FamilyCharacteristics of families today:

- It is the most basic social unit upon which is a society is built- Each member consists of a specific role in the family

e.g. Men are usually seen as the bread winners whereas women are seen to have the prime responsibility of managing household chores.

- Modern nuclear families shaped by sentiments such as 1) romantic love between couples2) idea that women have a maternal instinct and a need to reproduce and care for young

children and 3) domesticity (the belief that relationships within family are more binding than those

outside it) - Usually consists of 2 parents (a mother and a father) and 2 or 3 children. This is the

composition of most families today. - Functions/Outcomes of family:

1) Provide emotional support/ happiness2) Financial security3) To raise a family effectively4) To teach values or impart and perpetuate the traditions and cultures

- Families are groups in which people come together to form a strong primary group connection, maintaining emotional ties to one another over a long period of time.

What is the need for a family (importance of family)?

- It is from within a family that a new member of society learns about the wider world outside, and is prepared for his or her own part in it

- The need for families is so universal. The main task of the family is to ensure that certain aspects of life, the most obvious reason being the biological need for reproduction, are preserved and will go on into the future.

- Families exist to provide a stable and secure environment for children to be born and brought up in.

- The family teaches us the rules of behaviors at a very early stage which allows us to live in a society in an orderly way. This is mainly because our social life is far more patterned and organized than we realize.

- Our ideas and values are also shaped by the family. - Family provides financial support for its members. - Where children are neglected by families due to their inability to support them, some

children are brought up in institutions such as children’s homes. Children are also advertised in newspaper columns in the hope that families will come forward to foster or adopt them. This reflects the widespread belief in our society that the family is the setting that children should grow up in.

This is the conventional model of a family that has been generally agreed upon. However, its relevance has become questionable with the rise of competitive models of family today.

Conventional Model Competitive ModelMarriage - The conventional model of marriage can be defined as a legal union between two members of the opposite sex, traditionally based on a sexual relationship.

Cohabitation without getting married e.g Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt Increasingly, more couples want to enjoy their relationship by cohabiting with minimal commitment and responsibility. Couples still want to raise a family without getting married. (2010 Survey by University of Indiana, 83% and 64% people agree that unmarried couples and gay couples with children still constitute a family respectively.)

A family should consist of a husband, wife and children. (In a 2010 survey, conducted by the university professors at University of Indiana, 99.8% of participants agreed that family consists of husband, wife and children)

There is a deviation from this model with the rise of single parent household and homosexual couples without children or adopting children with a desire to raise a family.(In the same survey, 92 % stated that husband and wife without children still constitute a family)

Having Children. i.e. There is a need for procreation and hence, the establishment of a family is necessary(In the same survey, it was revealed that children tend to be the key indicator in establishing “family” status as the % of individuals who agreed that unmarried couples and gay couples constitute a family nearly doubled when children were added. )

Couples do not have a children either by choice or health reasons. These people argue that there is no need for procreation.

However, although these competitive models are on the rise, only the structure/design of the family has changed in the recent years. The fundamental outcomes of family of emotional closeness and support are still present.

MarriageDefinition:

The conventional model of marriage can be defined as a legal union between two members of the opposite sex, traditionally based on a sexual relationship.

Is marriage still relevant in modern society?

Introduction:

(1) Engaging Start: In a survey conducted by the Pew Research Center in 2010, 39% of respondents answered “yes” when asked whether marriage is becoming obsolete. With single parenting and cohabitation becoming more acceptable in recent years, people may be less motivated to get married.

(2) Definition of terms: The conventional model of marriage can be defined as a legal union between two members of the opposite sex, traditionally based on a sexual relationship.

(3) Thesis: With new social developments such as the feminisation of the workforce, marriages are being challenged, but it is still highly relevant as it is still culturally and socially significant to most. However, with the legalization of same sex marriages in certain countries, there may be a need to redefine the conventional model of marriage.

Counter Paragraph:

(1) Topic Sentence: Some people may argue that with feminisation of the workforce, the increase in work opportunities for women has led to women prioritizing their careers over marriage, making marriage obselete.

(2) Explanation/Elaboration: With more women entering the workforce, there will be rising opportunities for women to gain higher positions that were previously unheard of before modern society. When more time is being spent at work, time left for leisure would decrease significantly. Women may now choose to put off marriages or even remain single as they feel the need to be financially independent.

(3) Example/Evidence: The percentage of single women in their 20s in Japan has risen by more than 20% over the years with more Japanese women joining the labour force.

(4) Defense: However, in countries such as Singapore with similar conditions as Japan, the number of marriages is still rising and has risen by over 700 marriages over the past year. While the absolute number of marriages may have declined, the majority of each cohort is still married and those who remain single are still a minority.

(5) Explanation/Elaboration: Even though the number of people getting married has significantly fallen over the years, the absolute number of married couples is still high on the whole.

(6) Link (to thesis/supporting argument): Hence, while the rise of women in the workforce has led to a fall in number of marriages, marriage is still relevant in modern society as seen by the relatively high number of marriages in countries such as Singapore.

Content Paragraph

(1) Topic Sentence: Marriage is still relevant in modern society due to the social significance of having families in every society in the world. Because it provides a secure platform to raise children given that it is anchored by law and personal commitment

(2) Explanation/Elaboration: Having a family ensures that certain aspects of social life are preserved and will go on in the future. The main aspect of this would be the biological need for reproduction. New members of society must be produced and the family exists to provide a stable and secure environment into which children are born and brought up.

(3) Example/Evidence: The falling birth rates in Singapore to a current fertility rate of 1.2 can eventually lead to a higher dependency ratio as a result of an uneven ratio between the dependents and the economically active population. Recognising the need to beef up the fertility rates to ensure that reproduction does not come to a halt eventually, the Singapore government has launched a series of measures such as Parenthood Priority Scheme to ensure that 30% of new public flats are set aside for couples with children under the age of 16. A survey conducted in 2013 on marriage indicated that 61% of the respondents have been putting off marriage to save money for housing. With the introduction of this scheme, couples will then be encouraged to get married, and eventually start a family. Thus, there is a universal need for families in every society to ensure the continuous process of reproduction.

(4) Link: (to thesis/supporting argument): In order to make the existence of a family possible, by the conventional model of marriage, two people of the opposite sex would have to get married, thus marriage is still relevant in modern society.

Content Paragraph

(1) Topic Sentence: Marriage is still relevant in modern society as it is important as a symbol to show the efforts of other groups such as the LGBT to obtain the recognition of marriage. The cautious efforts of gay rights activist to legalise same-sex marriages reinforces the relevance of marriage.

(2) Explanation/Elaboration: The conventional model of marriage is defined as a legal union between two members of the opposite sex. In the past, same sex marriages would have been unheard of and discriminated against. Homosexual relationships have been a source of debate in modern society as to whether recognition should be awarded to them. However, with rising levels of education, acceptance towards same-sex marriages has become more prevalent over the years.

(3) Example/Evidence: With the legalization of same-sex marriages in 15 countries such as New Zealand and Canada, and certain parts of Mexico and the United States, same sex couples are allowed to settle down and be legally recognised.

(4) Link: (to thesis/supporting argument): When the conventional model of marriage is to accommodate same-sex marriages, marriage will retain its relevance in modern society.

Content Paragraph

(1) Topic Sentence: Marriage is still relevant in modern as it gives individuals specific status, rights (inheritance) and privileges which no other institution provides

(2) Explanation/Elaboration: Married couples are able to enjoy benefits that are not available to single individuals such as the right to buy a HDB flat. As previously mentioned, married couples are entitled to 30% of the public flats to ensure that they are able to settle down and start a

family. Under the Single Singaporean Scheme, individuals who are buying a 2-room flat in non-mature estate have to be of 35 years old and above. This means that young individuals below the age of 35 would not be able to purchase a flat of their own unless they are married. Thus, marriage is still necessary in modern society.

(3) Example/Evidence: Also, Couples who choose to cohabit and not get married would also not be able to enjoy the Marriage and Parenthood Package if they intend to procreate in the future. Under this package, enhancements such as extended maternity protection and 1-week government paid paternity leave would ease the burden of married couples when they leverage on the benefits associated with marriage. Without the binding of the legal union, couples with children would not be able to enjoy the assistance provided by the Singapore government.

(4) Link: (to thesis/supporting argument): With the advantages that come with marriage such as the convenience of buying a HDB flat and enjoying healthcare aids, marriage is still relevant in modern society as it brings about many benefits that would not be available to non-married couples.

Conclusion: Summation of points: In conclusion, while people may argue that feminisation of the workforce has made marriage obselete, marriage is generally still relevant in society due to its social significance, expansion to accommodate same-sex marriages, as well as the welfare benefits associated with the legal union.

Science & TechnologyNuclear Power

Advantages Disadvantages- Constant, Clean source of Energy as it is

unlimited and produces very little wasteE.g. Stewart Brand, American writer who also widely researched on alternative sources of energy proved that nuclear energy only produces waste equivalent to a coke can in a lifetime. Whereas fossil fuels produces tons of waste in a day.

- It takes about 10 to 19 years to build one nuclear power plant. While the nuclear power plant is under construction, there is still heavy dependence of non-renewable sources of energy such as coals and oil. The depletion of these resources would have increased to large levels by the time the plant is ready to operate.

- Nuclear energy can also be produced using weapons that have been de-armed. E.g. 10% of nuclear energy in America comes from decommissioned nuclear warheads. There are abundant nuclear weapons to tap on to generate nuclear power.

- Encourages nuclear weapon proliferation and therefore create tension between the countries. For example, India and Pakistan developed nuclear weapon secretly and that led to huge political and social tensions between the government and the people.

- Better than alternative sources of energy such as wind and solar energy. The limitations of wind and solar energy make nuclear power more useful and efficient.

- Wind Energy: Requires a lot of space to build wind turbines. For example, it needs at least half an acre per turbine. In Germany & Denmark, they are running out of space to build sufficient wind farms.

- Solar Energy: To generate 1 giga watt of energy, it requires 50 square miles of land. For example, in California, 80 solar farm schemes are going forward by bull dozing 1000 square miles of Californian desert.

- Radiations from nuclear plant leakage or explosions can be malicious and deadly. For example, recently in August 2013, 300 tons of highly radioactive water had leaked from a storage tank at the Fukushima plant in Japan and it was considered a "serious incident" on an international scale for radiological releases. The cause of the leak is still unfounded. Also, the 2011 tsunami that hit the plant had caused leakage. The radioactive substances can have very detrimental health effects. E.g. it can cause diseases such leukaemia, skin and lung cancer.

BiofuelRefers to any solid, liquid or gas fuel that has been derived from biomassAdvantages Disadvanatges

- Bio fuels are clean sources of energy. Its production is environmentally friendly. It produces less pollution in the air in comparison to burning fossil fuels. It also consumes materials such as garbage, helping the environment tremendously.

- Bio fuels are carbon neutral and hence have the potential to reduce green house gas emissions.

- E.g. According to Life Cycle Analysis, first generation bio fuels can save up to 60% of carbon emissions compared to fossil fuels. Second generation bio fuels offer carbon emissions savings up to 80%.

- Loss of biodiversity. More habitats will be lost for flora and fauna as more land is burnt and adapted to produce bio fuel.

- Bio fuels are renewable sources of energy. They can be made easily where there is an area of abundant crops.

- Food vs Fuel DebateBio fuel production becomes more lucrative for farmers and they may grow more crops for bio fuel instead of food production. This results in decreased food production and the shortage that arises drives up prices of food items such as corn. The impact is particularly high in developing countries. About 100 million people are at the risk due to higher food prices.

- It serves as a lucrative business for many farmers such as in Indonesia and Malaysia. According to the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), from August 2006 until February 2007, 52,654 tonnes of biodiesel had been exported to the United States, European Union, and Japan, generating RM132 million in revenue.

Genetically Modified FoodAimed to increase and better food supply for the world through higher yields, longer shelf lives, greater

nutrition, less use of pesticides, so as to reduce global hunger and ,malnutritionAdvantages Disadvantages

- Higher quality of the food producedThe GM food have longer shelf life, drought resistant, cold tolerant. E.g. Monsanto tomatoes were developed to stat firm for a longer period of time. Hence, it can help curd food wastage as well and increase food supply.

- Unknown health consequences of the GM food (E.g. the Monsanto Milk powder)

- Health Benefits, such as reduced potential to cause allergies, or an increase in vitamin or mineral content. E.g. Golden Rice has higher beta-carotine due to inserted genes from daffodils.

- Interbreeding between the plants can be harmful. There can be loss of biodiversity. E.g. The death of monarch butterflies.

- Environmental Reducing pesticide use by engineering insect/ disease resistant crops, which in turn would decrease the toxicity of food

Q: Is technology the best answer to environmental destruction?

Arguments Explanation EvidenceMining has devastating negative impacts on the environment such as disposing large volumes of waste water into water bodies

Technology can help mitigate this problem

For example, Molycorp is a mining company it recycles almost the entire initial freshwater brought into the start of the process can be recycled hence, water pollution due to mining can be reduced and fresh water consumtion can be reduced as well

Deforestation loss of flora and fauna

Technology can help reduce deforestation to a large extent and hence prevent the negative effects on the environment.

Global Forest Watch 2.0 is an interactive, real-time, forest monitoring system. It uses satellite technology, data sharing and human networks around the world to provide information to better managing forests. Real-time forest monitoring systems have helped countries’ enforcement efforts. In the Brazilian Amazon, for example, deforestation rates have dropped 80 percent since 2004

Pollution of water bodies due to excessive usage of pesticides and other chemicals.

Genetically Modified crops can help curb this problem plants can be engineered to poison pests that harm plants but harmless to people

Bt cotton is one type and now makes up 95% of China's vast plantations. Since its introduction in 1997, pesticide use has halved

Qn: “Technology alienates people more than it serves to bring them together.”Discuss.

Suspicion and distrust that nuclear technology tends to promote. E.g. North Korea, in Feb 2013, it conducted an underground nuclear weapon test and it immediately raised tension levels for all the neighbouring countries as they were threatened by a possible attack by North Korea.Privacy concerns that has led to people resorting to adjusting settings and doing everything within their means to keep other out of their lives. Online platforms bring people together other than to merely communicate or comment on what they had for breakfast/ lunch, e.g. crowd sourcing, Wikipedia.

Global IssuesA) Causes of unequal development in the world today:- Historical- Physical (Climate & Raw Materials)- Political Reasons (Good Leadership & Political Conflict) - Social Reasons (Population Growth & Education)

B) Sustainable Development- Development that meets the needs of the present world without compromising the ability of

future generations to meet their own needs- Kyoto Protocol

international treaty that sets binding obligations on industrialised countries to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases

Member countries include Singapore, China, Japan, India, United Kingdom global emissions have showed no sign of slowing down with Europe's savings reduced to just 1% from 1990 to 2008 and the developed

world as a whole seeing its emissions rise by 7% in the same period This blurs the success of the nations with Kyoto targets because much of the growth

in China and other emerging economies has been driven by the production of goods and services exported to developed nations

USA is part of the protocol but refuses to act upon it

C) Globalisation - Is the process by which the everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas,

can foster a standardization of cultural expressions around the world(i) The collapse of time and space

Instantaneous communication will destroy geographically based power imbalances and create a global village

In 1960s and ‘70s immigrant workers in London relied on postal systems and personally delivered letters to send news back to their home villages in India, China and elsewhere and it could take 2 months to receive a reply.

However, by 1990s, the grand children of these migrants were carrying, cellular phones that linked them to their relatives in cities abroad

The worldwide spread of television and internet brings distant events to the immediate attention of people living around the world

For example, the growth of Cable News Network (CNN) is seen as an icon of globalization, broadcasting news around the world, 24 hours a day. Live coverage of various significant global events such as the September 11 attacks, illustrated televisions powerful global reach.

(ii) The Standardization of experience Travel

Since 1960s, the cost of international flight has declined and foreign talent has become a routine experience for millions of middle and working class people. There is also standardization in the hotel experience that people enjoy today. For example, western-style beds, toilets, showers, fitness centres and restaurants now constitute the global standard.

ClothingModes of dress can disguise an array of cultural diversity behind a facade of uniformity. The man’s business suit, with coloured tie and buttoned shirt, has become “universal” in the sense that it is worn just about everywhere. For example, Iranian parliamentarians, wear ‘Western” suit but forgo the tie, while Saudi diplomats alternate traditional Bedouin robes with tailored suits. Chinese fashion underwent sweeping change after the death of the Communist Party Chairman Mao Zedong. Western suits or casual wear became the norm.

Entertainment Television access is widespread, even if receivers are not present in every household. Collecting viewing in bars, restaurants and tea houses was common during the early stages of television broadcasting in countries such as Indonesia, Japan. Live sport programs continue to draw some of the largest global audiences. The 1998 World Cup Final between Brazil and France was watched between estimated 2 billion people. Contrary to the common belief, Hollywood, does not hold a monopoly in entertainment programming. The most prolific film Industry is in Bombay, India, where as much as 1000 feature films are produces annually in all India’s major languages.

FoodFood has always been a driving force of globalisation. Globalisation has allowed green beans to grow in Burkina Faso in Central Africa and shipped by express air cargo to Paris, where they end up on the plates of diners in the city’s top restaurants. The average daily diet has also undergone tremendous change, with all nations converging on a diet high in meat, dairy products and processed sugars homogenization of global diet.Example: McDonalds has become a symbol of globalism. On an ave day in 2001, the company served nearly 45 million customers at more than 25000 restaurants in 120 countries.

EnvironmentQn: Consider the view that economic growth always brings environmental damage.

Step 1: Acknowledge the truth of the view presented Step 2: Disagree with the absolute nature of it

Note that for this question, discussion must be made on a country level and not an individual level as private corporations nor individuals cannot pursue economic growth.

Economic growth is a concept for countries and governments.

Thesis Arguments Anti-Thesis ArgumentsPrioritization of economic growth at all costs may lead to a wilful neglect of the impact of economic activity on the environment as governments perceive these to competing and mutually exclusive aims.

With economic growth, the resources to mitigate the environmental damage incurred as a result of that growth become available and the governments are more willing to address these problems once growth has been achieved.

Economic growth of some countries is driven by the exploitation of natural resources as the stage in their development dictates that they remain heavily dependent on the primary industries which admittedly cause the greatest amount of damage.e.g. Developing countries like Thailand and Indonesia. In Indonesia, between 1990 and 2010, 1 914 000 hectares of forest had been lost mainly due to deforestation and logging for oil palm plantation and timbre exports which bring large revenue to the country.

Economic growth in some countries could possibly be driven by the preservation of their natural environment, especially in the tourism industry, and it is in the country’s economic interest to prioritize environmental conservation alongside their growth policies. E.g. In Belize, tourism is the country’s top source of revenue and its livelihood depends on nature. Thirty-six percent of Belize’s landmass enjoys protected status. Thirteen percent of its waters, including vast portions of the world’s second largest coral reef system, are protected as well.

The lack of political will to address environmental damage which may not be felt and cannot be measured in the short term while the fruits of the economic growth may reap immediate and tangible rewards for the country.E.g. Indonesia, corruption amongst local Indonesian official’s fuels cynicism with regard to the governmental clampdown on illegal logging activities. The lack of joint will and determination from the government’s part has led to continual environmental degradation in Indonesia. Thus, any efforts by the government to minimise environmental damage goes unfelt and hence futile.

The pursuit of sustainable growth/ development has become a politically correct strategy to undertake in developed countries as governments need to be accountable to their educated and vocal citizens demanding responsible growth in line with environmental conservation.

Some useful example on how technology can help mitigate environmental problems:

Air Pollution In China, more than 70% of total energy consumption relies on direct coal combustion. This releases large volumes of pollutive gases such as sulphur dioxide and green house gases such as carbon dioxide and water vapour. Alternative sources of energy can help reduce such air pollution.

For example, solar power costs 75 cents per watt. However, a new technology has been recently discovered that could lead to solar power costing just 10 to 20 cents per watt. According to a report by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), biodiesel produce 78.5 percent fewer carbon dioxide emissions than petroleum diesel. In addition, bio fuels act as carbon sinks as well.

Hence, by making use of bio fuels or solar power, we can minimise the combustion of fossil fuels.

Evaluation: However, to produce bio fuel, large land masses are deforested in countries like Indonesia each year.

Land Pollution Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

Water Pollution NEWater Cleanses the dirty water and is recycled to become clean drinking water.

Top 10 Pollutive Countries:

1) China - emits 6,018 million tonnes of greenhouse gases each year2) USA - producing 5,833 million tonnes of greenhouse gases annually. It was overtaken by

China in 2007. 3) Russia4) India5) Japan6) Germany7) Canada8) UK9) South Korean 10) Iran

Firms practising eco-friendly ways:

- Marriott Hotel seeks to take responsibility for the environmental impact of its business operations by reducing the amount of energy used and waste and carbon produced. It has reduced its landfill waste per occupied room in its America’s region by 4.9 percent between 2011 and 2012.

- Ikea makes use of alot of lumber (timbre sawed/ made into boards or planks) to make a lot of its furniture. However, the company uses sustainable forestry techniques to create its product such that it has very minimal damage to the environment. The company is also investing in solar and wind energy to an unprecedented degree. The company plans to double its already strong investments in renewable energy and hit 100% clean energy by 2020. It also leads the way in selling cleaner, greener products.

- Nike, the footwear giant does more for the environment than encourage people to walk; its headquarters in the Netherlands use recycled aluminium frames and underground energy storage. It also enforces strict emission standards at all of its factories, and has been able to reduce its overall carbon footprint by approximately 80% since the late 90s. Furthermore, it offers the greenest soccer shoes around.

Irresponsible practices by firms:

- Oil Spill by shell in Nigeria had devastating environmental effects. For example, the oil spill in Nigeria caused by Shell had devastating environmental effects. Experts estimate between 500,000 and 600,000 barrels were spilled, devastating the environment and contaminating about 30 square miles of mangroves, swamps and channels.

Singapore Policies / Statistics Policies to encourage couples to get married and start a family/ students/parents:

A) Baby Bonus

Baby bonus is an incentive given by the government to encourage them to have more babies. The Baby Bonus scheme is also known as the Child Development Co-Savings Scheme. The Baby Bonus Scheme supports parents' decision to have more children by helping to lighten the financial costs of raising children. Parents will get a cash gift of up to $4,000 each for their 1st and 2nd child and $6,000 each for their 3rd and 4th child.

B) Childcare Link

Their mission is to develop accessible, affordable and quality child care that support families and family formation in Singapore and that enables young children to be nurtured in a safe and supportive environment.

C) Paid Maternity and Paternity Leave

Mothers can get up to 16 weeks of paid maternity leave. With effect from 1 May 2013, the government has allowed fathers of newborns to take a 1 week paternity leave, given that the new born fulfils the criteria such as, being a Singapore citizen.

D) Housing

Singapore had announced a set of measures to encourage marriage and parenthood in late January, including providing affordable and available public housing, assisting reproduction, as well as incentives of healthcare and paternity leave.

E) 5 day work weekMajority of Singaporean adults and all students enjoy a 5 day work week in Singapore. For example, in January 2005, the 5 day work week for students was implemented where most of CCA’s were only conducted on weekdays after school hours. This allowed students to have more time for themselves over the weekends. This enables them to spend time with their families at more convenient pace and allows them to catch up with each other. However, shortened work week does come with trade-offs. Shortened working days means that more work has to be squeezed in a shorter period of time.

F) In recent times, more young couple are seen having kids in their 20s. These can be mainly attributed to more family friendly policies by the Government in the workplace.

Policies/ Events for National Heritage:

A) The national heritage board in Singapore, established in 1993, aims to foster nationhood, promote identity building, and champion the development of a vibrant cultural and heritage sector in Singapore. NHB manages the national museums, heritage institutions, the Language Councils Secretariat and sets policies relating to heritage sites, monuments and the national collection

B) Organization of Singapore Biennale. It was inaugurated in 2006. A wide variety of contemporary art work such as drawings, paintings, photography and many more are exhibited biennially. This year, the 4th Annual Biennale has a theme “If the world changed”. The theme this year encourages artists to rethink about the changing living landscape in South East Asia as the wave of globalisation hits the region with a rich cultural history. In 2011, this event attracted over 900, 000 visitors. This signals that the government recognises the importance for promoting arts scene and Singapore and the people are also actively receptive to these events.

C) In 1945, UNESCO was created in order to respond to the firm belief of nations that political and economic agreements are not enough to build a lasting peace. Peace must be established on the basis of humanity’s moral and intellectual solidarity. It firmly believes that there is a need to create holistic policies that are capable of addressing the social, environmental and economic dimensions of sustainable development

D) Singapore is also among the member countries of UNESCO. It became a member in 2007. Singapore has attempted to nominate its botanic gardens as its first UNESCO World Heritage Centre. The Botanic Gardens was chosen for submission because it fulfils the criteria of having outstanding universal value. The members of the public have been invited to provide feedback about the Botanic Gardens, which then will be submitted to the World Heritage Committee on 1st February 2014. In addition, the rubber seeds grown in the garden propelled the growth of the rubber industry and the development of Singapore from a fishing village to one of the world's busiest ports in the 20th century. Hence, the Singapore government values this site and believes that it needs to be protected at all costs.

E) Singapore has 2 types of heritage sites. National heritage sites and one for all the different races such as the Chinese, Malay, Indian and Eurasian Heritage centre.

For Malays, we have the Kampong Glam Malay Heritage Centre. Kampong Glam was a ethnic district with strong Malay-Arab influence. It is still a favourite place for many Malays and Muslims to shop and spend time with their loved ones. Also, located in this district is the Sultan mosque, the oldest mosque in Singapore.

For Indians, the Indian heritage centre is set to open in 2015. Furthermore, the Sri Mahamariamman temple is the oldest Hindu temple in Singapore that many Hindu Singaporeans still visit. The little India is also a place for Indians to congregate and it highlights the practices of Indian communities.

F) Bukit Brown is also another cultural and natural heritage of outstanding universal value, one that is still yet unappreciated by the public at large, and that the government is planning to drive a highway through it to alleviate traffic congestion. Despite being a cemetery, this place has a huge historical value as it history dates back to the 1820s. It also reflects the relationship Singapore had with its neighbouring countries, like Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia on the tombstones.

* Cultural imperialism – practice of promoting a more powerful culture over a lesser known/ desirable culture

Policies/ Events for Education:

A) Information & Communication Technology (ICT) in Education

The government aims to enrich and transform the learning environments of our students and equip them with critical competencies and dispositions to succeed in knowledge based economy. Hence, it has launched its 3rd Masterplan for ICT in Education promoting the development of self-directed learning and collaborative learning skills and prepare its students for fast changing and highly connected world today. For example, there is greater alignment of student’s learning outcomes in the syllabi, national examination and classroom experience to 21st century skills such as IT skills, and the ability to communicate persuasively and collaborate effectively. The students will be required to look for information, synthesise reports and give feedback on each other’s work using ICT and one such example includes the Project Work at A levels.

ICT is also increasingly used to teach students. For example, Nan Chiau Primary school, embarked on a WE Learn mobile education project, which uses 3G smartphones to create a 21st century classroom experience for Singaporean students. It aims to transform learning from traditional, teacher-centric to a student-centric model, with inquiry-oriented and collaborative framework where 24/7 access to resources in and out of the classroom allows students to acquire and practice 21st century competencies.

Evaluation of Policy:

However, this ICT Masterplan in Education is not without limitations. While students enjoy the usage of ICT in education, there is a lack of trained ICT professionals to teach the students effectively. Furthermore, today, there is a need for teachers to also learn how to make use of ICT to transfer knowledge to students effectively. Many teachers in schools today are reluctant and uncomfortable to change their old teaching methods and use ICT in teaching.

Next, the purpose of ICT in classroom is the opportunity for students to explore and collaborate. If the use of ICT does not reflect these, then the use of ICT in the classroom is severely curtailed. In order to do these, teachers must undergo a paradigm shift in the way they teach. They must be willing to take a more “hands off” approach. They will have to design meaningful learning activities that involve collaboration. There is no point in having 21st Century tools and yet teach as if it is a 19th Century classroom.

In addition, the technology used for teaching also has the ability to defeat its purpose. The main purpose of education is to develop listening skills and the ability to pay attention to key areas of teaching. With technology, visual aids are used more and hence, it can distract students and not develop good listening skills. Therefore, technology in education can be a two edged sword.

Policies for elderly:A) One in five residents in Singapore will be aged 65 and above by 2050. . This makes Singapore

one of the fastest ageing populations in Asia. The effects of this demographic transition will be pervasive. Today, 8.5 economically active persons are supporting one elderly. Hence, there is a need to prepare the Singaporean population to face this demographic challenge.

B) The Singapore government promotes active ageing. One of the actions from the government is to increase the age of retirement. The retirement age was increased to 65 from 2007. With increased life expectancy and the availability of better healthcare services, the elders can still remain active and contribute to Singapore’s economic growth. Despite many criticisms from the public, the government still managed to implement this successfully.

C) Singapore also celebrates grandparent’s day since 1979. It is a day meant to celebrate the elderly at home and also create an inclusive environment for all. Grandparents’ day help family members foster closer ties with the elderly at home and also show their appreciation to them.

We need to narrow the gap between the younger and the older Singaporeans to promote inter-generational bonding. This means having platforms and opportunities where the young and old can play and interact. One such opportunity was created last year, when grandparents day was celebrated at the Singapore Flyer where nearly 4 900 grandparents and their families members took part in the activities, which included a walk, rides on the Singapore Flyer and live band performances.

D) The Singapore Kindness MovementIn 2013, the theme was “Together, we care for our elderly”. In one component, participants put themselves in the shoes of the elderly by walking around with certain senses – sight, hearing, touch or smell – hindered. This seeks to encourage more in-depth thoughts on respect for elderly, especially in an Asian society like Singapore.

Note: This example can also be used to explain how young Singaporeans do not have respect for the elderly. (The explanation work 2 ways) These events could also be organized as the government recognised that there is a lack of regard for the elderly and hence the need to address this at the national level through this campaigns. Today, there are just as many reports about elderly being abandoned and treated unkindly on the MRT. The number of residents in old folks home have increased from 6 287 in 2001 to 352 600 in 2011.

E) Preparing for old is also an individual responsibility. Although the family and government have a huge role to play in creating an inclusive environment, more needs to be done on an individual level. Individuals should go on regular health check-ups after they cross the age of 40. Also, adopting a healthy lifestyle, where-by they consume healthy and nutritious food and exercise regularly is important. This is to prevent illnesses due to poor eating habits.

Furthermore, it is important that individuals plan and save for their retirement early without postponing it. The CPF savings was introduced by the government to force Singaporeans to save for their retirement (Special Account), healthcare expenses (Medisave Account) and housing needs (Ordinary Account).

F) Seeking Maintenance from ChildrenNeedy elderly parents can seek financial maintenance from their children who are capable of supporting them, but are not doing so. These parents are encouraged to seek the assistance of the Commissioner for the Maintenance of Parents. The Commissioner will conduct conciliation sessions with a view to resolving the maintenance needs of the elderly. If conciliation is not successful, parents may wish to consider filing an application at the Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents against their children for maintenance.