National Service in here is a very broad term. National Serivce does not mean one need to carry a gun and go through months of training.
Singapore young women unlike the older generation are much better off with their life. They don"t even know how to cook, wash and sew.
There is lack of people in doing social work for the old, young and the sick. Then I suppose 2-1/2 + 13 cycles of "National Social Service" from young singapore women is not much to ask for.
In times of strife and unrest, we do not only need able men who can defend the country. It's not like these men don't have to eat or receive treatment for wounds, if any.
So perhaps, women should also be sent for "National Service" as in, they should learn first aid, or how to cook and sew. Train the women to be strong enough to carry supplies.
In Singapore, I think, I'm not sure though, that less than half the population are able-bodied men who can defend the country. Hence, the other half of the population should not just sit there and wait for defence. Why not make full use of our human resource? Train the abled to be skilled and useful and not to be a burden. I'm sure that even though having more skilled people does not play a major part in defending the country, this addition could be rather significant.
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It is by tiny steps that we ascend the stars.
not being a gov lackey or anything, but i think the gov stand is that they contribute to economic defence by working while us guys slog in NS...lame, but i didn't say it was good...