Insight into political orientation of young Singaporeans
Insight into political orientation of young Singaporeans
By Wayne Soon, TODAY
First published : 07 September 2005
SINGAPORE : I recently attended the Singapore International Foundation's International Student Symposium, where I gained some insight into the political orientation of young Singaporeans.
While some were engaged on issues ranging from the role of the arts to the state of the political opposition, the majority of the student audience either chatted among themselves or played with their mobile phones.
When asked if there would be more political pluralism in the next generation, a speaker replied that the next generation simply would not care enough to make a difference. This generated much laughter - probably of affirmation.
To encourage young Singaporeans to take a greater interest in our nation's affairs, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Government have taken steps to engage them since his first National Day Rally speech last year.
There is the National Youth Forum, last August's Youth Consultation Exercise and the yearly Pre-University Seminars. But for these initiatives to have an impact, should they be expanded to embrace a larger, more diverse audience?
Youths today seem to have been depoliticised by the education system - which involves the learning of the official "inspirational form" of Singapore history; the discouragement of political discourse on campus; the absence of opportunities to study social science subjects such as sociology and politics at the O- and A-levels; and a set of prescribed "shared values" that emphasises consensual rather than competitive political participation.
Our education system is intentionally designed to depoliticise us for the ruling party believes that a politically apathetic populace is easier to control.
Young Singaporeans either tend not to think critically or feel that being critical results in unwanted consequences or has no purposeful outcome.
If a generation of Singaporeans grows up with only basic notions of political participation, can Singapore expect good political leaders in the future? Or, for that matter, to be a global and cosmopolitan city, a vision set out by Mr Lee in his recent National Day Rally speech?
In order to ensure that our future leaders have empathy for Singaporeans, passion for Singapore, knowledge of political history and the ability to manage a complex economy and society, our education system must place a greater emphasis on critical thinking.
The ruling party is not interested in nurturing real political leaders as it wants only academically brillant technocrats. Its version of global and cosmopolitan city is not one that is developed organically from the local community but one that springs up instantly with the importation of foreign talents and recreation.
By Wayne Soon, TODAY
First published : 07 September 2005
SINGAPORE : I recently attended the Singapore International Foundation's International Student Symposium, where I gained some insight into the political orientation of young Singaporeans.
While some were engaged on issues ranging from the role of the arts to the state of the political opposition, the majority of the student audience either chatted among themselves or played with their mobile phones.
When asked if there would be more political pluralism in the next generation, a speaker replied that the next generation simply would not care enough to make a difference. This generated much laughter - probably of affirmation.
To encourage young Singaporeans to take a greater interest in our nation's affairs, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and his Government have taken steps to engage them since his first National Day Rally speech last year.
There is the National Youth Forum, last August's Youth Consultation Exercise and the yearly Pre-University Seminars. But for these initiatives to have an impact, should they be expanded to embrace a larger, more diverse audience?
Youths today seem to have been depoliticised by the education system - which involves the learning of the official "inspirational form" of Singapore history; the discouragement of political discourse on campus; the absence of opportunities to study social science subjects such as sociology and politics at the O- and A-levels; and a set of prescribed "shared values" that emphasises consensual rather than competitive political participation.
Our education system is intentionally designed to depoliticise us for the ruling party believes that a politically apathetic populace is easier to control.
Young Singaporeans either tend not to think critically or feel that being critical results in unwanted consequences or has no purposeful outcome.
If a generation of Singaporeans grows up with only basic notions of political participation, can Singapore expect good political leaders in the future? Or, for that matter, to be a global and cosmopolitan city, a vision set out by Mr Lee in his recent National Day Rally speech?
In order to ensure that our future leaders have empathy for Singaporeans, passion for Singapore, knowledge of political history and the ability to manage a complex economy and society, our education system must place a greater emphasis on critical thinking.
The ruling party is not interested in nurturing real political leaders as it wants only academically brillant technocrats. Its version of global and cosmopolitan city is not one that is developed organically from the local community but one that springs up instantly with the importation of foreign talents and recreation.
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