Singaporean society emphasizes groups over individuals. Children belong to tightly-knit family groups even as adults and strive to maintain family cohesion. The family is considered the core of Singaporean society, with parents having great influence over obedient children. Children respect and obey their parents, fulfilling their wishes regarding education and careers while staying close to provide support as parents age. Schools also teach students to help each other and cooperate as a caring group. Overall, strong family values and an emphasis on teamwork in education shape Singaporean culture.

1. Mohammad Rasul Faqiri
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Family relationship in Singapore
It is the group rather than the individuals that is the emphasis in the Singaporean
society. Therefore, a Singaporean child, even after becoming a man or a woman, always
belongs to a tightly-knit group. He or she amends to keep the cohesion of their relationship.
In Singapore the family is regarded as the core of society and it is the single most
important unit. Parents in Singapore have a great influence on their obedient children and
children will never criticize and contradict their parents in public. Generally, within a family,
decisions are made by the parents while dutiful children obey and respect their elders and care
for them when they get old.
Culturally a Singaporean family is also a strong cohesive unit. Children show a great deal
of respect for their parents. Young people would gladly try to fulfill their parents' wishes with
regard to their major of study or their choice of job. They usually do not leave their parents,
even after they got married, but they continue to stay close together. The family does not split
but expands. It is common that everyone wants to be self-reliant but Singaporeans are
comfortable staying within the support systemof their parents and siblings. They politely
express their own beliefs and make their own decisions but always within the context of their
family.
Besides the family, in their academic pursue, schools and institutions also train students
to help one another and to be associative within a valuable caring group. Students would eat

2. Mohammad Rasul Faqiri
31410
Section02
together, sing together and play together so well that they would be the perfect child in
western eyes. So teamwork and cooperation become an integral part of their success.
All in all, family moral influence and education in schools lead Singaporeans to embrace
family values and teamwork. As it is reported: “the traditional Asian values of family remain
paramount to the average Singaporean.” (KUA @ YANG 1919, p25).