today's modern technology, it is actually quite safe to do a kidney transplant."

To find out more about where the NKF bus will travel to, call the foundation on 6299-0200.

Reducing the pain of health-care costs

September 23, 2014, 8:44 pm

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Patients, health-care providers, payers and policymakers play key roles in keeping costs down
By Carol Tan, Published The Straits Times, 23 Sep 2014

HEFTY health-care costs have become a global concern, including in Singapore. Worldwide, countries struggle to contain them. Patients and families, too, are concerned.

In Singapore, a lot of attention has been focused recently on the role of doctors in driving up health-care costs through their fees. While doctors certainly influence health-care costs, they are not solely, or even primarily, responsible for them.

Other contributors include technology such as drugs, medical equipment, implants; consumables such as nappies, dressings or intravenous drips; professional fees given not just to doctors but also therapists, dieticians, nurses and to cover hospital administration, laboratory tests such as radiological investigations; and facility fees for use of hospital rooms and operating theatres.

And there are always business costs such as rent.

Some factors are inherently expensive (think MRI scans and implants), but are used only once. Other, cheaper consumables may require prolonged use - such as adult diapers - and so, cost a significant amount in the long term. Drugs are another example of lower-cost items which, over the long term, may be expensive.

Apart from these components of health-care costs, how health care is paid for also has an impact on how expensive it becomes.

Payers such as insurance companies may inadvertently contribute to higher health-care costs.

For example, if insurance companies pay only for hospital admissions, patients tend to opt for this, even if they don't need it for minor surgery, which can be done within a day.

The "buffet syndrome" encouraged by newer health insurance plans which pay from the first dollar without co-sharing also tempts people to overuse medical services. Even if just a few do so, it results in higher premiums for all.

How can costs be minimised?

The final bill can be cut down with combined efforts, starting with patients, then looking at health-care providers, the payers and the policymakers.

Patients

FOR patients, the advice would be: Take ownership of your own health. Patients mindful of their health can tremendously decrease their lifelong health-care costs.

For example, regular check-ups can warn of any impending, disabling and expensive complication, such as kidney failure from diabetes.

Health-care provider

CHOOSING the right doctor can also keep expenses under control.

The right doctor is one who will help you navigate the health-care system and is willing to discuss treatment options for any disease - and the cost options, too. The issue of overservicing and overcharging by doctors is a concern as costs escalate.

True, profit is essential for business growth and advancement in knowledge.

Without profits, the next breakthrough product cannot be researched and hospitals cannot invest in training of qualified staff and research.

But it is important to combine profit with a strong sense of ethics and values.

This way, patients are prescribed treatment they need, with cost-effective options.

Providers are fairly reimbursed for their care, while patients enjoy care that's affordable and appropriate.

Payer

PAYERS are agencies like health insurance companies that pay for health care.

To keep costs down, payers can do more with data sharing, having open and transparent pricing and "right-siting" of care. The latter involves choosing the right place to access the care. For example, inpatient hospital stays are expensive, compared with outpatient, day surgery.

Open and transparent pricing can be achieved when individual costs in the hospital or health-care bill are itemised.

This promotes healthy competition and productivity, and also aids in lowering costs.

Many countries have turned to collaborative data sharing, where payers and health providers pool data and, together, determine a sustainable fair price.

Policymakers

AT THE government level, one way to drive costs down is to go for group purchasing.

The state has a big role to play in cutting the cost of the final bill and making drugs and technology available to the public sector.

In Australia, the government buys drugs on behalf of patients - whether they are in the public or private sector. It also sets recommended prices within a range so that profiteering is minimised.

When the government prices its drugs, it takes into account the cost of running health-care facilities, as well as the need to ensure that pharmaceutical and implant companies make enough profits to do research and develop drugs. It does not leave it to private practice doctors to mark up drug prices at will. That is where the difference lies between overcharging and a reasonable profit.

In Singapore, there is group purchasing of drugs in public hospitals and health-care institutions, but not in private sector clinics.

There is also no recommended "selling" price and, hence, prices vary among hospitals and clinics.

There is also the issue of profit transfer, where doctors waive or lower professional fees, but charge for drugs to recover the ever-increasing cost of running a service. This is not an ideal situation and needs to be improved.

MediShield Life is a key step to ensuring health-care remains affordable. But the Government cannot do it alone. The patient, the provider, the payer and the policymaker must all do their part.

The writer is a geriatrician in private practice and chairman of The Good Life Cooperative that aims to help members age well and manage health-care costs.

Pilot programme gives a hand to vulnerable youth

September 23, 2014, 8:57 pm

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A 25-week scheme at four schools see youth workers reaching out to students to encourage them to talk about their personal aspirations.
By Siau Ming En, TODAY, 22 Sep 2014

They are so-called “mid-risk” youth – yet to show signs of misbehaviour, but are exposed to negative influences or come from troubled families. And for the first time, a 25-week programme has been developed by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS) to help lower the chances of these teens turning bad.

Instead of engaging these youths – typically identified by risk factors including troubled family backgrounds, academic underachievement and low self-esteem – directly on their negative influences or personal problems, youth workers reach out to talk about their personal aspirations.

Under Scaffold, which is offered in four participating secondary schools involving 200 lower secondary students, entire classes undergo the programme – in contrast, programmes for at-risk youth usually involve taking them aside individually.

The NCSS hopes to eventually reach out to 800 students within this three-year pilot phase.

Conducted during normal school hours, the first 10 of the 25-week programme are set aside for students to set their goals – ranging from their ambitions to personal achievements they hope to achieve in their relationships – and for youth workers to identify the skills, education pathways and personal characteristics they need to achieve these goals.

For the remaining 15 weeks, the voluntary welfare organisation plans the curriculum according to the class’ needs. The NCSS said focussing on personal aspirations is a method based on research done by Dr Daphna Oyserman, a psychology professor, which showed that helping youth identify and develop goals improved their self-efficacy.

Mr Lim Yu Kee, principal of Bedok Green Secondary School, which is one of the participating schools under Scaffold, said the programme complements the school’s Character and Citizenship Education curriculum. “Currently, about 80 Secondary One students are involved in various aspects of the programme, ranging from motivational lessons to after-school club activities that teach students life skills and teamwork,” he said.

EARLY INTERVENTION

Youth workers from Children-At-Risk Empowerment Association (CARE Singapore) and Students Care Service lead the Scaffold pilot programme, which started in April.

Mr Gary Chia, manager of youth services at CARE Singapore, said: “A lot of these youths are being left out ... If intervention is not done early enough, they could lose interest or let their family or personal problems take over, and then it will spiral downwards.”

The NCCS noted that the need to look at preventive intervention in the lower secondary years was due to observations that vulnerable students were more susceptible to dropping out of school during the transition to Sec 1 and that to Sec 3. The Education Ministry said the overall proportion of each Primary 1 cohort that does not complete secondary education had fallen from 4 per cent in 2000 to less than 1 per cent in the past five years.

“We used to take out ... difficult students from all the classes (and) put them together ... (While) they might listen to you for that bit, the minute they are back in the class setting, that’s when problems surface,” said Mr Chia.

Scaffold is offered to selected Normal stream classes at participating schools, though it is intended to be open to students from other streams as well. “Most times, the schools identify the students that require more support, and it is almost always (those from) the Normal stream classes,” said Mr Chia.

“Some students do ask why they had been specially chosen, but as the programme progresses, our experience is that Express stream students want it as well, so it becomes a special programme available (for now) only to (those in) the Normal stream, rather than a stigma,” he added.

Social workers help at-risk kids in school
Pilot scheme in 4 secondary schools aims to help students stay motivated
By Janice Tai, The Straits Times, 22 Sep 2014

SOCIAL workers are going into schools to work with students who may be in danger of dropping out.

Since April this year, 200 lower secondary students from four schools have been getting help to stay motivated in school through a new pilot programme.

These students, some of whom are at risk of becoming dropouts due to family circumstances, are also being taught life skills to overcome difficulties.

Under the three-year scheme, social workers from voluntary welfare organisations such as Students Care Service and Care Singapore work with 800 students who may have troubled family backgrounds, poor grades and low self-esteem.

The Scaffold Programme, run by the National Council of Social Service (NCSS), is based on a "possible selves" theory developed by University of Michigan professor Daphna Oyserman. It is broadly about examining an individual's expectations for the future.

Research in the United States has shown that the use of this method has led to students skipping school less, getting improved grades and behaving better.

Once a week, trainers take over a few classes to teach students life skills, such as how to cope with setbacks and achieve goals with good decision-making.

After-school activities, such as outings or participation in the arts and sports, are also regularly arranged for the students. It is hoped that these sessions will build up their confidence and distract them from unwholesome peers or activities outside school.

According to the NCSS, students tend to drop out of school at two key points. The critical junctures are during the transition from Primary 6 to Secondary 1 and at Secondary 3.

When asked for data on this, the Ministry of Education would say only that attrition rates have gone down. In 2000, 4 per cent of each Primary 1 cohort did not complete secondary education, but this has been less than 1 per cent in each of the last five years.

The transition to Secondary 1 can be particularly stressful for some students because it is a new environment, said Ms Tina Hung, deputy chief executive of NCSS. Behavioural problems also typically emerge in the upper secondary years, especially if the teenagers hang out with bad company.

Social workers say these periods can be trying for some teenagers, who not only come from socially disadvantaged backgrounds but are also grappling with identity issues.

To gauge the effectiveness of the programme, NCSS will do data analysis and an evaluation with the students before and after it is run. It will be extended to more schools if successful.

Mr Gary Chia, a manager at Care Singapore, said he is encouraged by the students' gradual improvement. "They are participating more in class, showing fewer behavioural issues and sharing more with us," he said.

"Sometimes what they need is for people to understand that there are reasons why they are always tired in class or not doing their homework."

Temasek 'a company like no other'

September 24, 2014, 12:54 am

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President Tony Tan hails investment firm at 40th anniversary dinner
By Chia Yan Min, The Straits Times, 23 Sep 2014

ITS beginnings were modest and fraught with risk but when Temasek Holdings held its 40th anniversary dinner last night, it had become, in the words of President Tony Tan Keng Yam, "a company like no other".

In his keynote speech, Dr Tan said the investment firm was an "experiment born out of necessity" and had transformed itself into a Singapore institution that "epitomises a culture of constant hard work and ceaseless innovation to build for the future".

Last night, plenty of well-wishers gathered to mark that singular achievement over the past 40 ground-breaking years.

The dinner, held under a marquee on the Istana grounds, was attended by about 500 guests, including Temasek employees and directors, representatives from its portfolio companies, and international guests. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and other Cabinet ministers also attended.

Temasek turned 40 in June, but held the anniversary dinner last night in conjunction with a slew of other high-profile events over the weekend, including The Singapore Summit conference and the Formula One race.

Temasek's success, said Dr Tan, was far from assured, partly because Singapore was flying in the face of conventional wisdom. The company was set up in 1974 to take over about 35 companies and miscellaneous investments previously owned by the Government.

These were a "motley collection of companies", from detergent manufacturers to chicken essence producers, from newly converted shipyards to a start-up airline, said Dr Tan.

Many state-owned companies around the world are protected from competition and used as instruments to achieve political gains, but "Singapore saw all these scenarios as unacceptable", he added. It was "clearly not the business of government to run such enterprises", Dr Tan said.

The creation of Temasek - nearly a decade after Singapore became independent - separated the roles of government as a policymaker and regulator, and a shareholder and commercial owner of companies.

Temasek was born in a "fluid milieu of early nationhood, of self-reliance and fiscal prudence, of the imperative to strive for survival while fostering unity amid the diversity of race, language and religion in Singapore", added Dr Tan.

Even as Temasek grew and evolved over the past four decades into a major global investor, many companies in its portfolio have also expanded to become international players.

"Government did not make them champions. Temasek did not make them champions. They competed freely against the best in the world for a customer base far larger than our home market," said Dr Tan.

Temasek chairman Lim Boon Heng, who also spoke at last night's event, said Temasek's ethos was that of a long-term investor, with the "spirit of doing things today, with tomorrow very clearly in our minds".

Growth should not come at the expense of sustainability - "protection of our environment can and should go hand in hand with development, jobs and prosperity", added Mr Lim.

In addition to acknowledging Temasek staff and partners past and present for their contributions, Mr Lim also thanked the people of Singapore for their "interest and ideas, trust and concern".

Temasek's net portfolio value climbed to a record $223 billion as at March 31 this year.

Temasek’s success down to separation of its role from Govt’s
Distinction allowed S’pore firms to be free of political patronage and compete on level playing field, says President Tony Tan
By Lee Yen Nee, TODAY, 23 Sep 2014

The clear separation between the Government’s role as a policymaker and regulator and that of Temasek Holdings as a shareholder and commercial owner of companies has driven the steady growth of the investment giant and helped Singapore thrive as a nation, President Tony Tan said yesterday.

“Even today, 40 years later, it is a distinction that remains unclear to some,” he said at Temasek’s 40th anniversary dinner held at the Istana, attended by about 500 guests, including Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, other members of the Cabinet, business leaders such as Parkway Pantai chief executive Tan See Leng and international guests such as World Bank managing director Sri Mulyani Indrawati and former US Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner.

Mr Lee’s wife Ho Ching, who attended in her official capacity as Temasek executive director and chief executive, was also among the audience who enjoyed a vocal performance by Temasek Voices and a recital from 10-year-old award-winning pipa soloist Chen Xinyu.

Temasek, a corporate entity fully owned by the Ministry of Finance, turned 40 in June. However, it timed its anniversary celebration for last night as part of a 4-in-1 series, coming after its inaugural Ecosperity Conference last Friday, the Singapore Summit on Saturday, and the Singapore Airlines Singapore Grand Prix on Sunday.

The shared commitment to meritocracy, commercial discipline and accountability among the Temasek portfolio companies also helped these firms become regional and global champions in their own right, Dr Tony Tan said.

“Government didn’t make them champions. Temasek didn’t make them champions. They competed freely against the best in the world for a customer base far larger than our home market. They earned the support and trust of their customers in a globally competitive marketplace,” he added.

Harking back to Singapore’s early years as an independent country, Dr Tan said that as British forces carried out plans to leave Singapore by 1971, the Government had to convert military and naval bases to other facilities to keep jobs.

“Naval yards became ship repair yards, and naval workshops became engineering companies. By 1974, the Singapore Government owned shares in a motley collection of companies, from detergent manufacturers to chicken essence producers, from newly converted shipyards to a start-up airline.”

But “it was clearly not the business of Government to run such enterprises” and Temasek was set up to take over the companies. That separation allowed Singapore companies to be free of political patronage and compete on a level playing field, he said.

This is unlike many state-owned enterprises (SOEs) around the world that are protected from competition and cushioned from corporate realities through subsidies, he said. Some of these SOEs may also become instruments to achieve politically-driven agendas, he added.

“Singapore saw all these scenarios as unacceptable,” Dr Tan said.

He noted that Temasek is one of the many Singapore institutions which epitomises a culture of hard work and ceaseless innovation to build for the future.

“We kept an eye on our nation’s future. Just as our people have a strong culture of savings, Government also set out to live within its means from day one. Thus, Temasek was born in this fluid milieu of early nationhood, of self-reliance and fiscal prudence, of the imperative to strive for survival while fostering unity amidst the diversity of race, language and religion.”

As many of its portfolio companies have flourished domestically and globally, Temasek, too, has grown and expanded beyond Singapore and its journey has helped the country to grow its wealth. “From a humble beginning 40 years ago in a tiny office at the mouth of the Singapore River, Temasek has come to be regarded as one of the foremost global equities investment companies today.”

Temasek grew its portfolio over the four decades from just S$354 million in 1974 to S$223 billion this year, and reported a 16 per cent total shareholder return compounded annually since inception, its website showed.

In terms of the geographical distribution of Temasek’s portfolio assets, 31 per cent are in Singapore, 41 per cent are in Asia ex-Singapore, 24 per cent are in North America, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, and 4 per cent are in Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and elsewhere.

Temasek takes on sustainability challenge
Chairman cites spirit of doing things today with tomorrow in mind
By Kenneth Lim, The Business Times, 23 Sep 2014

A long-term investor with a strong public service sensibility and a massive portfolio must inevitably confront the issue of sustainability.

For Singapore government-owned investment company Temasek Holdings, that time has begun in earnest, chairman Lim Boon Heng hinted on Monday at a dinner to mark Temasek's 40th anniversary.

"This spirit of doing things today, with tomorrow very clearly in our minds also describes the ethos of Temasek," Mr Lim said. "It forms our values and culture as a long-term investor, as a forward-looking institution and most of all, as a trusted steward."

Singapore President Tony Tan Keng Yam recalled that Temasek was created as a way to keep government from overly influencing its commercial interests.

"Many state-owned companies, or SOEs, around the world are protected from competition and cushioned from corporate realities through subsidies in various guises. This leads to an unlevel playing field."

He especially noted how many Temasek-linked companies became regional and global champions on their own. "Temasek didn't make them champions. They competed fiercely and freely against the best in the world for a customer base far larger than our home market."

But Temasek is also distinctive as an investor with a horizon that is longer than most funds. That gives the fund the imperative to consider the issue of sustainability.

Mr Lim spent significant time discussing Temasek's recent focus on environmental sustainability. The firm on Sept 19 organised an "Ecosperity" conference with Goldman Sachs and the National University of Singapore to explore the issue of sustainable growth.

Temasek is also in talks with Singapore's JTC Corp regarding the potential merger of their infrastructure and development units.

Accounting for the environment does not take away from economic development, Mr Lim stressed.

He recounted Singapore's experience, from simple initiatives such as the annual Tree Planting days to the Clean Air Act, which has been strictly enforced even in the face of the potential loss of foreign investments.

"Looking after our environment is not something reserved only for the more prosperous or more developed nations," Mr Lim said. "Growth does not mean sacrificing a sustainable environment for our people."

Mr Lim said that the concept of sustainability extends beyond the environment. Temasek had also seeded 16 non-profit endowments, and is a champion of corporate governance.

"This is also why we actively promote good governance, and sound and fair regulations - we are always looking at the need to ensure long-term sustainability, be it financial, environmental, organisational or people."

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More Singaporeans in top posts at foreign banks

September 24, 2014, 9:08 pm

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Better talent and city's growing role as financial hub spur appointments
By Rachael Boon, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

MORE Singaporeans are securing top jobs at foreign banks, with a string of senior appointments in recent years.

An educated workforce and Singapore's growing role as a financial centre have allowed more to climb the banking ladder.

In June, for instance, Mr Shee Tse Koon, 44, was appointed Standard Chartered's chief executive for Indonesia. The same month, Mr Tan Kock Kheng, 54, was appointed Citi's global head of local markets risk treasury.

But senior bank executives say that while such appointments are encouraging, more can be done to help nurture a more globally competitive workforce here.

Despite the growing number of Singaporeans taking on regional roles at international banks both here and abroad, not all go on to clinch top global roles.

The issue has been in the spotlight since Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said in June that Singapore needs to develop more local talent for "positions of leadership in tomorrow's financial world".

At Citi, Singaporeans make up over 30 per cent of its Asean Management Committee. Another Singaporean in a global role is Mr Money K, global head for next generation at Citi Private Bank.

A StanChart spokesman said the bank has about 7,000 staff based in Singapore, and these include both country roles and global roles, as the global business operates from the Republic.

Of its 7,000 staff, about 6 per cent hold senior management positions and of those, more than a fifth are Singaporeans, he said.

Another recent senior appointment was at ABN Amro Bank Singapore which appointed Mr Daniel Teo, 53, as deputy country executive. He was already the bank's chief operating officer for both Singapore and private banking for Asia and Middle East.

In Singapore, 60 per cent of ABN Amro's senior management team are Singaporeans.

"Singapore, being an established financial hub in the region, has given Singaporeans plenty of opportunities to accumulate extensive experience in the finance sector," said Mr Teo.

Women are making their mark too. Singaporean Pollie Sim took over as Maybank International chief executive in October last year. She said more Singaporeans have reached management level and put that down to better education, more international exposure and government support.

The Financial Scholarship Programme (FSP), for instance, aims to develop a pipeline of specialist leaders, and supports postgraduate programmes in specialised areas, including actuarial science. About 170 scholarships have been awarded since it was launched by the Monetary Authority of Singapore in 2006.

Banks also note various training and development programmes they have in place.

Mr Shee said Singaporeans are now more willing to travel and work abroad. Their work ethic is "highly respected by many".

He has had various regional and overseas appointments, and said that in meeting colleagues, clients, government or central bank officials overseas, "they often expressed interest in understanding how Singapore has become so successful as a nation".

He thinks getting that top job is about the "ability and attitude" in various ways. "Singaporeans are often under-rated, perhaps because culturally, we are relatively modest, and sometimes over-modest... We must believe that we are as good, if not better, and find an elegant way to better 'market' ourselves."

Singaporeans should also be prepared to take the plunge, "to put up our hands for the top job", and those who have made it must be confident enough to be champions of talented Singaporeans.

Banker tuned in to world affairs as a boy
By Rachael Boon, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

MR TAN Kock Kheng, one of a new breed of global bankers from Singapore, traces his interest in the wider world to a small transistor radio he listened to as a boy.

Mr Tan, 54, believes his voracious appetite for global affairs has given him an edge over the years, as he advanced to his latest role, where international events play a key role.

He was appointed Citi's global head of local markets risk treasury in June - the first Singaporean to hold this position.

"As a boy, I remember growing up during the North and South Vietnam war, " said Mr Tan. He followed the news every night at 9pm on his small radio.

Part of his new responsibilities are managing liquidity and funding for the bank under all market conditions. To achieve these goals, he stressed, accurately interpreting "world affairs, global economic developments, geopolitics and investment trends" was important. "This ability to incorporate culture diversity and a comfort in understanding these events will have a large impact on my decisions of investments and the balance sheet."

The senior executive believes such qualities have the potential to play an even greater role in a banking career, than a person's financial background or training.

He came from a non-finance background, graduating from National University of Singapore's then Faculty of Architecture, Building and Estate Management in 1985.

He has been with Citi for 21 years. He began as a trader and moved up to senior treasury positions in Asia. "Having a financial background is good... but I really think if there are young graduates who want to manage a global business, they need to be able to make investments in currencies all around the world, read global events and investment trends."

Related

Foreign banks stepping up efforts to groom local staff / Fewer new jobs in financial sector

Young folk launch '50 for 50' charity fund-raising

September 24, 2014, 9:52 pm

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By Calvin Yang, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

WHO says young people care only about themselves?

A group of 50 individuals aged 18 to 34 has set out to debunk the stereotype of apathetic youth with its very own charity drive.

Over the next three months, the group, which calls itself The Social Co, will help raise funds for chosen charities to mark Singapore's Golden Jubilee.

"As we celebrate Singapore's 50th birthday, we shouldn't forget those less fortunate than us," said Ms Rebekah Lin, 29, the group's founder, yesterday at the launch of the 50 for 50 charity drive at *Scape. "Through this initiative, we hope to break the stereotype that young people are concerned only about themselves and not others."

Ms Lin, who is pursuing a PhD in English at Birkbeck, University of London, started The Social Co three months ago after finding that "Singaporean youth possess a lot of creativity and could use that gift to do something good".

Her group will raise funds through activities like carnivals, cocktail parties, auctions and open-mic nights to help at least 40 lesser-known charities here. Selected charities include Student Advisory Centre, which helps underprivileged kids, and Caregivers Alliance, which supports caregivers of persons with mental illness.

"We hope to raise awareness for charities that people do not know about, charities that are not often in the limelight and have difficulties raising funds on their own," said 18-year-old social entrepreneur Elijah Ted Ng, the youngest in the group.

Corporate donors will be roped in to match the donations dollar for dollar. The total amount will also be matched by the National Council of Social Service's Care and Share movement.

"Bigger charities here have the resources to generate publicity and many people know them," said Ms Tan Li Li, executive director of the Singapore Association for Mental Health, which provides rehabilitative care to persons with mental health conditions.

"Big or small, we are all doing good work. Hopefully... we can piggyback on the creativity of our youth to create awareness for lesser-known charities."

SingTel is the group's first corporate sponsor. The Straits Times understands that six other organisations, including banks and small and medium-sized enterprises, will be contributing too.

"It is a good opportunity for our youth to make a difference," said Mr Chia Boon Chong, associate director of corporate social responsibility at SingTel.

US cannot get distracted from Asia: Shanmugam

September 24, 2014, 11:54 pm

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No other region where its influence is 'as likely to be challenged as seriously'
By Jeremy Au Yong, U.S. Bureau Chief In Washington, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

WHILE acknowledging the many global challenges now vying for America's attention, both Singapore Foreign Minister K. Shanmugam and White House National Security Adviser Susan Rice sought to reaffirm the US' continued engagement in Asia.

Speaking at the launch of the Lee Kuan Yew Chair in South-east Asia Studies at Brookings Institution in Washington, Mr Shanmugam made the case that the US cannot afford to let itself get distracted from its goals in Asia.

Noting the raft of changes currently taking place in the region, he said: "There are many crises, Middle East and other regions, which demand America's bandwidth. But there is no region in the world where American influence is as likely to be challenged as seriously as in East Asia."

He added that how the United States and China structure their relationship would be of crucial importance to the world.

As he had during previous visits to the US, Mr Shanmugam reiterated the need for Washington to complete the seemingly stalled Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) free trade agreement. "The rebalance cannot only be military, it has to be economic as well," he said, citing the TPP as a critical part of the US economic strategy in Asia. "In East Asia, including South-east Asia, economics is strategy. It is crucial for the US to secure the TPP. That is strategically important and an anchor of the US economic strategy in Asia."

Failure to do so, he warned, would mean the US being put at a tremendous disadvantage in the region, especially with progress being made on a host of other trade agreements that do not involve the Western power.

With the US mid-term elections about a month away and a host of urgent crises elsewhere, there has been a sense among Washington pundits in recent months that Asia policy has been shoved to the end of the queue.

During her speech at the launch on Monday, Dr Rice stressed that it was not the case.

"Even in the press of world events, ongoing conflicts in the Middle East, heightened tensions with Russia over Ukraine and an Ebola epidemic ravaging West Africa, the US commitment to Asia and to South-east Asia in particular is a top priority. The US is a Pacific nation, our shared future is as certain as our shared past," she said, citing a string of high-level visits by US leaders, including President Barack Obama, to Asia.

The Lee Kuan Yew Chair was set up to raise awareness of South-east Asian issues in the US capital. It is one of only a handful of academic positions in Washington think-tanks that focuses on the region. The academic position is also the first time anything in the US has been named after the former prime minister.

Dr Joseph Liow, associate dean of Singapore's S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, will be the first person to take up the position that is meant to be rotated every two years among academics from South-east Asia.

He said he will seek to make sure that South-east Asia has a voice in discussions in the US capital and noted that the position has a big name to live up to.

"The chair is named after a truly remarkable man. While much has been said about Lee Kuan Yew's role in building the Singapore today, as a student of international politics, I have been far more interested in his contributions in matters of foreign affairs. In this area, I have found his reading and articulation of international developments from a South- east Asian perspective and its implication not only for Singapore, but (also for) the region and the world, truly unmatched."

Use your smartphone to borrow library books

September 25, 2014, 12:06 am

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By Kash Cheong, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

THERE'S no need to fret if you find yourself stuck behind a long queue at the library borrowing station these days - just whip out your phone.

The National Library Board has just launched an app that allows users to scan a book's barcode with their mobile phone and borrow it on the spot.

"It's very convenient," said teacher Joserve Teo, 30. "It certainly allows you to beat the queue at borrowing stations and get things done faster."

Users need to register for an online myLibrary account at NLB first. They can then download the NLB Mobile app on their smartphones and use their username and password to access the app.

Checking a book out simply involves activating the app's "scan" feature, pointing the phone camera at the book's barcode and confirming the loan.

Once the book is borrowed using the app, a library management system registers the loan so the gate alarm will not sound when a borrower walks out. Users can also use the app to scan and search for books of all languages in the library catalogue.

The NLB Mobile app allows users to add multiple accounts so that parents, for example, can store their children's accounts on their app and borrow books for the whole family.

Mother-of-two Casey Chia, 38, told The Straits Times: "When I go to the library with my sons, I usually scan multiple books with multiple library cards at the borrowing station.

"I always feel bad about making the person behind me wait, so this app would really save the hassle."

NLB Mobile also recommends book titles based on a member's loan history and suggests library events tailored to their location.

The app also allows users to carry out other functions available on the NLB website, including reserving books, browsing titles and signing up for e-mail reminders on loan due dates.

Library members who sign up for a myLibrary account at NLB's website will get their usernames and passwords by post within five days, but they can get them on the spot if they sign up at any public library by Oct 18.

The NLB Mobile app, available for both iOS and Android devices, has been downloaded more than 1,000 times since roadshows promoting it started last weekend.

Library user Sarah Wong, 27, said: "The app sounds like a great innovation that improves library services - if only it had come sooner."

Growing Our Teachers, Building Our Nation

September 25, 2014, 1:54 am

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New measures to bring out the best in every teacher

They will get more training, support and mentorship: Heng Swee Keat

By Sandra Davie, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

TEACHERS can look forward to more training, support and mentorship, under initiatives to help them deepen their skills and encourage them to keep learning.

"Just as we bring out the best in every child, our education system must also bring out the best in all our teachers," said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat yesterday as he focused on teachers at this year's annual workplan seminar.

Primary 1 and 2 teachers, for instance, can go for a three-month advanced diploma course that arms them with the skills to help children transition smoothly from pre-school to primary school.

Currently, 13 teachers, who have each taught for about 20 years on average, are enrolled in the National Institute of Education-run course that started last month. More are expected to enrol in the next few years.

Primary school teachers will also get more training so as to master and specialise in two subjects instead of juggling three like they do now.

"Specialisation, where appropriate, will enable our teachers to master content and pedagogical skills more deeply," said Mr Heng. "This, in turn, will enable them to help our students to build a deeper foundation," he told 1,700 school leaders at Ngee Ann Polytechnic Convention Centre.

He also announced that educators who support students with learning needs can turn to a new advanced diploma course in special education for teachers and allied educators launched by the Ministry of Education (MOE).

More will be done to deepen mentoring for teachers, he said.

MOE will develop and appoint more role models for teachers. There are now 1,700 senior teachers, 100 lead teachers, 51 master teachers and five principal master teachers among the 33,000- strong teaching force here.

The ministry will also raise the highest career grade for those on the teaching track, one of three main career pathways for educators. The others are the senior specialist and the leadership tracks.

The apex grade for a principal master teacher will go from G to up to Superscale F, equivalent to that of a senior school principal.

To signal the importance it places on developing teachers, MOE announced the appointment of former NorthLight School principal Chua Yen Ching as the deputy director-general of education for professional development.

To help teachers as they go for professional development, MOE will look at ways to free up time for them to do so. It will look into simplifying some administrative processes and scaling up time- saving practices and innovations.

One of these is an e-system developed by Blangah Rise Primary, that allows pupils on its breakfast scheme to get their food simply by scanning a card against a reader installed at each canteen stall.

In a 90-minute speech punctuated with video clips showing the skilful and innovative work teachers do, Mr Heng called them "trailblazers" and said they were at the heart of MOE's efforts towards a "student-centric, values-driven education" - the focus of previous years' workplan seminars.

But Mr Heng also reminded teachers that the future of Singapore passes through their hands.

The message was not lost on Greenview Secondary teacher Muhammad Nazir Amir, 37, who teaches science by getting students to design toys. He said: "Students have so much potential in them and we as teachers have to unlock it."

Teachers to get help in lightening their workload
By Siau Ming En, TODAY, 24 Sep 2014

With Education Minister Heng Swee Keat acknowledging that some of the administrative work can at times overwhelm teachers here, several initiatives were unveiled at the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) annual work plan seminar yesterday to strengthen centralised support for schools and tap technology to simplify and lighten educators’ workload.

Technology will increasingly be used to help teachers take attendance and keep track of a school’s inventory, for example.

From this year, 50 schools will also have “finance partners”, who will guide them through more complex procurement and finance issues. Over the next few years, this will be progressively rolled out to all schools across the various levels.

In Mr Heng’s words, these measures — which are part of a slew of initiatives to grow and develop the teaching force — will provide “more time and space for our teachers to do things better, and to do better things”.

Another key thrust is to provide better professional development for teachers. On top of enhancing manpower support for schools so that experienced teachers can have more time to coach their juniors, the Ministry of Education will also grow the pool of Senior Teachers, Lead Teachers, Master Teachers and Principal Master Teachers in the teaching track. In turn, these teachers can mentor their younger colleagues.

In time, all primary school teachers will also specialise in teaching only two, instead of three subjects, to enable them to deepen their expertise.

Currently, at the upper primary levels, more than 80 per cent of teachers teach one or two subjects, on top of other non-examinable ones.

Social Studies will be an additional option for specialisation, on top of English, Maths and Science. Mr Heng noted that while Social Studies is not an examinable subject in the Primary School Leaving Examination, it is an important subject as part of Character and Citizenship Education.

A new advanced diploma course catered to Primary 1 and 2 teachers — which took in its first batch of 13 participants last month — will better equip educators to look after the socio-emotional learning needs of seven- and eight-year-olds and ease their transition from preschool.

Recapping the various initiatives undertaken in the past three years since he became Education Minister — such as a student-centric and values-driven education, and creating a deep foundation for lifelong learning — Mr Heng pointed out that teachers lie at the heart of all these efforts.

Noting that teaching is a complex job, Mr Heng said his ministry will, and must, continue to develop teachers here and give them its full support.

He recounted what a teacher told him about the vast amount of work needed to organise a learning trip for students. He also cited an example of a teacher having to fill up multiple forms to get another badge for her student in a uniformed group.

“While each step has a good reason behind it, when they are all put together, they can be overwhelming for our teachers,” he said.

Mr Heng noted that MOE has taken the lead to simplify processes. For instance, a revised form under the Enhanced Performance Management System (EPMS) — the appraisal process for teachers — has only five pages, reduced from 15 previously.

In June, the workload of teachers here came under the spotlight after a study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development found that on average, Singapore teachers work longer hours— with more time spent on administrative tasks and extracurricular activities — compared with their overseas counterparts. Still, almost nine in 10 of those surveyed said they were satisfied with their job, comparable to the international average.

Over the years, MOE has rolled out various measures to provide teachers with better support, including an Allied Educators’ scheme in 2009. As of last year, there were about 2,400 allied educators. The target is to have 2,800 of them by 2016.

Victoria Junior College (VJC) and North Vista Secondary School are two schools that are using the Enhanced School Store Management System to keep track of school equipment and property.

VJC also uses automated systems to take attendance. Students simply need to scan their fingerprints at any of 10 different spots within the school, before the morning assembly.

Ms Daphne Huang, a music teacher at North Vista Secondary School, said that about twice a year, teachers, students and the school’s operations manager would previously need to spend between three and five hours to do stock-taking for musical instruments. With the ESSMS, the external vendors would take about 30 minutes to complete the process, she said.

More time and space 'to do things better and do better things'
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

SCHOOLS will continue simplifying programmes and processes to relieve teachers of some administrative work, so they can make more effective use of their workday.

This will allow "more time and space for our teachers to do things better, and to do better things; and to have wisdom to decide what to do more of, and what to do less of", said Education Minister Heng Swee Keat.

The Ministry of Education (MOE) has already streamlined some processes, he added, including the School Excellence Model (SEM), an appraisal tool, and a system for teacher appraisal and career planning known as the Enhanced Performance Management System (EPMS).

The SEM has been streamlined into 24 sub-criteria from the previous 31, and 30 key measures of performance, down from 78. The revised EPMS form is now five pages instead of 15.

At his ministry's workplan seminar yesterday, Mr Heng spoke of teachers having to carry out administrative tasks that sometimes create "extra work", such as filling in multiple forms.

"Teaching is a complex job," he said. "Our teachers often go the extra mile to organise activities to develop our students holistically. This means organising learning experiences in school and outside of school, and even overseas trips."

Some tasks are necessary to create an "impactful learning experience for students", but he noted that altogether, they can be overwhelming for teachers.

The ministry's schools division "will engage schools and school leaders during their annual review of programmes and processes, to discuss how each school can simplify, scale and strengthen, and how MOE headquarters can support you in a systematic way".

This could be through technology, he said, in areas such as attendance-taking, parent notifications, consent forms, collection of money or booking facilities.

MOE will strengthen centralised support for schools. For instance, they will get help handling finance issues such as procurement in the same way they now get support in human resource matters.

A new online portal - the Student Learning Space - will also be set up in 2016 to give teachers and students access to digital teaching and learning resources curated by MOE.

Innovations started by schools will also be shared with others. One example is an e-system that relieves teachers of having to hand out paper meal coupons to needy students.

The system, which started in Blangah Rise Primary in 2011, will be in use in more than 100 primary schools by early next year.

Pupils "pay" for meals by scanning their ez-link cards at the food stall. The cash value is stored in the school's records.

Blangah Rise vice-principal Jackson Seow said: "In the past, staff had to print and cut the coupons. Then, form teachers needed to distribute the coupons to pupils every day, and canteen vendors had to collect the coupons and submit them to the school."

Now, just two people - the head of department for infocomm technology and a technical assistant - are involved in handling the system.

"We're glad to play a part in improving processes in schools in a ground-up way," Mr Seow said.

Toy-making, gadgets bring life to dry topics
By Pearl Lee And Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 24 Sep 2014

AFTER 11 years of teaching, Dr Muhammad Nazir Amir, 37, has amassed a collection of toys made by his students, such as a puzzle box, a candy floss maker and a solar car.

Each toy works on a scientific principle. For instance, the puzzle box seems to lock itself when closed, and opens only when spun on the table - demonstrating the concept of centrifugal force.

Dr Nazir, who teaches science and design and technology to Normal (Technical) stream students at Greenview Secondary School, asks his students to make such toys in its design and technology laboratory so they can better understand scientific concepts.

Similarly, Mr Yap Boon Chien, 41, a physics teacher at Tanjong Katong Girls' School, uses gadgets to bring life to what would often be seen as dry-as-dust topics.

He has jumped on a pogo stick to demonstrate energy conversion. The device uses elastic bands, which convert potential energy to kinetic energy.

He has also ridden a bicycle in class to introduce the concept of velocity and brought in a radio to teach electromagnetic waves.

Both teachers were lauded yesterday by Education Minister Heng Swee Keat at the Ministry of Education's annual workplan seminar.

Dr Nazir, who was among five winners of this year's President's Award for Teachers, received his PhD in science and design and technology education from the National Institute of Education last month. He said he marries both subjects to interest his students in science.

He believes that to engage them, lessons have to be relevant to their personal experiences. He also brings everyday items into his lessons to get his students to realise that science is everywhere, and not just in the textbooks.

"N(T) students can do well academically too, not just in sports or music or art," he said.

"We just have to find a way to make the lessons appealing to them."

Students say his innovative and enjoyable teaching methods let them enjoy science.

Student Fadiah Abu Bakar, 14, who used to fail science in Secondary 1 and often missed school, said: "In the past, it was all theories and everything was from the textbook.

"Now we make things, and I enjoy making things."

Mr Yap, who has taught since 1998, said: "I like to perform live demonstrations so that students can see the concepts, rather than show PowerPoint slides."

He even captures ideas when he travels overseas and shows students photographs of experiences - from temperature sensors to solar panels - that relate to lessons.

Secondary 3 student Pooja Bhagwan Singh, 15, said: "Physics used to be my least favourite subject, but now it's not so bad.

"Mr Yap comes into class with different gadgets to show us concepts, perspiring and with so much enthusiasm. We can't help but want to study hard."

Now a lead teacher, Mr Yap not only teaches students but also mentors newer teachers and shares his experiences with them, in the same way he was mentored by older teachers early in his career.

He is also part of the team of teachers in the physics subject chapter - a group which discusses good teaching practices at the Academy of Singapore Teachers.

"Our teaching force is very young, so it's important for experienced teachers to share their knowledge so that the community can improve," he said.

"It is also a two-way process. I learn from younger teachers and get their feedback, as they are closer to the ages of our students."

23 schools to be recognised for their efforts in promoting well-rounded education
By Chitra Kumar, Channel NewsAsia, 22 Sep 2014

The Ministry of Education (MOE) announced on Monday (Sep 22) that 23 schools will be recognised for their efforts in giving students a well-rounded education at the Ministry's Work Plan Seminar, which takes place on Tuesday.

Bukit Batok Seconday School, Si Ling Secondary School, and Yio Chu Kang Seconday School will receive the highest accolade - the Lee Hsien Loong Award for Innovations in the Normal Course.

This is because they demonstrated innovation in teaching and learning, school management and organisation as well as student development, the MOE said. This has led to significant benefits in the all-round development of their students in the Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) Courses.

For example, Yio Chu Kang Secondary School has incorporated dance, drama and robotics classes into its curriculum for the majority of normal stream students. 

According to Principal Janice Heng, the key motivation behind this initiative is to enrich the lives of the students beyond academic qualifications and cognitive development. "We actually hope for students to be able to have their interests sparked in some of these areas. And they are able to pursue it as their hobby, as a lifestyle when they grow up. Or even pursue it as their post-secondary education," she said.

The other 20 schools will be recognised for Best Practices in five key areas - Character and Citizenship Education, Teaching and Learning, Student All-Round Development, Staff Well-Being and Development, and Partnership. MOE said the schools' best practices have led to good education outcomes for their students.

One of these is Gan Eng Seng School, where technology-enabled learning is a way of life. Secondary Two students have their English lessons at the computer lab twice a week, and the school started using infocomm technology (ICT) in its curriculum in 1997. The school will be recognised for its Best Practice in Teaching and Learning.

According to Ms Serene Seetoh, Head of Department of Technology at Gan Eng Seng School, ICT has helped both teachers and students become more self-directed and collaborative in teaching and learning.

"Self-directed in the sense that teaching is no longer become inside the classroom but it goes beyond - anytime, anywhere. Collaborative in the sense that information exchange becomes so accessible and therefore students and teachers actually learn together, and are more active about learning," she said.

Said Nick Tan, a Secondary One student at the school: "Technology has taught me about copyright issues, as well as how to respect intellectual properties. And how we should use royalty-free music in our music projects to prevent any conflicts over copyright issues."

Related

Growing Our Teachers, Building Our Nation

Better Ways, Better Ideas, Better Tools To Support Teachers And Schools

Recognising Best Practices in Holistic Education

Keynote Address by Mr Heng Swee Keat, Minister for Education, at the Ministry of Education Work Plan Seminar 2014