Originally posted by wuming78:
first: u a civil servant too?

secondly, ok.. let's see if i got u correctly. u r saying tt in these testing times we need to be nimble and flexible and also willing to change rather than wait for change to be imposed on us. so if i understand u correctly, rather than change the system, u hope tt people who make up the system bring about change in their own ways, hopefully guided by the same priorities and aims with the well being of the people at heart.
yes indeed the people who make up the system has to be willing to initiate and carry change. but this doesnt mean the system should be left alone.
wat i had lamented above, is the fact tt current priorities of the leadership, and perhaps even the people, is to put in our resources to bring up the best, even when they are already very good. the rest will just have to follow along - kicking, resisting, crying, limping, tts too bad.
why cant we push up the bottom while pulling up the top? is it really a zero sum game?
perhaps if the change in system or increase in support is never going to come, wat u espouse as the people being change agents, change being initiated and carried on the ground - basically the self-help spirit, will certainly be important.
but tt is second best for these group of people. why cant we do something for them too - afterall we have been doing so much for the mainstream. wat happens to those who fall through the cracks?
of course, tt is my opinion - tt wat is being done for these students is insufficient, tt more can be done for them. i could be wrong. tt's why i posted this thread, to seek opinions on where the gaps are and how we can bridge them.
In reply to your first enquiry, yes, I am one too – from the bottom most of the food chain.
And just to set the record straight, I am only making opinions in here from the perspective as an ordinary person.
On the second note, you have in essence grasped the main points of my earlier post. And just to rectify on a particular misconception above also, I am for any suitable changes to the System as well.
The only concern that I have expressed above is that I feel an Evolutionary paced style of Change would come to be better accepted by the general public, and on controlling concerns, more effectively and efficiently manageable as compared to those which belonged to a Revolutionary style.
Coming on to the concern with regards to the cluster of population who may not be able to follow up with the pace of the Mainstream and be falling through the gaps, we have to acknowledge that this is actually not a simple or isolated matter to take care.
Going back to a couple of extracts that both you and gerrykoh has provided us with in some of the earlier posts above, gerrykoh has actually mentioned a young 17 year old girl who is without qualifications and without interest in studying, while you raised a concern on what nature of help could be made available for those who are1) underage to work and 2) whom have dropped out of school.
What is worth noting from the two different cases above is that while gerrykohÂ’s example involved someone without the market deemed appropriate qualification, the subject in mention is however, of legal age to work.
By the longitudinal view, it is without a doubt that gaining employment for the young lady would be a severe challenge given todayÂ’s employer expectations.
But so long as the young lady is WILLING to lower her expectations on her beginning working career path, she will still hold a chance of gaining success eventually over the long run – should she preserve and work on diligently towards her goals.
The doors of Education in Singapore, fortunately remains relatively open to most even when they can be way pass the typical student age.
For the young lady, the avenues for her to return back into a private school once more for her ‘N’ or ‘O’ levels, an ITE certificate, a polytechnic diploma, or even a basic degree. These avenues and opportunities has always been open to people of higher age as we may see from working class in age 30s and 40s furthering their knowledge in ITE or polytechnic night classes.
Returning back to your example of someone who is underage and out of school however, when the Law prescribes the minimum age allowed for a minor to work, the stipulated age limits stays, irregardless of who the employers are – be them from the Private or Public sector.
This could be a sad fact, but we must remain firm that there can be no double standards allowed.
The vacuum which is created in the example is regrettable.
Under such circumstances, the only possible option that comes to mind at the moment might only be to intervene INDIRECTLY to effective eradicate on the possible arise of such scenarios again.
A possible stoppage to such scenarios could be enforced through extend the duration and coverage of Compulsory Education in Singapore from its current six years coverage over primary education, to an additional of 4 years over secondary education to make up on a minimum of 10 years compulsory education.
Not only will this extension serve to provide a more realistic match to the minimum level of Education that the population in Singapore will require in order to stay relevant to the changing world, the extension can also go on to ensure that under all possible worst case scenarios – even the most academically un-inclined student will still be educated to at least a ‘N’ level qualification, even if it means he / she may only have 3 or 4 subject passes.
The mere possession of a GCE ‘N’ level certification can at least help to open doors to positions in basic office or secretary work. This in turn, improves and better ensures on higher survivability rate for a ‘LAI’ individual for a worst case scenario when he / she will need to fend for their livelihood after coming out from school and they do not receive any more form of Education from then onwards.
While it will be truly a challenge to fully address and attempt to extend a helping hand out to every single one of those whom may have unfortunately fallen through such gaps away from the Mainstream, the minimum help that the public sector may in the least offer to this particular group in conjunction to the above, would be to open employment opportunity doors for low complexity jobs such as those of a Corporate Support nature.
With the candidature selection criteria preference REVERSED, the selecting job seeking candidates as based on those with the lowest BUT within the established qualification criteria parameters and on age factor, e.g. giving selection preference on an open position to a 40 years old over a 20 years old, this will all be a form of help to LAI individuals.
The principles for the above should be based on considerations with regards to qualifications, age and factors like, in comparative assessment to the probability chances of the same candidate securing another job out in the private sector.
On ending note, my personal opinion is that the task and responsibility of ‘pulling the bottom up’ should be more of the responsibilities of the Elites.
Under the Doctrines of Sun Tze, a country as akin to an organizational body, establish Elite Systems because upon training, an Elite can then disseminate, pass on, and handle knowledge and order of diversified natures downwards in a more effective and efficient manner as compared to multiple directives coming straight down from only a centralized source.
Since such is the order, and having been armed with better and more accurate understanding on the actual conditions going on at the Ground level, Elitists should bear on their shoulders, more of such inherited responsibilities and to constantly review and introduced improvements and relief changes to the respective system or field which they either be leading or charged with the care of .
And reverting this into the education-related context of our discussion, perhaps this could imply something by the relevant policy analysts maybe?
Change need not always come one way only from the CRPP.
