As a Singaporean, I would like to focus on social problems in Singapore first. Being in University, staying with my roommate who is constantly worrying about everything, it brings me to mind certain issues in Singapore. It seems that in Singapore, we have a culture where people are very fearful about failure and losing out to others. It is not something new to see reports on the Straits Times of how students commit suicide after they get their PSLE (Primary School Leaving Exams) grades or ‘O’Levels or ‘A’Levels. In University, students have to fight for the electives/courses. On the first few days, students have to be glued to their computer before 10am before the course registration system starts functioning to snatch the courses they want. You can be slow by a fraction of a second and your desired course is snatched right before your eyes. Students are even willing to skip their lecture to make sure they get a space for their desired course. The fear of losing out to others is not just reflected in the above disturbing behavior but also in the huge culture of Tuition in Singapore where I daresay, millions of dollars could have easily gone into it. There are so many parents determined to turn their child into geniuses or the one to stand out with brilliant grades, that there are numerous Tuition centers found all over our tiny island offering tuition services from the tender age of Kindergaden to Junior Colleges level. Business is apparently doing well as some tuition centers even operate on franchise, spreading all over the Island. Plenty of children are also known to get enrolled in music classes like piano, ballet (dance) etc etc so that they have an extra edge or some other kid. Such a culture is even highlighted in local dramas like ‘I not stupid’ and many other shows.
With all these attention and messages that ‘winning is essential, number one is best’ being inculcated in kids by their parents and teachers, it is no wonder how the fear of failure is so strong in school children that they can kill themselves over minor problems like grades.
My roommate is a good example of someone very afraid of failing. During her A’levels examinations. She was worried to the point of depression. She was worried about not getting good grades. To her good grades meant getting into University. Not getting good grades means not being able to get into University which is = no jobs in the future= no money = doom. I had to counsel her to let her know that there are always alternatives in life. The world is big and how she would definitely be able to survive. However, no matter how I tried, this friend did not believe that life would be so easy for her. It seems the fear is too deeply rooted to be removed so easily.
However, this fear of failure is definitely not seen only in the students and grades context. It is also seen on our national level. Our government itself seems very obsessed with staying competitive. Constantly making changes to policy to stay ahead, coming up with huge urban redevelopment projects etc. In just a short few years, the Casino and the integrated resorts are planned and would be built in no time. Only recently, GST is raised from 5% to 7% for Singapore to maintain its attractiveness to SMEs.
Globalization might just have contributed to the pressure that Singaporeans are feeling. With the government so welcoming towards foreign expats, it is no wonder native Singaporeans would feel insecure at the competition, which they commonly voiced out in the papers. As the Singapore currency is stronger against currencies like Indian rupees or China renminbi or Malaysian’s ringgit, it is definitely an incentive for many to find employment in Singapore ; contributing to an influx of foreigners moving into Singapore. Also, it is the desire to build a knowledge based society that make us competitive in a globalised word that could have caused the rise of tuition culture and strive for excellent grades due to the emphasis the government places on education.
At the moment, these are some of the problems I think Singapore has. Which is the ‘fear of failure or losing out’ seen in school children and working Singaporeans.
P.s. I am way over my limit. But I guess, I still need to write these points out as this is my note that I’m making & I would like to fill it up with as many points as I can.
