http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/sporeans-want-compassionate-meritocracy
The 'Our Singapore Conversation' survey shows that there was broad consensus that Singaporeans want a more compassionate society that is less stressful, with more family time.
One of the survey researchers called it a “compassionate meritocracy”.
The door-to-door survey of 4,000 Singaporeans found that most respondents want a less competitive, more holistic education system, and one that is more inclusive, where students learn with others of different abilities and backgrounds.
And despite some high-profile cases of resistance from residents, the survey showed that an overwhelming majority supported the siting of eldercare facilities in their neighbourhoods for greater convenience.
Respondents also indicated strong preference for the preservation of green spaces and heritage spaces over infrastructure development.
In terms of values, those relating to a sense of community, nationhood and security resonated the most. Filial piety and safety and security for families were regarded the most important across all ages.
There was similarly strong support for values such as honesty, politeness and graciousness, while risk-taking and enterprise took a backseat.
Singaporeans generally placed less emphasis on accumulating wealth and more on a comfortable pace of life. Fewer than a quarter across all age groups would compromise pace of life for greater career advancement.
The consistent top priorities for respondents across almost all income groups are the bread-and-butter issues of job security, healthcare and housing. Nonetheless, the researchers said that Singaporeans’ greater ranking of some values over others should not be seen as zero-sum or mutually exclusive.
National University of Singapore sociologist Paulin Straughan cited Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to explain respondents’ preference for a more comfortable pace of life.
Assoc Prof Straughan said the ranking was also “a reflection of the stressors that have built up over time”, given the Government’s focus on economic health: “We’re reaching the point where the stressors are felt by a lot more people.
“There are certain aspects of Singapore society which have grown disproportionately in certain dimensions and other dimensions may have been neglected — very broadly speaking, the quality of life aspects.”
On Singaporeans’ hopes for the education system, Assoc Prof Tan Ern Ser, IPS Faculty Associate, said the findings “suggest a disapproval of elitism”.
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