1) What do the newspapers tell you about the current situation of the population growth in Singapore?
Hint : Discuss not only what the newsclips say but also the implications of the statistics and what has been reported. What do you think the newspapers are trying to say to the public? What is the underlying message regarding household sizes, proportion of PRs to the natural birth rate in Singapore. etc.
Answer:
The newspapers tell me that the population growth is declining rapidly and there are evidences to support it. A family trends survey conducted have concluded that a very minimal of 3% of the people would make children their top priority. Eventually, Singaporeans do want kids, where married couples want 4 kids, whilst newly weds would want a maximum of 2. It is also essential to have supportive spouses to ensure that babies are born; and both parties must be interested. It is reported at the number of houses capable of sheltering little people - 3 room flats or 2 room flats- are on the rise. It is because they find no need in having a big house, as they already block out any harbouring thoughts of a baby. But the issue here is that they lack social support, and young kids and the elderly might lack the social support needed amongst a family, and that brings out the vulnerability.
The fact that married couples want 4 kids when they have 2, and newly weds wanting 2 babies only, signifies to us that there has been a change in mindset. Now, the couples are more economically driven, and they feel that they need better qualifications to get better jobs, hence their priority is placed in studying and work, rather than in kids. As such, they do not have any intention to replace the birthrate. The statistics shown links to what the newspaper wants to tell the public. They are trying to convince Singaporeans to make more babies and reproduce, to put our priorities in making kids. Upon the shocking statistics of our population decline, Singaporeans are more than likely to reflect and reconsider the benefits proposed- such as baby bonuses, or tax relief- and hence encouraged to make more babies. Statistics are one visual way of conveying underlying messages to the receiver, as they would be very calculative when they see the numbers, and therefore the subtle message, in this case to make more babies lest the population reaches a record low, is being conveyed through the statistics.
I think that if the household size is small, it indicates to us that more and more people are not buying big households. Therefore it is a clear message that more and more people are not producing babies. And that the number of PRs growth has dropped to 1.5% from 6%. It means very few PRs are reproducing, maybe due to the high cost of living. As such, small households are on the incline, and the growth of PRs are on the decline, they all indicate that the natural birthrate in Singapore, is unfortunately declining.
The newspapers tell me that the population growth is declining rapidly and there are evidences to support it. A family trends survey conducted have concluded that a very minimal of 3% of the people would make children their top priority. Eventually, Singaporeans do want kids, where married couples want 4 kids, whilst newly weds would want a maximum of 2. It is also essential to have supportive spouses to ensure that babies are born; and both parties must be interested. It is reported at the number of houses capable of sheltering little people - 3 room flats or 2 room flats- are on the rise. It is because they find no need in having a big house, as they already block out any harbouring thoughts of a baby. But the issue here is that they lack social support, and young kids and the elderly might lack the social support needed amongst a family, and that brings out the vulnerability.
The fact that married couples want 4 kids when they have 2, and newly weds wanting 2 babies only, signifies to us that there has been a change in mindset. Now, the couples are more economically driven, and they feel that they need better qualifications to get better jobs, hence their priority is placed in studying and work, rather than in kids. As such, they do not have any intention to replace the birthrate. The statistics shown links to what the newspaper wants to tell the public. They are trying to convince Singaporeans to make more babies and reproduce, to put our priorities in making kids. Upon the shocking statistics of our population decline, Singaporeans are more than likely to reflect and reconsider the benefits proposed- such as baby bonuses, or tax relief- and hence encouraged to make more babies. Statistics are one visual way of conveying underlying messages to the receiver, as they would be very calculative when they see the numbers, and therefore the subtle message, in this case to make more babies lest the population reaches a record low, is being conveyed through the statistics.
I think that if the household size is small, it indicates to us that more and more people are not buying big households. Therefore it is a clear message that more and more people are not producing babies. And that the number of PRs growth has dropped to 1.5% from 6%. It means very few PRs are reproducing, maybe due to the high cost of living. As such, small households are on the incline, and the growth of PRs are on the decline, they all indicate that the natural birthrate in Singapore, is unfortunately declining.
2) Brainstorm and write down issues that were not raised by the newsclips but you feel is important in to the issue of the falling birth rates in Singapore.
Hint: look into socially active websites, research using terms like "baby bonus in Singapore", "low birth rate in Singapore" etc to find out more about the current solutions proposed and implemented as well as it's effectiveness in resolving the issue of declining birth rates.
Answer:
The basic concern of the newsclips are to encourage or convince the audience to make more babies, by highlighting the decline of the birthrate through subtle messages, like statistics. The newsclips show a rather light message that is somewhat equals to " Make more babies or else Singapore will fail". The media is somewhat trying to force the couples to make more babies.
I think, if they want to convey this message, they should give some advantages, or some boosts to encourage the couples. And example would be the baby bonuses, or tax relief. For baby bonuses, there may be cash gifts, of up to $4000 for the first and second child, and $6000 subsequently. Credits will be given to the children and are stored under their Child Development Credit account, to use in the future. But, baby bonuses are only eligible for Singaporean babies and hence foreigners will then be encouraged to become PRs.
I think this way of encouragement is effective. Although the government are giving the couples a lump sum, they would be more than glad to make babies. What would be the cause of you making a baby? Would it be because of the media, whereby their influence or some monetary benefits? The latter of course. Hence, baby bonuses, which give huge sums of money for each baby, and subsequently adds credits and extra tax relief, are very good bait for couples to reproduce.
I think, if they want to convey this message, they should give some advantages, or some boosts to encourage the couples. And example would be the baby bonuses, or tax relief. For baby bonuses, there may be cash gifts, of up to $4000 for the first and second child, and $6000 subsequently. Credits will be given to the children and are stored under their Child Development Credit account, to use in the future. But, baby bonuses are only eligible for Singaporean babies and hence foreigners will then be encouraged to become PRs.
I think this way of encouragement is effective. Although the government are giving the couples a lump sum, they would be more than glad to make babies. What would be the cause of you making a baby? Would it be because of the media, whereby their influence or some monetary benefits? The latter of course. Hence, baby bonuses, which give huge sums of money for each baby, and subsequently adds credits and extra tax relief, are very good bait for couples to reproduce.
3) Study the new proposals of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports in 2011. Discuss with your friends on the perceived effectiveness of these measures. Examine what has been discussed earlier and examine if the proposed solutions by the government address the problems posed.
Answer:
