1) Interactions in common spaces 2) Exchange and appreciation 3) Challenges

1. What are the experiences
and effects of living in a
diverse society?
Issue 2: Chapter 6
Can be positive / negative

2. As you have learnt in Chapter 5,
◈ The diversity in SG has increased in
recent times
◈ Due to increase in the no. of
migrants & immigrants who have
chosen to work, study or make SG
their home.

4. As the SG society becomes increasingly diverse,
◈ It is essential to ensure
harmonious interactions
among this diverse
population of people.
What does
“harmony” mean
Why is this
important?

5. How can we
create opportunities for
meaningful interactions to
happen to strengthen
harmony in SG?

6. “Create and provide
more common spaces
to bring people together to interact
Former PM Goh Chok Tong
(TB pg. 159)

7. Common space =
physical space,
shared values &
common experiences

8. Students on the left:
Task 1
You are in the school
council. Organise an
activity to strengthen
interactions between
different races and
nationalities IN SCH.
You are the government.
What can you do to
strengthen interactions
between diverse
groups of people
living IN SG?
Students on the right:
Task 2

9. 1. Interactions
Common spaces
What are the EXPERIENCES and EFFECTS
of living in a diverse society?

10. 1. Interactions
Common spaces
2. Exchange &
Appreciation
2.1 Culture
2.2 Skills &
knowledge
What are the EXPERIENCES and EFFECTS
of living in a diverse society?

11. Task 3: From the cartoon below, what can you infer
about the experiences of living in a diverse society?

12. 2.1 Exchange and Appreciation of Culture
(TB pg. 163)
◈ Our diverse society provides people
with many opportunities to interact
and learn from those who come from
different countries and cultures.
◈ This can result in fusion between
local cultures and foreign ideas
(e.g. in areas of Food, Music, Fashion).

13. 2.1 Exchange and Appreciation of Culture
(TB pg. 164-165)

14. 2.2 Exchange of Skills and Knowledge
(TB pg. 166)

15. 2.2 Exchange of Skills and Knowledge
(WS pg. 4)
TASK 4!
◈ Teach your
friend a
skill that
you have!

16. 2.2 Exchange of Skills and Knowledge
(TB pg. 166)
◈ E.g. Internationally renowned scientists in SG can
share their expertise and knowledge with
Singaporeans, mentor young local scientists, and
provide leadership to local research institutes.
◈ E.g. Collaboration between Singapore’s A*STAR
and Switzerland’s Cytos Biotechnology AG led to the
discovery of the H1N1 flu vaccine.

17. What are the EXPERIENCES and EFFECTS
of living in a diverse society?
1. Interactions
Common spaces
2. Exchange &
Appreciation
2.1 Culture
2.2 Skills &
knowledge

18. What are the EXPERIENCES and EFFECTS
of living in a diverse society?
1. Interactions
Common spaces
2. Exchange &
Appreciation
2.1 Culture
2.2 Skills &
knowledge
3. Challenges

19. 3.1 Prejudice and Misconceptions
o Were those descriptions true, all the time?
o What happens when we keep using them on people?
Let’s Debrief:
 How were these descriptions formed?
 Were those descriptions true, all the time?
 What happens when we keep using them on people?

20. 3.1 Prejudice and Misconceptions
◈ STEREOTYPES are generalized thoughts or
beliefs about people.
May be positive/negative
◈ Negative stereotypes are known as PREJUDICES,
which are negative conclusions about people.

21. 3.1 Prejudice and Misconceptions
PREJUDICE …
◈ Can arise from misconceptions linked to nationality, race
and ethnicity, religion or socio-economic status.
◈ Are formed when people make incorrect judgements due to
insufficient understanding and wrong assumptions about
others.
◈ Can take the form of hurtful remarks made about people.
And this has the effect of causing misunderstandings.
◈ Is dangerous and can create an environment where
DISCRIMINATION can happen more often.

22. Singaporeans Tweet to migrant workers

23. Task 5:
How can we help
Singaporeans develop
a more complete
understanding of people
of different backgrounds
living in Singapore?

24. 3.2 Competition for Resources
Concerns over standard of living
Task 6
◈ Why do some Singaporeans think that the inflow of
foreigners is a huge concern in the areas of
employment, housing & transportation?
◈ How does it impact our Standard of Living (SOL)?
****Read TB pg. 176 to 180 to complete Handout pg. 6****

25. 3.2 Competition for Resources
Concerns over standard of living
◈ With the increasing numbers of foreigners in Singapore’s
workforce, some Singaporeans fear that foreigners are
taking jobs away.
There are some Singaporeans who believe that…
◈ Foreign PMETS: have caused the loss of jobs for some
of the older white-collar Singaporean workers.
◈ Lower-skilled foreign workers: is the reason why
employers would rather hire foreign workers than pay
more for local workers.

26. 3.2 Competition for Resources
Concerns over standard of living
◈ With the increasing numbers of foreigners in Singapore,
the public transport system has become increasingly
congested.
◈ There are also competition over healthcare resources
and availability of public housing.

27. Waste paper basket challenge!

28. 3.2 Competition for Resources
Concerns over social mobility
◈ Income gaps between the lower
and higher income groups have
increased over the years in SG.
◈ Higher SES  have access to more resources;
more opportunities to achieve
success
(e.g. can afford tuition to get
good grades; family have good
connections with people etc.)

29. 3.2 Competition for Resources
Concerns over social mobility
◈ This led many Singaporeans feeling that social
mobility is being limited in SG.
◈ Poor remains poor while rich becomes richer
◈ Recall:
Social mobility is the movement from
high to low SES, or low to high SES.
◈ Do you think social mobility limited in SG?

30. 3.2 Competition for Resources
Concerns over social mobility
What the SG government is doing to address concerns:
◈ Emphasis on re-training and learning of new skills to
enable Singaporeans of a lower income group to stay
relevant to economic demands. (e.g. SKILLS FUTURE)
◈ Ensure that every Singaporean has the opportunity to
progress:
◈ By upholding the principle of meritocracy
◈ Edusave Scholarships & Merit Bursary Schemes
◈ Skills Future package

31. What are the EXPERIENCES and EFFECTS
of living in a diverse society?
1. Interactions
Common spaces
2. Exchange &
Appreciation
2.1 Culture
2.2 Skills &
knowledge
3. Challenges
3.1 Prejudice &
misconceptions
3.2 Competition for
resources
3.2.1 Concerns of
standard of living
3.2.2 Concerns over
social mobility
Positive
Negative