National Day Rally 2010

In his 7th National Day Rally, PM Lee Hsien Loong touched on four key themes that are close to the hearts of Singaporeans - the economy, immigration policy, education system and the Singapore Spirit.  He also addressed concerns on transport and housing issues.  REACH is conducting a Feedback Exercise from 29 August – 10 September 2010  to engage the public on these issues.  We invite you to share your views with us! 

Discussion Topics | Conversations with MPs

Parents – a valuable resource for schools

With the rising educational qualifications of parents, there are more requests by parents for teachers to customise lessons and provide regular updates on their child’s progress. Education Minister Ng Eng Hen has urged schools to turn this challenge into an advantage by tapping on parents as an added resource.

How can schools tap on parents to enhance students’ learning process?

Mutual Respect for Cultural & Religious Space

MM Lee Kuan Yew commented that secularism in Singapore has enabled different communities to sustain their own culture and religion through mutual respect for cultural and religious spaces.  
 
How can Singapore continue to sustain our cultural and religious harmony? 

View Challenges in Perspective

SM Goh Chok Tong urged Singaporeans to put challenges such as the shortage of public housing and carpark space as well as public transport congestion into perspective with the overall needs of our society.  
 
Share your thoughts on SM Goh’s comments.

Post Secondary Student Aid Fund

PM Lee Hsien Loong launched the Post Secondary Student Aid Fund to help needy students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and junior colleges with school-related expenses like textbooks, meals and transport.  
 
How will needy students benefit from the Post Secondary Student Aid Fund?  What else can be done to help them?

Too much tuition?

Parents are willing to spend on private tuition for their children due to what they perceived to be a demanding education system.  A Straits Times report revealed that $820 million was spent on private tuition in 2008, up from $470 million a decade earlier.  
 
Why are parents spending more on private tuition?  Is it a necessary supplement for school education? 

“Love Your Ride”

That is the message of the Public Transport Council’s (PTC) six-month graciousness campaign to encourage positive social behaviour such as queuing behind the lines marked on the platform, moving to the centre of the train, etc.
 
What else can be done to encourage gracious behaviour on public transport and other public areas? 

Improvements in Transport Infrastructure

The Land Transport Authority has announced plans to ease train congestion.  These include upgrading the signalling system on the North-South-East-West Line, completion of the Jurong East Modification Project and adding new trains to boost capacity.
 
What else can be done to improve our transport infrastructure and services? 

Lower Customer Satisfaction

The latest Customer Satisfaction Index by SMU’s Institute of Service Excellence showed a drop in customer satisfaction for Singapore’s MRT system (from 67 points in 2009 to 64.1 points) and public buses (from 62.9 points in 2009 to 61.1 points). The Education sector saw its third consecutive fall from 68.4 points in 2009 to 65.5 points.

What can be done to improve customer satisfaction for public transport and education?

Active Ageing in Singapore