Secret 1: A Singaporean could try to make it in the private sector. If he failed, then (a) if he is well educated, the government would take him in, (b) if he is not well educated, the government could give him opportunities like vendor stalls in the public sector with rental nearly free (for example, a vendor stall pays less than S$100 per month in state schools, a Malay vendor selling drinks and tidbits at one of the beach parks pays S$0 : I talked to them personally), like cleaners in public sector etc.