Ng Ya Ken
13 July
Schools may be an “instigator” of stress among our children, as pointed out in “Are schools going too far in the quest for accolades?” (July 12), but the schools are not wholly to blame.
Schools respond to what our parents and society expect them to achieve: Better academic results year after year.
Academic results are much emphasised in our society because students must be in the top quarter or so of their cohort to have the chance to go to our universities now. And this group can earn far more over a lifetime than those without a degree.
There are exceptions, but they remain as exceptions.
However, in countries where academic results and having a degree are not as important in getting good paying jobs as in Singapore, the gap between white-collar and blue-collar workers is small, if any.
And it is common for salaries of skilled technical jobs to exceed those of general white-collar jobs.
[This letter is... too complicated - it's the most generous I can get. To summarise, the point the writer is making is a) schools are stressful, because b) you need academic qualifications in order to c) get a good paying job, otherwise, d) you drop out and get a crappy paying job, which is really bad because e) Singapore's pay differential between a grad and and non-grad is very wide. Whereas, f) in other countries skilled technicians can earn MORE than a grad. Therefore, (g) we should pay our technicians more.]
In Australia, the mining, engineering and construction industries pay better than legal, marketing, banking, accounting and government jobs. Also, the entry-level pay of a manager can be only one-quarter higher than that of an executive assistant
In Sweden, a doctor earns only double that of a teacher or a nurse.
Over time, if Singapore could raise the salaries of skilled technical jobs, more of our young would switch to technical training in polytechnics and vocational schools. They could then pursue careers according to their inclination and aspiration.
We should make these career options, as well as jobs in music, the arts, design and the like, more viable. This would be an important step towards a more balanced and less stressful education system.
Such tweaks in our pay structure would tame our Gini coefficient, though it may have implications for our economic competitiveness.
If the long-term social and political benefits outweigh the costs and inconveniences, it would warrant our consideration.
[I wonder if people who suggests such ideas (and the people who support such ideas) really know what it means.
First of all, the examples are irrelevant: "Mining, Engineering, and Construction".
We don't have Mining.
Engineering pays quite well, and Construction is mainly filled by foreign workers.
The proper examples for SG might well be, Hawkers, Sales persons, and Property Agents. I could be wrong. What do students who fail to get a degree go on to do in SG?
Let's take Hawkers. Obviously this is a respectable profession. 2 out of 3 hawkers (I may be generalising here) can beat a michelin-starred chef.
How much does a michelin-starred chef make and how much does a hawker make?
If we can all agree that the hawker should have a higher income (comparable to a michelin-starred chef), that would be great.
Now, - here's the reality check, this is where you put your money where your mouth (or keyboard typing fingers) is - how many of you are willing to pay $24 for a bowl of laksa so our hawkers can have a more decent wage for the job they are doing which is BETTER than a michelin-starred chef?
Anybody?
How about $20?
$16?
In any case the complicated argument lost most readers, and response from readers... went off on different tangents. ]
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
No solution for eateries flouting rules?
Jul 10, 2013
I WAS amazed to read the report ("Steamboat outlet faces closure for repeatedly obstructing walkway"; July 1).
The steamboat restaurant was fined 38 times over the last three years and was finally given an ultimatum.
However, other restaurants in the vicinity are still operating outdoor dining areas right alongside the road.
A waiter was quoted as saying: "If we can't operate outside, it's the end for us."
It would appear that the authorities' primary concern is issuing penalties for persistent flouting of the rules, while noise disturbances, public hygiene issues, general disamenities to the public and perhaps even danger to road users continue unabated.
It also seems that the operation of certain businesses in some areas cannot be carried out profitably without disregarding the rules, and this particular "problem" in Beach Road has been unresolved for several years.
Can the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Land Transport Authority and the management councils of buildings suggest solutions?
[On the one hand we want to have a more "humane" society, with more give and take.
Then we have people who want uncompromising enforcement of the letter of the law. And when the eateries are closed down because of uncompromising enforcement of the law, the authorities will have to take the blame. And the people who asked for the enforcement of the letter of the law will quietly fade away, leaving the authorities to face the music for being "heartless". Passionless. Without Compassion or Humanity. Being overly Legalistic. Or Bureaucratic. Stone-faced enforcers of the law without understanding the needs of businesses or their patrons.
But sure. In the meantime, stridently defend your need for disturbances, nuisances, and disamenities to be dealt with to the full letter of the law.
If you want a kinder, gentler Singapore, it starts with us. Being a little more tolerant. Live and let live. Give and take. Accept a little inconvenience as part of the price of living in a thriving society/community.
Or just clean up Singapore until all disamenities and organic businesses are gone. Then complain that Singapore is so sterile. Then go to places like KL and Bangkok and Penang, and say, "Wah! They have such a thriving street food scene. Ya, it's a little messy, but it is so ALIVE! Not like Singapore. Like a hospital."
Singaporean: One who complains about everything without realising what their complain would result in.]
I WAS amazed to read the report ("Steamboat outlet faces closure for repeatedly obstructing walkway"; July 1).
The steamboat restaurant was fined 38 times over the last three years and was finally given an ultimatum.
However, other restaurants in the vicinity are still operating outdoor dining areas right alongside the road.
A waiter was quoted as saying: "If we can't operate outside, it's the end for us."
It would appear that the authorities' primary concern is issuing penalties for persistent flouting of the rules, while noise disturbances, public hygiene issues, general disamenities to the public and perhaps even danger to road users continue unabated.
It also seems that the operation of certain businesses in some areas cannot be carried out profitably without disregarding the rules, and this particular "problem" in Beach Road has been unresolved for several years.
Can the Urban Redevelopment Authority, Land Transport Authority and the management councils of buildings suggest solutions?
Derrick D'Souza
[On the one hand we want to have a more "humane" society, with more give and take.
Then we have people who want uncompromising enforcement of the letter of the law. And when the eateries are closed down because of uncompromising enforcement of the law, the authorities will have to take the blame. And the people who asked for the enforcement of the letter of the law will quietly fade away, leaving the authorities to face the music for being "heartless". Passionless. Without Compassion or Humanity. Being overly Legalistic. Or Bureaucratic. Stone-faced enforcers of the law without understanding the needs of businesses or their patrons.
But sure. In the meantime, stridently defend your need for disturbances, nuisances, and disamenities to be dealt with to the full letter of the law.
If you want a kinder, gentler Singapore, it starts with us. Being a little more tolerant. Live and let live. Give and take. Accept a little inconvenience as part of the price of living in a thriving society/community.
Or just clean up Singapore until all disamenities and organic businesses are gone. Then complain that Singapore is so sterile. Then go to places like KL and Bangkok and Penang, and say, "Wah! They have such a thriving street food scene. Ya, it's a little messy, but it is so ALIVE! Not like Singapore. Like a hospital."
Singaporean: One who complains about everything without realising what their complain would result in.]
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