By Leong Sze Hian

I refer to the article “Security agencies perform poorly in annual police audit” (Straits Times, Dec 4).

Half of security firms get poor grades?

It states that “Half of the 251 security firms audited this year by the police received grades of C or D, according to a statement by the police on Tuesday. This was the industry’s worst result in recent years.

Have better employment terms and job prospects?

The police said in a statement that “security officers are now better equipped and trained, and have better employment terms and job prospects. Security agencies should constantly improve their employment and work place practices so as to attract and retain a skilled workforce”.”

Basic pay still only $800?

– What is perhaps obvious but not mentioned is the low pay of security officers?

How much are they paid?

If the pay is very low, how can we expect things to improve in the security industry?

In this connection, according to the MOM’s wages benchmarking tool, the median basic pay of security guards is only $800.

Singapore tops in PISA study?

I refer to the article “PISA study: Are you smarter than a 15-year-old? Try some questions yourself!” (Straits Times, Dec 4).

It states that “Singapore’s 15-year-olds once again emerged among the top performers in the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) test conducted last year.

“Examinations” focus?
One can always achieve top rankings in tests by focusing on the tests rather than the learning.
For example, students may go for intensive tuition to go through past years’ questions and answers. In fact, Singapore is ranked as number one in the world, in the subject study as having the most students who have tuition.

For “appearance sake”? 

The above may arguably be symptomatic of so many things that may be wrong in Singapore today – the over-emphasis on what I call “for appearance sake” rather than “substance”.

Obsession with grades and rankings?

Students, teachers, schools, etc may be so obsessed with grades and rankings, that the lacking in creativity and thinking skills of students as well as Singaporeans in general have been well documented and studied by academics  in recent years.

Even the Ministry of Education and the Education Minister have acknowledged these shortcomings and have stepped up efforts and changes to address them.

GDP growth at the expense of ordinary Singaporeans?

Another example may be our over focus on GDP growth which arguably may have resulted in hardly any growth in real wages over the last 15 years or so, decreasing real wages as Singaporean workers get older from around age 33 onwards (age discrimination), widespread under-employment of Singaporeans, low productivity, etc.

Degree not so important anymore?

In this connection, even Ministers have been saying recently that a degree may not be so important after all.

Curtailing freedom of expression?

Perhaps the classic example may be the recent slew of measures and clamping down, that many commentators have called – as having a negative impact on the right of freedom of expression – instead of engaging the criticism and fair comment raised by concerned citizens.

A divisive “National Conversation”?

After all, we all as Singaporeans are on the same side, and the stepped up criticism and actions netizens do not bode well for a truly effective and meaningful National Conversation.

 

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