Past challenges of Singapore:
1.Lack of national identity
After the separation Singapore needed to create a feeling of nationhood. The mixed immigrant society posed a challenge to nation building. A new national identity had to be forged and a sense of pride and belonging created so that the immigrants would give their loyalty to Singapore. The various races also had to live together harmoniously.
2.Economic growth
Singapore was young and growing rapidly. She was small and thus had no natural resources and had depended entirely on trade for her survival. There was also a high rate of unemployment. There was a constant worry of having to feed its nation’s citizens and having to worry on where they would have to get the food.
3.Security
Singapore had limited artillery and armory which places Singapore in a very dangerous position. Singapore could face potential attacks which they did not wish would happen. This also posed a problem as many of the people had just experience WWII and did not wish for it to happen again. Hence, the government was very worried about this issue, threatening Singapore’s survival.
Present Challenges of Singapore:
4. Increasing housing prices
High housing prices are increasing due to the increase of population. Singapore had little land area and lots of foreigners are coming to Singapore. The houses built were not enough to accommodate to the large number of people.
5.Low birth rate
Singaporeans want small families as cost of living is high. Fewer couples are unwilling to give birth as a result leads to low birth rate in Singapore. This means that there will be lesser people to defend Singapore.
6.Competition from foreign talents
Currently Singapore is taking in a high amount of foreign talents which leads fierce competition between foreign talents and Singaporeans. These foreigners are of higher skills and their pay is relatively lesser than Singaporeans thus employers are more keen to employ foreigners.
Future Problems Singapore might face:
7.Inability to cope with recession
Without any natural resources, Singapore will have to rely on imports for even the most basic necessities like water. With the recession, the prices of such necessities would increase. Many Singaporeans would not be able to cope with the increase of prices and hence, causing a poverty problem.
8.National Identity Crisis
Many younger Singaporeans have been going abroad to study and some of them have decided to migrate there. In addition, many youths are more apathetic about the country and this may potentially result in Singapore facing a national identity crisis, where many of its citizens are either not Singaporean or could not be bothered.
9.Unemployment
There has been an increase of foreign talents, laborers and migrants. Also, many of the local scholars have accepted scholarships to work abroad. Hence, Singapore would largely be populated by foreigners. Furthermore, companies wish to hire foreign talents as it is believed that they would enhance productivity rate. With the foreigners snatching up the available jobs, there would be a shortage of jobs and hence, unemployment.
10.Aging Population
Due to low birth rate, there will be fewer people in the workforce in the future. This will lead to an aging population in Singapore, where the people in the workforce will not be able to fully support the increasing amount of elderly. This will also result in extremely few people working for the country, affecting the economy of the country.
Monday, February 28, 2011
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Video making of Emily of Emerald Hill
Two weeks ago, Jun Yu proposed that we could make a video of our customised version of EOEH for ACE. Our members are as follow: Jun-Yu, Kai Jin, Soo Han, Yik Hin, Andrew, Seng Kiet and me. Jun-Yu, our leader, prepared all the necessary props and clothes (although we all hate cross-dressing).
The few days of videoing was enjoyable. We took the time from our weekends and played our part in the play and we made jokes along the way. When we received or clothes, most of them were upset when they found out they were going to wear female clothes. They were uncooperative at first but after many persuasions we managed to get to work.
It was fun during the videoing but we always wasted a lot of time just on a few second scene. For instance, during the scene where Richard takes the plane to England, we took a lot of time convincing Soo Han and Yik Hin to wear their costumes as they were very unwilling to cross-dress. It took about 2 hours to tape that very small part of video due to our inefficiency but nevertheless it was somehow similar to a class bonding event.
The few days of videoing was enjoyable. We took the time from our weekends and played our part in the play and we made jokes along the way. When we received or clothes, most of them were upset when they found out they were going to wear female clothes. They were uncooperative at first but after many persuasions we managed to get to work.
It was fun during the videoing but we always wasted a lot of time just on a few second scene. For instance, during the scene where Richard takes the plane to England, we took a lot of time convincing Soo Han and Yik Hin to wear their costumes as they were very unwilling to cross-dress. It took about 2 hours to tape that very small part of video due to our inefficiency but nevertheless it was somehow similar to a class bonding event.
Art Club
I do not know how to draw a masterpiece, nor do I know how to make a wonderful sketch (cause if I could I would end up in AEP). However, I do have interest in art and thus I joined the art club.
Many say that art club is a very slack CCA we could sit in an air-conditioned room with Mr Kuek pulling of lame jokes. Yes, it is a very slack CCA but even so we do not have many opportunities in getting CCA points. If I were to participate in a competition, I would get only a point. I know that I would not get more than that because I understand that that would be impossible for me to.
Art club is a fun CCA as we share our experiences and jokes while doing our work (normally sketches). The teachers never restrict us from listening to music all pull pranks on others during our weekly activities and therefore we always have unforgettable experiences during that short period of 2-3 hours.
Besides indoor activities, Mr Kuek always try to organise a field trip to art galleries. Getting our members to hand in the consent forms were difficult but nevertheless we had an enjoyable trip every time we went out. That ends my sharing on the topic, thanks.
Many say that art club is a very slack CCA we could sit in an air-conditioned room with Mr Kuek pulling of lame jokes. Yes, it is a very slack CCA but even so we do not have many opportunities in getting CCA points. If I were to participate in a competition, I would get only a point. I know that I would not get more than that because I understand that that would be impossible for me to.
Art club is a fun CCA as we share our experiences and jokes while doing our work (normally sketches). The teachers never restrict us from listening to music all pull pranks on others during our weekly activities and therefore we always have unforgettable experiences during that short period of 2-3 hours.
Besides indoor activities, Mr Kuek always try to organise a field trip to art galleries. Getting our members to hand in the consent forms were difficult but nevertheless we had an enjoyable trip every time we went out. That ends my sharing on the topic, thanks.
2A2. What a Class :)
After 3 terms and 8 weeks and 3 days (or maybe more), I finally had the urge to post this on my blog. 2A2 is the class that many teachers complain about, even Dr.Chew had to personally lecture us for pissing a relief teacher off during class. To those outside 2A2, let me introduce this "wonderful" class to you.
From my point of view, the class seriously does not realize that they have been creating a lot of rubbish in class, especially those who stayed in class for recess and ate packed food in class. Basically, when the class is "spic and span" in the morning ( quoted from Mr.Tan Kai Yuan ), I always never hoped that it will stay the same after school. Plastic bottles and oily plastic bags will always be found in every corner of the class. Polystyrene cases are always found on the floor when they are left on the table empty and of course we have used correction tapes everywhere.
I never knew what they were doing in class during recess( I always came up very late ). Rubbish is produced in the waste factory of 2A2 almost every minute, maybe because of the influence of Kai Jin? Newspapers were never stacked properly ; they were left untidy when they throw it in the "box of reading materials". I do not have the right to post about our class discipline so I will leave it the our chairman and monitor Zexel and Zan.
Despite the behavior that our class displays in class, I think that we somehow have a lot of class spirit. Every day on facebook there will be posts meant for us to read and comment ( I mean EVERY day ) . Video tags, photo tags and post tags were never rare to see on facebook thanks to our active facebookers. When I go on facebook every day, I would expect some blog posts from our class and normally I would search for their names for updates :).
Every time we were scolded, doesn't matter who, we always try to cover our classmates' mistakes. For example, someone was late for class, and when the teacher asked, we would tell her he had a stomach ache and then he would sit and continue the lesson. This shows that our class is united (correct me if I am wrong). I am thankful that I can come to this class of chaos and unity. Every bit of time in 2A2 is a memorable experience for me.
Please comment on this (You guys know you want to). And of course if there is any thing you want to comment on to me without other people knowing, feel free to send me an email on it (I will tag you on facebook) ^^.
From my point of view, the class seriously does not realize that they have been creating a lot of rubbish in class, especially those who stayed in class for recess and ate packed food in class. Basically, when the class is "spic and span" in the morning ( quoted from Mr.Tan Kai Yuan ), I always never hoped that it will stay the same after school. Plastic bottles and oily plastic bags will always be found in every corner of the class. Polystyrene cases are always found on the floor when they are left on the table empty and of course we have used correction tapes everywhere.
I never knew what they were doing in class during recess( I always came up very late ). Rubbish is produced in the waste factory of 2A2 almost every minute, maybe because of the influence of Kai Jin? Newspapers were never stacked properly ; they were left untidy when they throw it in the "box of reading materials". I do not have the right to post about our class discipline so I will leave it the our chairman and monitor Zexel and Zan.
Despite the behavior that our class displays in class, I think that we somehow have a lot of class spirit. Every day on facebook there will be posts meant for us to read and comment ( I mean EVERY day ) . Video tags, photo tags and post tags were never rare to see on facebook thanks to our active facebookers. When I go on facebook every day, I would expect some blog posts from our class and normally I would search for their names for updates :).
Every time we were scolded, doesn't matter who, we always try to cover our classmates' mistakes. For example, someone was late for class, and when the teacher asked, we would tell her he had a stomach ache and then he would sit and continue the lesson. This shows that our class is united (correct me if I am wrong). I am thankful that I can come to this class of chaos and unity. Every bit of time in 2A2 is a memorable experience for me.
Please comment on this (You guys know you want to). And of course if there is any thing you want to comment on to me without other people knowing, feel free to send me an email on it (I will tag you on facebook) ^^.
Monday, August 16, 2010
Sleeping
Remembering the 1A2 last year, when we were always complained by teachers, I was a sleeping log. I slept at almost every lesson. Most of the time, the teachers never noticed. But then, there was once my maths teacher caught me sleeping in class so care freely that he made a joke of me in front of the class. It was an unforgettable experience that I laughed when I thought of it.
The 1A2 back then, many people slept in class and tried to avoid being caught by teachers. Most of the time we somehow survived but there were some times that we were punished. It was a very good experience to be punished with my fellow friends. We could joke around to relieve ourselves from the punishment and even play with each other without the teacher noticing.
Nowadays, I always get sleepy even though I sleep as early as 10 the last night. It is inevitable that people notice me sleeping in class or during break time(mostly my friends, the teachers never notice :)). To prevent this, I tried having heavy cups of coffee in the morning. It worked, just for the early part of school. Unknowingly I would shut my eyes while thinking of what the teacher meant and fall asleep.
Even at times when I'm not in school, for example, the bus, I would fall asleep and miss the stop. Even if I'm boarding the bus to somewhere near the school like BTP and KAP, I would fall asleep and continue on to the end of the stop. It was somehow embarrassing and I always tried to find a solution to that.
Anyways, sleeping is always the best when you have a choice of doing your homework or slack. ^.^
The 1A2 back then, many people slept in class and tried to avoid being caught by teachers. Most of the time we somehow survived but there were some times that we were punished. It was a very good experience to be punished with my fellow friends. We could joke around to relieve ourselves from the punishment and even play with each other without the teacher noticing.
Nowadays, I always get sleepy even though I sleep as early as 10 the last night. It is inevitable that people notice me sleeping in class or during break time(mostly my friends, the teachers never notice :)). To prevent this, I tried having heavy cups of coffee in the morning. It worked, just for the early part of school. Unknowingly I would shut my eyes while thinking of what the teacher meant and fall asleep.
Even at times when I'm not in school, for example, the bus, I would fall asleep and miss the stop. Even if I'm boarding the bus to somewhere near the school like BTP and KAP, I would fall asleep and continue on to the end of the stop. It was somehow embarrassing and I always tried to find a solution to that.
Anyways, sleeping is always the best when you have a choice of doing your homework or slack. ^.^
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Chinese New Year Party @ HCI
On the last Saturday of February, our school held a Chinese New Year party for students from overseas who could not go back to celebrate Chinese New Year. We, the Malaysian scholars decided to perform a drama on that day about the origin of Chinese New Year.
Before the party, we rehearsed many times under the supervision of our teacher in order to perform perfectly on that day. Even though we could not really find time for all of us to meet because of our busy schedule, we practiced seriously on the days we rehearsed. It is always fun when we gathered together and practiced together.
On the day of the celebration, many groups presented their performance professionally. There are quizzes, songs, games and many others, including our drama. Before the celebration in the afternoon, we did one last rehearsal. We did well on our performance and the teacher-in-charge was satisfied.
After that, we had lunch outside the drama centre. The lunch was well prepared and it was very delicious. There were many varieties of food served and we sat together and ate the delicious meal. After a long day, we returned to the boarding school and did whatever we wanted to do. :)
Before the party, we rehearsed many times under the supervision of our teacher in order to perform perfectly on that day. Even though we could not really find time for all of us to meet because of our busy schedule, we practiced seriously on the days we rehearsed. It is always fun when we gathered together and practiced together.
On the day of the celebration, many groups presented their performance professionally. There are quizzes, songs, games and many others, including our drama. Before the celebration in the afternoon, we did one last rehearsal. We did well on our performance and the teacher-in-charge was satisfied.
After that, we had lunch outside the drama centre. The lunch was well prepared and it was very delicious. There were many varieties of food served and we sat together and ate the delicious meal. After a long day, we returned to the boarding school and did whatever we wanted to do. :)
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Multiple Intelligence Test
This is the multiple intelligence test results I've got. From the pie chart, I know that I do well in terms of naturalistic, interpersonal and linguistics. Indeed, those three are my best points but my musical intelligence is not very satisfying and so I will try to work hard on my weak points.
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