2. Key Demographic Indicators Refer to the handout “Key Demographic Indicators, 1970-2008” Write down at least two observations you can make about Singapore’s population make up from the statistics State two inferences about Singapore from your above observations
3. Sg’s Population Policies Two periods: 1966-1981 Controlling population growth 1981-now Encouraging population growth Meeting the challenges of an ageing population
4. Controlling pop. Growth 1966-81 Post-war ‘baby boom’ Posed many problems Three five-year plans from 1966-1981 ‘Stop at two’ policy Pg. 44 Fig 2.33 Measures to encourage smaller families
7. Encouraging Pop. Growth 1980s-now Declining birth rates from 1980s Fertility rate in 1980: 1.82 children per woman 2008: 1.28 Family planning policy worked What potential problems could this give rise to?
9. Measures to promote population growth Graduate Mothers Scheme Have Three or More If You Can Afford It Pro-family Measures Attracting Foreign Talent
10. Graduate Mothers Scheme 1984 To arrest trend of the well-educated having fewer children PM Lee felt that female graduates should have more children Sparked off debate and unhappiness Withdrawn in 1985
11. Have Three or More If You Can Afford It Introduced in 1987 Allowed the use of Medisave to pay for delivery charges of the first three children Encourage people to have more babies if they could afford it through publicity campaigns Limited success Birth rate continues to decline
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13. Other Pro-family Measures New marriage and parenthood measures announced in 2004 To address concerns of high cost of raising children and lack of suitable childcare arrangements Equalized medical benefits Grandparent caregiver relief 5-day work week for Civil Svc Extended maternity leave
14. Attracting Foreign Talent To enhance competitiveness Relaxed immigration policy in 1989 To attract talent with skills that Singapore required Easier entry Subsidized housing Attractive education package Hoped that some of these will take up PR or citizenship
17. Meeting the Challenges Senior citizens as assets to society ‘Many Helping Hands’ approach Individual responsibility Family support Community help Govt support
18. 1. Senior citizens as assets To ensure that senior citizens remain contributing to society Valuable skills, knowledge, talent and work experience Encourage more opportunities for them to add value to organisations (as advisors or mentors) and help boost family life (taking care of grandchildren)
20. 2a. Individual responsibility Healthy lifestyle—watching diet, exercising regularly Financial planning—to plan for retirement To help senior citizens be independent and have good quality of life in old age Reduces family and govt burden
21. 2b. Family support Strong and stable family is main source of emotional, social and financial support Govt introduced measures to strengthen family bonds E.g. Senior Citizen’ Week, Grandparents’ Day
22. 2c. Community help Community can provide social and emotional support Provide healthcare and social services Govt provides subsidies to voluntary welfare organisations (VWOs) E.g. Home Nursing Foundation for Elders Some offer free healthchecks, recreational activities for elderly These services are meant to help them remain active
23. 2d. Government support Made laws and introduced measures to protect interests of senior citizens E.g. Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents Tax Relief Central Provident Fund Public housing schemes To encourage people to save up for old age, and children to take care of their aging parents
24. Measures to promote population growth Meeting the Challenges Of an Aging Pop. Graduate Mothers Scheme Have Three or More If You Can Afford It Pro-family Measures Attracting Foreign Talent Senior citizens as assets to society ‘Many Helping Hands’ approach Individual responsibility Family support Community help Govt support
