RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore has entered a technical recession as GDP dives 12.6 per cent, due to circuit breaker measures and weak external demand (ST, 15 Jul).
2. A Beyond COVID-19 Taskforce, formed by National Council of Social Services (NCSS), is planning to help social service agencies digitalise and be more innovative in delivering their services during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond (ST, 4 Jul).
3. The Singapore Cabinet has been sworn in at the Istana on 27 Jul, as PM Lee aims to aims to hand over Singapore “intact and in working order into good hands who will take the country further forward” after steering it through COVID-19 crisis (ST, 27 Jul). The new Cabinet line-up will include 6 office-holders from the Malay community (ST, 25 Jul).
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The highlights for this issue are:
1) Under the new integrated general hospital model, elderly patients will be cared for by the same team, from admission to discharge
2) Adults can now apply to polytechnics for full-time studies under a new scheme that gives more weight to their work experience
3) Updates to the progressive wage model (PWM) for the landscape sector mean that workers will get a bonus and wage boost
We hope that you will find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights are:
1) Education Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung announced that the present system of streaming secondary students into the Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams will be phased out, and replaced by full subject-based banding.
2) Professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) made up about three in four or 76% of the locals - Singaporeans and permanent residents - who were retrenched last year, the highest figure in at least a decade.
3) Lower-income families will receive a lot more help in their home ownership journey, from getting grants to a team of officers dedicated to monitoring their progress.
We hope that you find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The recently rolled out Fortitude Budget aims to help Singaporeans be resilient during Covid-19. The $33 billion budget focuses on creating job opportunities and leveraging on technology to help businesses and individuals.
• The government has planned to end the Circuit Breaker measures on 1st June 2020. By ending the Circuit Breaker measures, the government has aimed to reopen three-quarter of the economy. The reopening of the economy is being done in phases to ensure it does not lead to a spike in new cases.
• The SGTeguhBersatu initiative has continued to help the Malay/Muslim community during the pandemic. As part of the initiative, a new committee headed by Minister of State, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, was introduced to look into more ways to help the Malay/Muslim jobseekers. The committee will work together with organisations such as Mendaki Sense and NTUC to help individuals with their career issues.
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Education Ministry has announced measures to facilitate the rollout of new Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Scoring system that takes effect in 2021. To familiarise parents and pupils with the new PSLE scoring system, Primary 5 pupils will be graded using the new scoring system from 2020.
• By October 2019, more Singaporeans will benefit from healthcare subsidies under the revised income criteria. The Health Ministry will raise the income ceilings for various schemes like MediShield Life premiums and drug subsidies.
• In line with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's vision for the Government to partner Singaporeans to design and implement policies together, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli announced the launch of the Co-creation@M³ / CiptaSama@M³ series of engagements. This is a platform for Malay/Muslims to share their views on national issues in a forward-looking way.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
All secondary school students will receive a personal laptop or tablet for learning by next year - seven years ahead of the original target.
Graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities will soon be able to apply for new courses that offer additional professional certificates.
To help both fresh entrants to the job market and those who might find themselves seeking employment as a fallout of the COVID-19 slowdown, the Government will set up satellite career centres islandwide.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore IB students make up half of world's perfect scorers globally, while students who sat for last year’s O level examinations set a new record, with 85.2 per cent of the cohort attaining five or more passes.
• The Singapore Institute of Technology has launched two new degree programmes in speech and language therapy, and digital communications and integrated media, while SUTD has launched a new undergraduate degree in design and AI.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat will unveil the annual Budget in Parliament on 18 Feb 2020.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The highlights for this issue are:
1) Under the new integrated general hospital model, elderly patients will be cared for by the same team, from admission to discharge
2) Adults can now apply to polytechnics for full-time studies under a new scheme that gives more weight to their work experience
3) Updates to the progressive wage model (PWM) for the landscape sector mean that workers will get a bonus and wage boost
We hope that you will find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights are:
1) Education Minister Mr Ong Ye Kung announced that the present system of streaming secondary students into the Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams will be phased out, and replaced by full subject-based banding.
2) Professionals, managers, executives and technicians (PMETs) made up about three in four or 76% of the locals - Singaporeans and permanent residents - who were retrenched last year, the highest figure in at least a decade.
3) Lower-income families will receive a lot more help in their home ownership journey, from getting grants to a team of officers dedicated to monitoring their progress.
We hope that you find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The recently rolled out Fortitude Budget aims to help Singaporeans be resilient during Covid-19. The $33 billion budget focuses on creating job opportunities and leveraging on technology to help businesses and individuals.
• The government has planned to end the Circuit Breaker measures on 1st June 2020. By ending the Circuit Breaker measures, the government has aimed to reopen three-quarter of the economy. The reopening of the economy is being done in phases to ensure it does not lead to a spike in new cases.
• The SGTeguhBersatu initiative has continued to help the Malay/Muslim community during the pandemic. As part of the initiative, a new committee headed by Minister of State, Mr Zaqy Mohamad, was introduced to look into more ways to help the Malay/Muslim jobseekers. The committee will work together with organisations such as Mendaki Sense and NTUC to help individuals with their career issues.
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Education Ministry has announced measures to facilitate the rollout of new Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) Scoring system that takes effect in 2021. To familiarise parents and pupils with the new PSLE scoring system, Primary 5 pupils will be graded using the new scoring system from 2020.
• By October 2019, more Singaporeans will benefit from healthcare subsidies under the revised income criteria. The Health Ministry will raise the income ceilings for various schemes like MediShield Life premiums and drug subsidies.
• In line with Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat's vision for the Government to partner Singaporeans to design and implement policies together, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli announced the launch of the Co-creation@M³ / CiptaSama@M³ series of engagements. This is a platform for Malay/Muslims to share their views on national issues in a forward-looking way.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
All secondary school students will receive a personal laptop or tablet for learning by next year - seven years ahead of the original target.
Graduates from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), polytechnics and universities will soon be able to apply for new courses that offer additional professional certificates.
To help both fresh entrants to the job market and those who might find themselves seeking employment as a fallout of the COVID-19 slowdown, the Government will set up satellite career centres islandwide.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore IB students make up half of world's perfect scorers globally, while students who sat for last year’s O level examinations set a new record, with 85.2 per cent of the cohort attaining five or more passes.
• The Singapore Institute of Technology has launched two new degree programmes in speech and language therapy, and digital communications and integrated media, while SUTD has launched a new undergraduate degree in design and AI.
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Heng Swee Keat will unveil the annual Budget in Parliament on 18 Feb 2020.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• About 3,500 polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students have benefitted from the Ministry of Education Opportunity Fund (MOE). The fund can benefit students from low-income families for overseas exposure visits. This is a 33 per cent increase from two years ago (BH, 4 Sep).
• Service-sector companies can now get more help to transform their businesses as they adapt to changing manpower needs and consumer demands, under the new Service Industry Transformation Programme (SITP) announced by Manpower Minister Josephine Teo (ST, 12 Sep).
• First-time buyers will get higher grants and more flexibility to choose the size of their flat and where it is located. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said yesterday that the new Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), which streamlines two older grants, gives couples more flexibility in affording a flat that suits their needs (ST, 11 Sep).
• A month-long campaign with a variety of activities and events aimed at promoting lifelong learning will be launched next month. Hosted by Yayasan MENDAKI for the first time, the campaign called Bulan Raikan Ilmu is made possible by the cooperation of over 50 partners, with a variety of activities and events held throughout Singapore. (BH, 20 Sep)
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• More than half of the primary schools and over 90% of secondary schools would have scrapped mid-year examinations for some levels by 2020 – a year ahead of schedule.
• More than 5,500 children aged six and below were diagnosed with developmental problems last year, up from an average of 4,362 new cases each year from 2015 to 2017.
• The POFMA Bill is designed to give the Government the tools to deal with falsehoods on the Internet that can go viral in a matter of minutes and cause untold harm.
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights are:
1) Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announces Budget 2019, which focuses on investing in a skilled workforce, building deep enterprise capabilities and strengthening the national social fabric.
2) NIE has developed a new guide “Supporting children in their transition to Primary 1: A guide for teachers and parents in Singapore”. Link to guide: http://bit.ly/fromK2toP1
3) Updates to the progressive wage model (PWM) for the landscape sector mean that workers will get a bonus and wage boost.
We hope that you find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
Education is necessity for both human and societal development, the more sophisticated it is the more
quality products it provides. One of the major problems facing higher education in Nigeria is under-funding.
Recently, the government investment in higher education was little bit increased as result of the total shutdown
of higher education institutions by the joint higher education academic union (ASUU,ASUP AND COASU)
strike action. In response to the report of the needs assessment of Nigerian Universities conducted in 2012, the
federal government earmarked N1.3trtillion for special intervention in the Nigerian public universities over the
next Six(6)years, of which N200billion out of the amount has been released. This paper attempts to examine the
trend in funding of higher education in Nigeria and the attendant effect between 2009 and 2013. The paper
observed some gaps in the funding and in the expenditure of available funds. The paper was concluded by
making appropriate recommendations to addressing the identified challenges.
Discussion on economic aspects of education has acquired great significance in education research during the new millennium earmarked as Knowledge Economy. Education for the Knowledge Economy (EKE) refers to efforts at production of the highly skilled and flexible human capital needed to compete effectively in today’s dynamic global markets. Experiences of last one decade in the IT enabled BPO sector has proved India’s ability to produce and use knowledge as a major factor in economic development and has proved to be critical to India’s comparative advantage. Economists have recognized importance of EKE to develop a workforce that is well-trained and capable of generating knowledge-driven economic growth.
Economics of Education analyzes both what determines or creates education and what impact education has on individuals and the societies and economies in which they live. Historically a great deal of emphasis has been placed on determining outcomes to educational investment and the creation of human capital. The primary mission of the economics of education group is to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, equity, and quality of education and promote effective education reform processes, to enhance knowledge of what drives education outcomes and results; to better understanding how to strengthen the links of education systems with the labour market; and to build and support a network of education economists for education policy planning and evolve structures and mechanisms for implementation.
The current economic recession in Nigeria today tells the whole story; Nigeria is faced with lots of challenges ranging from high rate of poverty, youth and graduate unemployment, over dependence on foreign goods and technology, insecurity, low economic growth and development, poor infrastructural development among others (Ekwesike, 2012)
University of Pretoria - Engine for Economic GrowthUrsula Peterson
In response to the oft-quoted statement that universities are the engines of economic growth, the University of Pretoria decided to take an in-depth look at its contribution to the City of Tshwane, the Gauteng Province and to South Africa as a whole.
Presentación del especialista senior en educación del banco mundial, Michael Crawford, en el marco del seminario "Innovar para crecer: El gran desafío de la década que se incia" organizado por el Consejo Nacional de Innovación para la competitividad.
Education Sector in Nigeria to 2021 - Market Size and Intelligence Report - I...Indalytics Advisors
The report ‘Education Sector in Nigeria to 2021 — Market Size and Intelligence’ discusses the current and forecasted market size of the Nigerian education sector. It segregates the market size on the basis of various level of education, starting from early childhood education to higher and technical education.
The report discusses the forecasted market size and year–wise growth of the sector till 2021, along with the various drivers, which will lead to this growth. It further talks about the various trends that are shaping the education sector.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore’s GDP is forecasted to gradually grow to 4 to 6 per cent in 2021. The bulk of economic growth will come from trade and manufacturing sectors.
2. DPM Heng unveiled a $107 billion plan in his Singapore Budget 2021 speech, which includes a $11 billion COVID 19 Resilience Package.
3. M3@Jalan Besar was launched and its initiative aim to help residents cope with mental health issues and empower elderly residents to adopt digital tools.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• About 3,500 polytechnic and Institute of Technical Education (ITE) students have benefitted from the Ministry of Education Opportunity Fund (MOE). The fund can benefit students from low-income families for overseas exposure visits. This is a 33 per cent increase from two years ago (BH, 4 Sep).
• Service-sector companies can now get more help to transform their businesses as they adapt to changing manpower needs and consumer demands, under the new Service Industry Transformation Programme (SITP) announced by Manpower Minister Josephine Teo (ST, 12 Sep).
• First-time buyers will get higher grants and more flexibility to choose the size of their flat and where it is located. Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong said yesterday that the new Enhanced CPF Housing Grant (EHG), which streamlines two older grants, gives couples more flexibility in affording a flat that suits their needs (ST, 11 Sep).
• A month-long campaign with a variety of activities and events aimed at promoting lifelong learning will be launched next month. Hosted by Yayasan MENDAKI for the first time, the campaign called Bulan Raikan Ilmu is made possible by the cooperation of over 50 partners, with a variety of activities and events held throughout Singapore. (BH, 20 Sep)
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• More than half of the primary schools and over 90% of secondary schools would have scrapped mid-year examinations for some levels by 2020 – a year ahead of schedule.
• More than 5,500 children aged six and below were diagnosed with developmental problems last year, up from an average of 4,362 new cases each year from 2015 to 2017.
• The POFMA Bill is designed to give the Government the tools to deal with falsehoods on the Internet that can go viral in a matter of minutes and cause untold harm.
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights are:
1) Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat announces Budget 2019, which focuses on investing in a skilled workforce, building deep enterprise capabilities and strengthening the national social fabric.
2) NIE has developed a new guide “Supporting children in their transition to Primary 1: A guide for teachers and parents in Singapore”. Link to guide: http://bit.ly/fromK2toP1
3) Updates to the progressive wage model (PWM) for the landscape sector mean that workers will get a bonus and wage boost.
We hope that you find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
Education is necessity for both human and societal development, the more sophisticated it is the more
quality products it provides. One of the major problems facing higher education in Nigeria is under-funding.
Recently, the government investment in higher education was little bit increased as result of the total shutdown
of higher education institutions by the joint higher education academic union (ASUU,ASUP AND COASU)
strike action. In response to the report of the needs assessment of Nigerian Universities conducted in 2012, the
federal government earmarked N1.3trtillion for special intervention in the Nigerian public universities over the
next Six(6)years, of which N200billion out of the amount has been released. This paper attempts to examine the
trend in funding of higher education in Nigeria and the attendant effect between 2009 and 2013. The paper
observed some gaps in the funding and in the expenditure of available funds. The paper was concluded by
making appropriate recommendations to addressing the identified challenges.
Discussion on economic aspects of education has acquired great significance in education research during the new millennium earmarked as Knowledge Economy. Education for the Knowledge Economy (EKE) refers to efforts at production of the highly skilled and flexible human capital needed to compete effectively in today’s dynamic global markets. Experiences of last one decade in the IT enabled BPO sector has proved India’s ability to produce and use knowledge as a major factor in economic development and has proved to be critical to India’s comparative advantage. Economists have recognized importance of EKE to develop a workforce that is well-trained and capable of generating knowledge-driven economic growth.
Economics of Education analyzes both what determines or creates education and what impact education has on individuals and the societies and economies in which they live. Historically a great deal of emphasis has been placed on determining outcomes to educational investment and the creation of human capital. The primary mission of the economics of education group is to identify opportunities for improved efficiency, equity, and quality of education and promote effective education reform processes, to enhance knowledge of what drives education outcomes and results; to better understanding how to strengthen the links of education systems with the labour market; and to build and support a network of education economists for education policy planning and evolve structures and mechanisms for implementation.
The current economic recession in Nigeria today tells the whole story; Nigeria is faced with lots of challenges ranging from high rate of poverty, youth and graduate unemployment, over dependence on foreign goods and technology, insecurity, low economic growth and development, poor infrastructural development among others (Ekwesike, 2012)
University of Pretoria - Engine for Economic GrowthUrsula Peterson
In response to the oft-quoted statement that universities are the engines of economic growth, the University of Pretoria decided to take an in-depth look at its contribution to the City of Tshwane, the Gauteng Province and to South Africa as a whole.
Presentación del especialista senior en educación del banco mundial, Michael Crawford, en el marco del seminario "Innovar para crecer: El gran desafío de la década que se incia" organizado por el Consejo Nacional de Innovación para la competitividad.
Education Sector in Nigeria to 2021 - Market Size and Intelligence Report - I...Indalytics Advisors
The report ‘Education Sector in Nigeria to 2021 — Market Size and Intelligence’ discusses the current and forecasted market size of the Nigerian education sector. It segregates the market size on the basis of various level of education, starting from early childhood education to higher and technical education.
The report discusses the forecasted market size and year–wise growth of the sector till 2021, along with the various drivers, which will lead to this growth. It further talks about the various trends that are shaping the education sector.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore’s GDP is forecasted to gradually grow to 4 to 6 per cent in 2021. The bulk of economic growth will come from trade and manufacturing sectors.
2. DPM Heng unveiled a $107 billion plan in his Singapore Budget 2021 speech, which includes a $11 billion COVID 19 Resilience Package.
3. M3@Jalan Besar was launched and its initiative aim to help residents cope with mental health issues and empower elderly residents to adopt digital tools.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The highlights for this issue are:
1) A new multi-agency taskforce has been set up to reduce diabetes risk and promote healthy living.
2) A drop in forecasted growth for Singapore’s 2019 economy due to trade tensions
3) Changes to the admissions criteria for Secondary schools and Universities
We hope that you will find the information useful in assisting you in your efforts.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1) President Halimah has given her presidential address at the opening of the 14th Parliament. She highlighted that Singapore needs to constantly review its COVID-19 strategies as the situation continues to develop. To continue to prosper and succeed, she urged Singaporeans to be more resilient and nimble when adapting to a new domestic and international environment.
2) As the economy continues to contract, employment and employability issues among Singaporeans have become increasingly pertinent. Hence, various ministries, agencies and organisations have stepped up their efforts to the mitigate the impacts on workers in Singapore.
3) Malay/Muslim organisations in Singapore have increased their initiatives to help the community during the pandemic. For instance, Singapore Malay Chamber of Commerce and Industry(SMCCI) has partnered with Singapore Muslim Women’s Association(PPIS) to develop a programme that equips women with skills and knowledge to start a micro business. On the education front, Yayasan MENDAKI has allocated S$1.9 million from its reserves for the first half of the year to support educational needs of students.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. The fight against COVID-19 has entered a new phase as the Singapore government unveiled the comprehensive vaccination programme for the people.
2. Despite a challenging year, Singapore’s economy has received $17.2 billion in fixed asset investments in 2020.
3. The ninth M3 town in Geylang Serai was launched on 23rd January. Wisma Geylang Serai seeks to be a pillar of support for the community as it plans new initiative such as promoting lifelong learning and healthy lifestyle
Your feedback is important for us to continuously improve our resources and publications for our readers.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• A task force to better understand the work-life aspirations of youth and support them in their careers has been launched by the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC).
• People can now sign up for free workshops run by the Institute of Technical Education (ITE), with 30 courses for people to choose from, as part of celebrations to mark ITE’s 30th anniversary.
• The number of mid-career Singaporeans who joined programmes to switch fields last year plunged to 5,080 - from a record high of 13,580 in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• More will be done to support the marriage and parenthood aspirations of Singaporeans, said Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong. The government will continue to review and update policies, including ways to extend more help to parents who are caring for their infants, and to those seeking to better manage their work and family commitments. (ST, 14 Apr)
• Broadening the definition of meritocracy, introducing targeted re-employment support and reducing the cost of SkillsFuture courses are among the moves the Government will make to shape Singapore’s future amid an uncertain and dangerous external environment. (ST, 17 Apr)
• The Muslim community has learnt from its experience during the Covid-19 pandemic and continued to implement good practices throughout the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, said Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli. (ST, 21 Apr)
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• President Halimah’s state visit to Germany in early December at the invitation of German President Steinmeier to reciprocate his state visit to Singapore in November 2017. This visit reaffirmed ties and longstanding friendship between the countries, and also collaboration in education and R&D. Seven MOUs on vocational training and education were signed, and Mdm Halimah was commending how education institutions and firms in Germany tie up to teach students.
• Singapore ranked second in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) benchmarking study. Students in Singapore notably had a greater fear of failure, compared to their peers abroad. The Singapore students from low-income families scored higher than their peers abroad. For the first time, Malay students here surpassed global average.
• Many groups stepped forward to support the needy during the December festive season. These include the Boys’ Brigade, Helping and Empowering Our Neighbours, Food Bank Singapore, Food from the Heart, and a husband-and-wife architect duo.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
Budget 2021 provides a suite of measures to create a vibrant economy with good jobs and opportunities for Singaporeans and business; cohesive society with a strong social compact and community spirit; welcoming and sustainable home for generations to come; and fiscal and social reserves to enable continued stability and progress.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
o Singaporeans may soon get a new avenue to voice their concerns through a platform where petitions that garner 10,000 supporters will be submitted to the relevant ministries for review.
o Over 110 learning courses were launched by SG Enable at a new learning hub for the disabled at Enabling Village, Lengkok Bahru.
o Some analysts believe the time frame for the next recession is getting even shorter with no quick solutions in sight to the problems the world economy is facing.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Singapore Budget will continue to provide support for sectors that face difficulties amid the Covid-19 pandemic and help Singaporeans manage concerns over the cost of living.
• Lower-income groups will benefit the most from the comprehensive set of measures laid out in the Budget to help everyone cope with the cost of living.
• National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) and MENDAKI sign Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help Malay-Muslim workers boost skills and employability.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• With a total of 262 articles, Social and Community (85), Budget 2021 (56) and Economy and employability (42) news were widely reported in March 2021. This reflects Singapore’s on-going concerns over economic and employability issues arising from COVID-19.
• This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over social and community issues arising from COVID-19 and the highlights of the Singapore Budget 2021 initiatives.
• This version of Bites will cover aspects of the Budget that was engaged by the Straits Times, Berita Harian and Berita Minggu.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community.
It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Families across all income groups are earning more than they did five years ago and in general, their incomes are rising faster than their spending, as published in the latest Household Expenditure Survey. The average monthly household income rose to $11,780 from $10,470 in the survey conducted between 2012 and 2013. This works out to an average hike of 2.4 per cent a year in dollar terms.
• Needy students will get more help for tertiary education as increase in bursaries next year will lower tuition fees for students from lower-income households. The additional support is to ensure that tuition costs do not hinder students from furthering their education or constrain their choice of courses, says the Education Minister Mr. Ong Ye Kung.
• PM Lee Hsien Loong shared in his NDR speech that the retirement age will be raised gradually from 62 to 65, and the re-employment age will go up from 67 to 70. The process will start in 2022, and be completed by 2030. CPF contribution rates will also go up for workers aged 55 to 70, so that the full rate of 37 per cent is extended to those aged up to 60 before it tapers off. This process will start in 2021 and take place gradually over 10 years or so, depending on economic conditions.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Malay/Muslim community in Singapore has made great progress but must now aim higher and go further, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong at at MENDAKI’s 40th anniversary celebration on 1 Oct. (ST, 1 Oct)
• More than 190,000 seniors have been trained in basic digital skills, such as using a smartphone to access government services, under the Seniors Go Digital programme by the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA). (ST, 4 Oct)
• Singaporeans who sign up to the Healthier SG programme will gain advantages through benefits such as free health screening and the use of MediSave funds to pay for chronic diseases, said Health Minister Ong Ye Kung. (ST, 6 Oct)
• Students with different abilities forged more friendships across academic streams when brought together in a form class, a study by National Institute of Education (NIE) has found. (ST, 3 Oct)
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The three key highlights are:
1. Singapore’s unemployment situation has continued to improve, with declines seen across the overall, resident and citizen unemployment rates.
2. COVID-19 breathalysers could be used on large scale in Singapore soon, facilitating safe travel arrangements and screenings at large scale events.
3. Based on the new PSLE scoring system, schools will now be less differentiated by cut-off points, and pupils will have a wider range of secondary schools to choose from.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore's economy is expected to rise by 6% or more this year, according to the government's most recent prediction.
• Following the cabinet reshuffle on May 15, seven of the 15 ministries will be led by new ministers.
• Restrictions should be eased if the Covid-19 situation improves and the number of community cases lowers further.
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• MOE will broaden Edusave Award to recognise students beyond academic performance. (ST, 12 Jun)
• Pioneer, Merdeka Generations eligible for up to $1,100 in MediSave top-ups in July (ST, 9 Jun)
• Mendaki better at meeting Malay/Muslim community’s needs thanks to 5-year plan: Zaqy (ST, 17 Jun)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for May 2023 are:
• The commercial property market will not have a significant impact from the latest round of additional buyer’s stamp duty (ABSD) hike because the drivers of the residential and commercial property markets are very different. (ST, 11 May)
• Capitation funding aims to incentivise healthcare providers to place a greater emphasis on preventive care, as this funding model pays them a predetermined amount for each resident in the are under their charge, regardless of whether the person is healthy or not. (ST, 10 May)
• The Singapore Muslim Women’s Association (PPIS) and PMBM Scholarship Fund Board (LBKM) collaborate to offer postgraduate scholarships for women majoring in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), gerontology, women studies and community work. (BH, 03 May)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Active Ageing Centres (AACs) will work with community partners and healthcare clusters, and sets aside $800 million to help seniors age well at home and in their communities. (ST, 16 Nov)
• 97 primary school students received bursaries of $500 each, distributed under the Education Trust Fund (ETF) at the Merchant Elementary School Bursary Award organised by Yayasan MENDAKI. (BH, 20 Nov)
• Pre-school enrolment for children from lower-income families remain lower than national average. (ST, 17 Nov)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Singapore Government and Singapore Red Cross have pledged a total of $505,000 in humanitarian aid to support relief efforts amid the Israel-Hamas war. (ST, 16 Oct)
• The hike in water price ensures that PUB can continue to cover operating costs while investing in infrastructure to maintain a reliable water supply. (ST, 4 Oct)
• Singaporeans and PRs will be able to receive a $5,000 subsidy for coursework-based master’s programmes at NTU. On top of this, all NTU alumni will receive a 10 percent tuition fee rebate when they enrol in these programmes. (ST, 18 Oct)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for Sep 2023 are:
• $1.1b Cost-of-Living Package consisting of payment up to $200 for 2.5m Singaporeans, extra $200 CDC vouchers, U-Save, S&CC rebates will be handed out to Singaporean household to help with the rising cost of living. (ST, 28 Sep)
• Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales rose just 0.4 per cent year on year, cooling from the 2.3 per cent growth recorded in June. (ST, 05 Sep)
• Government, unions, employer groups start work on guidelines on flexible work arrangements. (ST, 08 Sep)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• The Government understands the financial concerns faced by Singaporeans, and is committed to using resources judiciously to help as many of them as possible. (ST, 12 Aug)
• Lower- and middle-income Singaporeans aged 50 and above this year will get more help to boost their retirement savings under a new package. They will receive a yearly CPF bonus of up to $1,000 as long as they continue working. (ST, 20 Aug)
• To help retrenched workers get back on their feet confidently, the Government will provide temporary financial support so that they can focus on upgrading their skills for a better long-term job. (ST, 20 Aug)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Housing Board will increase the proportion of Build-To-Order (BTO) flats with waiting times of under three years as part of the supply of new flats. But it will take at least two years for this to happen, as the priority now is to launch flats to meet urgent housing demand, following the severe disruption in the last two years caused by the Covid-19 pandemic (ST, 11 Dec)
• ASEAN and European Union leaders have much interest in working more closely together, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. The two regional groupings have committed to doing so, including in the digital and green economies, following the conclusion of the one-day Asean-EU Commemorative Summit held in Brussels. PM Lee said the two blocs have made strides this year, citing the Asean-EU Comprehensive Air Transport Agreement – the world’s first bloc-to-bloc air transport agreement signed in Bali in October – as a significant achievement. (ST, 15 Dec)
• The Basic Healthcare Sum will be raised from $66,000 to $68,500 for Central Provident Fund (CPF) members under 65 years old from January 1st. Those who are 66 and above in 2023 will see no change to their Basic Healthcare Sum, the CPF Board, the Ministry of Health and the Housing Board. (ST, 01 Dec)
• Singaporeans in their 20s and 30s who have a university degree or post-graduate degree earn a median salary of $4,200 a month – more than double the $2,000 that those with secondary and lower education and those with Institute of Technical Education (ITE) qualifications earn. (ST, 05 Dec)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for last month are:
• Govt looking into further prioritising BTO flats for those with more urgent housing needs: Desmond Lee (ST, 21 Nov)
• Health tech start-ups sprout up to aid S’pore’s ageing population (ST, 21 Nov)
• New national centre in Singapore designated to drive adult education sector further forward (ST, 3 Nov)
• Surge in demand for green, digital, care skills in Singapore in last 4 years: SkillsFuture report (ST, 22 Nov)
• Allowances for tutors under the MENDAKI Tuition Scheme (MTS) will be increased by 20 percent from $50 an hour to $60 an hour from January 1 next year. Yayasan MENDAKI will also give financial incentives between $300 and $1,200 annually to tutors who are able to encourage their students to attend MTS classes consistently and achieve good results in their studies. Title: Elaun tutor Mendaki akan dinaikkan (BH, 28 Nov)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Lawrence Wong said that Singapore's way of resolving contentious issues has been to find a combination of compromise and common ground to gradually move society forward, while recognising that some issues are better set aside to be returned to at a later time (ST, 7 Sept)
• Launch of the Healthier SG programme in the second half of 2023 is an initiative that will see Singapore residents paired with a family physician so doctors can more holistically manage a patient's health and focus on prevention of illnesses. (ST, 21 Sept)
• From this month, about 19,000 full-time lower-wage retail assistants, cashiers and assistant retail supervisors will see their salaries rise by 8.4 per cent to 8.5 per cent annually over the next three years. (ST, 7 Sept)
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Ageism and health are major barriers to seniors staying longer in the workforce (ST, 26 Aug)
• Inflation in Singapore expected to peak in Q4 and stabilize, says DPM Wong (ST, 17 Aug)
• Businesses must be more cost-efficient as salaries rise under Progressive Wage Model: Zaqy (ST, 17 Aug)
• PM Lee recognizes MENDAKI’s efforts in the education of Malay children (PM Lee iktiraf usaha MENDAKI bantu pendidikan anak Melayu) (BH, 21 Aug)
MENDAKI Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• $1.5b package to help S'poreans cope with inflation; $100 utilities credit for every household
• More retrenched S'pore residents able to land jobs within six months: MOM Q1 report; Job vacancies hit new high for Q1 as firms backfill roles, hire to meet demand
• Early academic gaps between students too significant for comfort and must be closed: Tharman
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Singapore private home price growth slows sharply in Q1 on cooling measures
• Singapore inflation jumps to 10-year high in March on higher food, services and transport prices
• NTU launches centre to study how dementia develops in Asians
News Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Design Department (R&D) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Higher grant among initiatives to give more support and respite to caregivers, many of whom are women.
• More going abroad to study from second half of last year; Rise in number of Singaporeans keen on studying in Japan and South Korea.
• Employers to receive over $145m in final JSS payouts to support wages of more than 289,500 local staff.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
1. Singapore will have to put in place more stringent measures to bolster the security of digital banking
2. The upcoming increase in the goods and services (GST) tax will be tackled in Budget 2022, which will be unveiled on Feb 18.
3. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and President Joko Widodo witnessed the signing and exchange of three agreements as well as an exchange of letters undertaking to bring them into force at the same time.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
• Unvaccinated people may not be allowed back to workplace despite negative test result
• Vaccination for kids aged 5 to 11 began on 27 Dec
• S'pore suspends ticket sales for VTL flights and buses for inbound travel between Dec 23 and Jan 20
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
The new PSLE scoring system sees more pupils qualifying to take secondary school subjects at higher level as more pupils qualify for Express course and 98.4% progress to secondary school.
13,000 disadvantaged students to get more help to stay in school through after-school support and customised holiday programmes.
More organisations have beefed up mental health support such as organizing self-care activities, training ‘mental health first aiders’, creating portals to provide online mental health resources, and partnering with counselling organisations to provide employee assistance.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Design Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Record number of 96,000 in Singapore get financial aid from ComCare amid Covid-19. This is a 22% increase from the 78,580 people in the year before.
- More than 2,900 participated in MENDAKI’s ‘Raikan Ilmu’ Month
- A $640 million package of support measures will be extended to individuals and businesses affected by the one-month extension of tighter measures under the stabilisation phase.
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Education Minister Chan Chun Sing announced that MOE will raise spending to $457 million over next five years to boost social science and humanities research
- Singapore Counselling Centre (SCC) study: More than 80% of S'pore teachers say Covid-19 pandemic has hurt their mental health
- Progressive Wage Model (PWM) boosts workers' income and strengthens family economy
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is compiled by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
The key highlights for this month are:
- Health (71)
- Community (61)
- Economy (37)
This reflects Singapore’s growing concerns over community and economic trends due to the loosening of Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) restrictions and developments in Singapore’s COVID-19 vaccination plan.
Many ways to support street children.pptxSERUDS INDIA
By raising awareness, providing support, advocating for change, and offering assistance to children in need, individuals can play a crucial role in improving the lives of street children and helping them realize their full potential
Donate Us
https://serudsindia.org/how-individuals-can-support-street-children-in-india/
#donatefororphan, #donateforhomelesschildren, #childeducation, #ngochildeducation, #donateforeducation, #donationforchildeducation, #sponsorforpoorchild, #sponsororphanage #sponsororphanchild, #donation, #education, #charity, #educationforchild, #seruds, #kurnool, #joyhome
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
Jennifer Schaus and Associates hosts a complimentary webinar series on The FAR in 2024. Join the webinars on Wednesdays and Fridays at noon, eastern.
Recordings are on YouTube and the company website.
https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferschaus/videos
A process server is a authorized person for delivering legal documents, such as summons, complaints, subpoenas, and other court papers, to peoples involved in legal proceedings.
Russian anarchist and anti-war movement in the third year of full-scale warAntti Rautiainen
Anarchist group ANA Regensburg hosted my online-presentation on 16th of May 2024, in which I discussed tactics of anti-war activism in Russia, and reasons why the anti-war movement has not been able to make an impact to change the course of events yet. Cases of anarchists repressed for anti-war activities are presented, as well as strategies of support for political prisoners, and modest successes in supporting their struggles.
Thumbnail picture is by MediaZona, you may read their report on anti-war arson attacks in Russia here: https://en.zona.media/article/2022/10/13/burn-map
Links:
Autonomous Action
http://Avtonom.org
Anarchist Black Cross Moscow
http://Avtonom.org/abc
Solidarity Zone
https://t.me/solidarity_zone
Memorial
https://memopzk.org/, https://t.me/pzk_memorial
OVD-Info
https://en.ovdinfo.org/antiwar-ovd-info-guide
RosUznik
https://rosuznik.org/
Uznik Online
http://uznikonline.tilda.ws/
Russian Reader
https://therussianreader.com/
ABC Irkutsk
https://abc38.noblogs.org/
Send mail to prisoners from abroad:
http://Prisonmail.online
YouTube: https://youtu.be/c5nSOdU48O8
Spotify: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/libertarianlifecoach/episodes/Russian-anarchist-and-anti-war-movement-in-the-third-year-of-full-scale-war-e2k8ai4
This session provides a comprehensive overview of the latest updates to the Uniform Administrative Requirements, Cost Principles, and Audit Requirements for Federal Awards (commonly known as the Uniform Guidance) outlined in the 2 CFR 200.
With a focus on the 2024 revisions issued by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), participants will gain insight into the key changes affecting federal grant recipients. The session will delve into critical regulatory updates, providing attendees with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate and comply with the evolving landscape of federal grant management.
Learning Objectives:
- Understand the rationale behind the 2024 updates to the Uniform Guidance outlined in 2 CFR 200, and their implications for federal grant recipients.
- Identify the key changes and revisions introduced by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) in the 2024 edition of 2 CFR 200.
- Gain proficiency in applying the updated regulations to ensure compliance with federal grant requirements and avoid potential audit findings.
- Develop strategies for effectively implementing the new guidelines within the grant management processes of their respective organizations, fostering efficiency and accountability in federal grant administration.
1. July 2020
Sources: The Straits Times/Sunday Times (ST), Berita Harian/Berita Minggyu (BH), Berita Mediacorp (BM)
2. What is RPD Bites?
RPD Bites is a monthly scan covering issues and trends surfaced in various local
mainstream media sources that would be of relevance to the Malay/Muslim community. It is
produced by the Research and Planning Department (RPD) of Yayasan MENDAKI.
RPD Bites begins with an article count across different media sources which are
categorised into these main areas: education, economy, employment and employability, social
and community, and Malay/Muslim affairs. Other salient areas for the month are also
highlighted. It then delves into emerging themes and trends observed.
We hope you find this month’s RPD Bites insightful and useful for your needs. We
look forward to your continued partnership and support, and welcome any suggestions you
might have. You can reach us at RPD@mendaki.org.sg to feedback.
RESEARCH &
PLANNING
DEPARTMENT
2
3. Overall Coverage
• With a total of 289 articles, Governance, Economy and Social emerged as the
top 3 categories for May.
• The articles on The Straits Times/Sunday Times and Berita Harian/Berita Minggu
were mainly on the 2020 General Elections as well as economy, employment
and employability initiatives amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
73
56
38
23
1
40
20 16
3
19
113
76
54
26 20
Governance Economy,
Employment &
Employability
Social Education Malay Muslim
Affairs
No. of Articles
ST BH/BM Total
3
4. Overall Coverage: Key Categories
• Breakdown is as follows: Economy (39),
Employment (31) and Employability (6)
• In the Social-related Issues, the breakdown
is as follows: Family/Household (21), Health
(17), Youth (12) and Community (4).
Economy
51%
Employment
41%
Employability
8%
Economy, Employment and
Employability Issues
Family/Household
39%
Health
32%
Youth
22%
Community
7%
Social-related Issues
4
6. Education
Education Developments Amidst COVID-19 Pandemic
• Secondary schools, junior colleges and Millennia Institute will have the option to resume lower-
risk co-curricular activities (CCAs) from 27 Jul (ST, 24 Jul).
• International schools in Singapore have extended financial help to students, as families feel the
effects of the global economic slowdown. Schools have set up funds, while some announced fee
reductions and refrained from tuition fee hikes for the coming year (ST, 20 Jul).
– Efforts come as a survey of 122 expatriate parents in Singapore and Hong Kong showed that
about a third have reported a cut in income due to COVID-19 situation (ST, 20 Jul).
6
• Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) said that students
who missed parts of the O-and A-level mother tongue language
examinations last month because of COVID-19 will be fairly assessed
and not disadvantaged (ST, 13 Jul).
− Special consideration can be applied to the affected candidates,
provided they sit the remaining oral and listening comprehension
examinations scheduled this month (ST, 13 Jul).
7. Education
7
• Minister Ong Ye Kung said that young people today have
a different view of race and religion as compared with
older generations. Conversations in school play a big
role in helping students navigate differences (ST, 17 Jul).
− New generation is more open to talking about such
issues, but need facilitation (ST, 17 Jul).
On Race & Religion
• At an online dialogue organised by OnePeople.sg, Law and Home Affairs Minister K.
Shanmugam said that Singapore has not reached a post-racial state, so there are strong
government efforts and strict laws to ensure racial and religious harmony (ST, 26 Jul).
– While the framework within which Singapore has handled race relationships has worked
well, he said that race and religion remain fault lines (ST, 26 Jul).
– Younger Singaporeans must decide where to draw the boundaries on such discussions,
and lead ground-up efforts to bring these difficult conversations into their
respective communities (ST, 26 Jul).
8. Education
Tertiary Education
• Six autonomous universities here will offer around 2,000 more places this
year due to disruptions caused by COVID-19 pandemic (ST, 7 Jul).
– Additional offers went to Singaporeans whose overseas study plans had
to be put on hold, and to polytechnic diploma holders who had previously
intended to join the workforce but were now opting to study due to the weak
job market (ST, 7 Jul).
• From August next year, undergraduates entering Nanyang Technological
University (NTU) will have to take up a common core curriculum that will
enable them to develop interdisciplinary knowledge and skills (ST, 25 Jul).
– Core courses to take up one-fifth of academic workload, and are aimed at
developing a range of abilities, including communication skills, digital
literacy, and enterprise and innovation (ST, 25 Jul).
– Compulsory courses are designed around society’s greatest challenges
and issues such as climate change and global health (ST, 25 Jul).
8
9. Education
Education Initiatives
• At the Nanyang Technological University’s (NTU) launch of SkillsFuture@NTU – a series of
virtual workshops to help Singaporeans keep up with new work demands –, new Education
Minister Lawrence Wong reminded that learning does not stop at graduation and COVID-19
has accelerated impetus for continuous learning (ST, 30 Jul).
• A record 95 recipients received Defence Scholarship Awards this year (ST, 30 Jul).
• An initiative by United Overseas Bank (UOB) – My Digital Space programme – aims to give
out digital learning kits to students from low-income families (ST, 30 Jul).
9
– Students who get the laptops also have access to an online
resource centre where they can learn about topics such as
sustainability and cyber security, beyond their school
curriculum (ST, 30 Jul).
• Newly appointed Education Minister Lawrence Wong said that the
Education Ministry (MOE) will continue to engage teachers and
staff to improve the education system (ST, 31 Jul).
10. Economy
Economic Developments
• Singapore has entered a technical recession as GDP dives
12.6 per cent, due to circuit breaker measures and weak
external demand (ST, 15 Jul).
• Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong highlighted that Economic
Development Board (EDB) secured $13 billion in new
investments in the first four months of this year despite the
pandemic and recession, as Singapore ‘enjoys a strong
reputation internationally and investors have confidence
in us’ (ST, 2 Jul).
10
• A $45 million SingapoRediscovers campaign by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), Enterprise
Singapore and Sentosa Development Corporation will be rolled out to drive local spending to
Singapore’s eateries, shops and leisure attractions, which are reeling from a ‘tourist drought’
caused by the pandemic (ST, 23 Jul).
• Firms in Singapore’s manufacturing and services industries remain pessimistic about the
business outlook for the second half of the year, amidst the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and
uncertain global trade and macroeconomic conditions (ST, 31 Jul).
11. Economy
Economic Developments
• The top and immediate priority of the Ministry of Transport (MOT) is to revive air travel and maintain
Singapore’s hub status, as it is critical for jobs and economic competitiveness (ST, 31 Jul).
• Experts note that more airline bankruptcies and job cuts are likely in the coming months once
government support is reduced, with International Air Transport Association noting that passenger
demand for air travel is not expected to return to pre-crisis levels until 2023 or 2024 (ST, 21 Jul).
• Nine cyber security software firms have been awarded up to $1 million each to build systems to
help Singapore shore up the defence of critical sectors including energy, healthcare and defence,
as well as emerging areas like driverless vehicles (ST, 31 Jul).
• Over $4 billion under the Jobs Support Scheme (JSS) will be paid out to 140,000 employers from
July 29 to help them retain about 1.9 million local workers amidst the pandemic.
11
12. Economy
Digital Transformation & FinTech
• A poll by Twilio, a cloud communications platform, showed that the coronavirus pandemic has
significantly accelerated digital transformation in companies (ST, 21 Jul).
– Almost all companies polled are seeking new ways of engaging their customers and
stakeholders (ST, 21 Jul).
• Research unit BCG FinTech Control Tower said that the surge in digital services used during the
COVID-19 crisis is expected to further entrench Singapore as a global fintech hub (ST, 20 Jul).
12
• Speaking at a virtual discussion organised by Lee Kuan Yew School of Public
Policy (LKYSPP), Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said amidst
calls for the state to play a larger role with the COVID-19 pandemic, size is not
all that matters – there must be a new social compact that directs markets
and empowers communities towards public goals (ST, 23 Jul).
− He said forging a new compact also means abandoning old ways of
thinking, such as the belief that those who fare poorly are not doing
enough for themselves, or that the state is not helping (ST, 23 Jul).
13. Employment & Employability
Employment Challenges
• Overall unemployment rate rose to 2.9 per cent last month after taking into account seasonal
variations – the highest in just over a decade, and up from 2.4 per cent in March. Number of workers
here plunged by 121,800 in the second quarter (ST, 30 Jul).
13
• Recruiters note that job seekers in Singapore are seeing signed
employment contracts rescinded across sectors as
businesses cut back on hiring (ST, 30 Jul).
• Data from job portals this year has shown a drop in
internships. For instance, JobsCentral and BrightMinds had 222
internship and part-time positions listed from January to May,
down from 348 last year during the same period (ST, 4 Jul).
– A wider availability of talent to take on short-term
projects and part-time jobs affects internship
opportunities, as internships are usually created by firms
for such ad hoc work, without them having to hire full-timers
(ST, 4 Jul).
14. Employment & Employability
Support for Businesses & Workers
• According to the NTUC LearningHub data skills report, A
View From The Ground: Closing The Data Skills Gap In The
COVID-19 Era And Beyond, 93 per cent of employers
believe that improved data competencies will enable their
staff to do their job better and 90 per cent showed keen
interest in hiring employees who are data literate (ST, 6 Jul).
14
• More than 12,000 people have been placed in new jobs since March under the SGUnited Jobs
initiative, which was part of the supplementary Resilience Budget to help job seekers cope with
worsening labour market prospects (ST, 4 Jul).
• Mid-career job seekers will be able to apply for more than 13,000 company attachments
through the MyCareersFuture.sg portal. These will come from the pool of positions earlier
approved for fresh and recent graduates (ST, 29 Jul).
• 10,000 residents have found jobs through Workforce Singapore’s (WSG) career matching
services in the first half of this year. Figures are similar to that in the same period last year, even
though the labour market has been badly hit this year by the pandemic (ST, 31 Jul).
15. Support for Workers
• Around 3,000 local job seekers will benefit from a new jobs and skills training initiative called Skills
Ignition SG, launched by Google in conjunction with government agencies Economic Development
Board, Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) and SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) (ST, 21 Jul).
– Prepares participants for jobs related to digital marketing and cloud technology (ST, 21 Jul).
• Under the SGUnited Skills programme, Singapore Management University (SMU) is linking up with
eight companies to co-deliver courses that will help upskill people (e.g. in business management,
digital and internationalisation skills) keen to make a career change (ST, 18 Jul).
• Under the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways, mid-career job seekers can now apply for training
courses offered by firms from in-demand sectors to help boost their employability (ST, 26 Jul).
– IBM, Shopee and PBA Robotics are amongst the companies that will be kicking off the first
batch of courses next month (ST, 26 Jul).
– While more business closures and retrenchments are expected, there are sectors that are
expected to grow, such as healthcare and e-commerce (ST, 26 Jul).
15
Employment & Employability
16. Changing Mindsets
• Panellists at a forum organised by SkillsFuture Singapore (SSG) said that change must come
from both employers and employees – the willingness of firms to embrace technology and
employees being open to upskilling and adapting to changes to survive the pandemic.
– Added that ‘attitudinal’ training - the building up of a good mindset towards embracing
change - is just as important as skills training (ST, 20 Jul).
• Speaking after a virtual dialogue with Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship recipients,
Minister Chan Chun Sing said that those in the public service must continually challenge their
own perspectives (ST, 23 Jul).
• Speaking at DBS Bank’s Asian Insights Conference, Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam
said that the challenge of keeping Singapore's unemployment figures down will “grow in the
months to come”, even as the jobless rate has been kept relatively low (ST, 24 Jul).
– Said that companies need to do their part and help provide attachments and
traineeships for retrenched workers amidst COVID-19 outbreak (ST, 24 Jul).
16
Employment & Employability
17. Social
• Minister Lawrence Wong said that restrictions such as limiting
gatherings to groups of five people or fewer will likely remain
for some time despite more activities resuming under phase two
of Singapore’s reopening (ST, 3 Jul).
• 10,000 vulnerable seniors have received the first batch of the
dongles, which are an alternative to the TraceTogether smartphone
app that is used for contact tracing (ST, 7 Jul).
• A new oscar@sg fund set up by Temasek Trust in Apr 2020 has
so far given out $1.6 million to 52 initiatives, helping more than
125,000 beneficiaries impacted by the virus, such as migrant
workers, seniors and healthcare workers (ST, 13 Jul).
• Making Meaning, a new website launched in May, hopes to
connect creative professionals here with non-profits to support
these organisations that are struggling amidst the COVID-19
pandemic with pro bono work (ST, 13 Jul).
17
COVID-19 Pandemic Developments & Initiatives in SG
18. Social
Social Initiatives
• A Beyond COVID-19 Taskforce, formed by National Council of Social Services (NCSS), is planning to
help social service agencies digitalise and be more innovative in delivering their services during the
COVID-19 pandemic and beyond (ST, 4 Jul). It intends to strengthen social service agencies in three
other ways:
1. raise funds in more sustainable ways
2. improve how manpower and volunteers can be mobilised, and
3. strengthen the capabilities of leaders in the agencies (ST, 4 Jul).
• A $300,000 Create Change @ South East fund has been set up by the South East Community
Development Council (CDC) to kick-start projects by young people who are big on ideas to give back to
society, but lack the capital to achieve their goals (ST, 30 Jul).
• Harvey Norman will be setting up a microsite offering computers and printers that students can purchase
using their $500 e-grant from The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund (ST, 31 Jul).
• Singapore’s first social enterprise cloud kitchen, The Social Kitchen, will provide jobs for vulnerable
groups while helping food heritage brands to survive during the pandemic (ST, 31 Jul).
• A new $1 million Musim Mas BlueStar* Fund, launched to address mental health issues amongst young
people here, will set aside a total of $100,000 for peer-run initiatives (ST, 19 Jul).
18
19. Social
Social Trends & Research
• There has been a 30 per cent increase in the average number of inquiries to the Ministry of Social
and Family Development's (MSF) adult and child protective services in the post-circuit breaker
month, compared with during the circuit breaker (CB) (ST, 8 Jul).
– Higher number attributed to stepped-up outreach efforts by ministry and its partners during CB
and those who were unable to seek help during CB coming forward now (ST, 8 Jul).
– Inquiries include those related to tension within the family, marital conflicts and disputes;
only a few involved an actual incidence of violence (ST, 8 Jul).
• Number of reported rape cases in Singapore jumped 75 per cent in the last five years, with
about half involving victims aged under 18. Observers attribute the rise to a greater awareness
about sexual assault and willingness to report it (ST, 3 Jul).
• A poll of 564 respondents by the Association of Women for Action and Research (Aware) and
Blackbox Research showed that 49 per cent of parents said they were able to discuss the topic of
sex with their children in an age-appropriate manner (ST, 3 Jul).
– Aware head of research and advocacy Shailey Hingorani stated that these figures were lower
than expected (ST, 3 Jul). 19
20. Social
Family Policy
• FJC is also planning to introduce a simpler way for a
person to take a former spouse to court for failing to allow
access to the children after the breakdown of the marriage
despite being ordered to do so (ST, 20 Jul).
– Currently, the enforcement of access orders comes in the
form of committal proceedings “which can be lengthy
and onerous, with strict procedural steps that have to be
complied with” (ST, 20 Jul).
20
• The Family Justice Courts (FJC) is planning to start a Multi-Disciplinary Team pilot programme
where the same team of judges, mediators, counsellors and other professionals will work together
with a couple from the start to the end of their divorce process (ST, 20 Jul).
– Expected to start in the third or fourth quarter this year, it seeks to reframe family litigation
from being adversarial and rights-focused, to being problem-solving and solutions-focused.
21. Social
Family Trends
• The Report on Registration of Births and Deaths 2019 said 39,279 births were registered in 2019,
an increase of 0.6 per cent from 2018 (ST, 29 Jul).
− Median age of resident live births for first-time mothers increased from 30.6 in 2018 to 30.8
years in 2019. Deaths were on an upward trajectory since at least 2010 (ST, 29 Jul).
− National University of Singapore (NUS) sociology professor Jean Yeung said the increase in
births may reflect couples catching up after postponing child-bearing for awhile and may
also reflect the impact of greater subsidies the Government has been providing for
assisted fertility treatments in the last few years (ST, 29 Jul).
21
• Data from the Department of Statistics showed fewer
marriages and more divorces last year (ST, 29 Jul).
– Sociologists and counsellors note that as
Singaporeans spend more years getting an
education and building their careers, more are
also marrying at a later age (ST, 29 Jul).
22. Social
22
• National Environment Agency (NEA) said that the 2020 dengue
outbreak is set to be worst on record, with more than 14,000
cases reported since 1 Jan and 19 deaths so far this year (ST, 3 Jul).
• From Nov, vaccinations for diseases such as influenza and
chickenpox will be free of charge for eligible Singaporeans under
18 years old. All eligible Singaporean children will get full subsidies
for seven childhood development screenings at polyclinics and
Chas GP clinics (ST, 14 Jul).
• Use of telemedicine is rising due to the pandemic, with more
doctors including specialists using it to see a growing group of
patients for issues ranging from anxiety to chronic conditions like
hypertension (ST, 25 Jul).
• A pilot study in Singapore has found a novel way to gauge seniors’
cognitive functions, without testing them through conventional
methods, by using a network of sensors to track their memory,
movements and sleep patterns over a period of time (ST, 1 Jul).
Health Trends & Research
23. Governance
• About 1.4 million Singaporeans will benefit from $570 million in GST vouchers next month, in the form of
cash payouts and Medisave top-ups (ST, 2 Jul).
• About 1.2 million Singaporean households with at least one Singaporean member in all types of
residential properties will receive a one-off $100 Solidarity Utilities Credits subsidy, to be credited into
the July or August utilities bill under the SP Group (ST, 3 Jul).
• Around 400,000 lower-wage Singaporeans will be receiving $1,500, their first payout of the Workfare
Special Payment. Payout will be given to workers who were eligible for the Workfare Income Supplement
(WIS) scheme before March 31, for their work done last year (ST, 25 Jul).
• The National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) has asked firms to ensure that workers affected by
retrenchments were treated fairly and the Singaporean core of the workforce kept intact (ST, 25 Jul).
• Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said that median incomes in Singapore have risen by 32
per cent in real terms after accounting for inflation in the last ten years, and that every Singaporean
worker needs to be on a ‘moving escalator’ of better skills and income (ST, 8 Jul).
• Law and Home Affairs Minister K. Shanmugam said that civil unrest around the world in the past two
years has provided important lessons for Singapore in public order and trust (ST, 30 Jul).
23
24. Governance
• Minister Masagos Zulkifli said that Singapore should continue to
work on its long-term goals like sustainability and digital
transformation even as it deals with near-term priorities
brought on by COVID-19 pandemic (ST, 4 Jul).
– One aspect of the Government’s longer-term plan is to
grow the sustainable sector, which will create specialised
jobs in areas such as carbon and sustainability services,
climate sciences and coastal protection (ST, 4 Jul).
24
Sustainability Goals
• A food perception survey by Singapore Food Agency (SFA) and Ministry of the Environment and
Water Resources (MEWR) in Jan 2020 found that 94 per cent of 1,500 respondents said they were
willing to buy local, but only 65 per cent could identify such produce when shopping for groceries
(ST, 19 Jul).
– Demand for local produce must complement supply in local food production (ST, 19 Jul).
– Importance of food security has been underscored in COVID-19 pandemic which has disrupted
food supply chains, in addition to climate change (ST, 19 Jul).
25. General Elections 2020
• People’s Action Party (PAP) has won 83 of 93 seats (61.24 per cent of the votes) while the Workers’ Party
(WP) takes two GRCs in the 2020 General Elections (GE). This is an 8.7-point swing from its 69.9 per
cent share in the 2015 polls, and slightly above the 60.1 per cent it garnered in 2011 (ST, 11 Jul).
– Opposition presence almost doubled to 10 elected MPs in the next Parliament (ST, 11 Jul).
• WP chief Pritam Singh has been appointed Leader of the Opposition and given staff and resources (ST,
12 Jul).
• Minister Lawrence Wong said that the fall in support for the ruling party was not solely amongst
younger voters, but also amongst other groups such as workers in their 40s and 50s who were feeling
the pain caused by the pandemic (ST, 19 Jul).
– Other reasons cited include WP’s campaign for checks and balances, and emergence of
Progress Singapore Party (PSP). Support fell amongst those who live in private property, though
not uniformly across estates (ST, 19 Jul).
• Senior Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam said the outcome of GE 2020 was good for Singapore, and
reflects a desire amongst Singaporeans for a new balance in politics (ST, 20 Jul).
• Some observers have argued that an Internet campaign benefits the opposition parties, as it enables
them to raise their profiles quickly, affordably and widely (ST, 15 Jul). 25
26. GE 2020
• A total of 17 town councils have been formed following the recent GE, with PAP running 15 of
them. The new Sengkang Town Council (SKTC) will be run by WP (ST, 31 Jul).
• Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs Masagos Zulkifli paid tribute to four departing
Malay/Muslim Members of Parliament, saying they had each made invaluable contributions to
the community (ST, 1 Jul).
– They include former Minister for Communications and Information Yaacob Ibrahim, Dr Intan
Azura Mokhtar, Associate Professor Fatimah Lateef and Mr Zainal Sapari, who did not
stand for the 2020 General Election (ST, 1 Jul).
– New Malay/Muslim Members of Parliament include:
26
1 Ms Mariam Jaafar Sembawang GRC
2 Mr Zhulkarnain Abdul Rahim Chua Chu Kang GRC
3 Ms Nadia Ahmad Samdin Ang Mo Kio GRC
4 Mr Wan Rizal Wan Zakariah Jalan Besar GRC
5 Ms Raeesah Begum Bte Farid Khan Sengkang GRC
6 Mr Sharael Taha Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC
7 Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman Marine Parade GRC
General Elections 2020
27. Cabinet Formation
27
• The Singapore Cabinet has been
sworn in at the Istana on 27 Jul, as
PM Lee aims to aims to hand over
Singapore “intact and in working
order into good hands who will take the
country further forward” after steering it
through COVID-19 crisis (ST, 27 Jul).
• New Cabinet line-up will include 6 office-holders from the Malay community (ST, 25 Jul):
− Mr Masagos Zulkifli – relinquished his portfolio in Environment and Water Resources to
take on Social and Family Development.
− Dr Maliki Osman – promoted to Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office as well as Second
Minister for Education and Foreign Affairs.
− Minister of State Zaqy Mohamad – relinquished his National Development portfolio to
become Senior Minister of State for Manpower and Defence.
− Senior Parliamentary Secretary Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim – promoted to Minister of
State for Home Affairs and National Development.
− MP Rahayu Mahzam – appointed Parliamentary Secretary for Health from 1 Sep.
− Mr Mohd Fahmi Aliman – appointed Mayor of South East District, a post previously held
by Dr Maliki.
31. 31
Malay/Muslim Affairs
• Ms Guy Ghazali, 38, will understudy current
Syariah Court senior president Alfian Yasrif
Kuchit, 42, as the senior president-
designate before taking on the role from 1
Oct. This will be the first time a woman is
appointed to the position (ST, 28 Jul).
• Muhammadiyah Association of Singapore
collaborated with Texas Chicken for a charity
lunch giveaway to 2,000 beneficiaries (BM,
18 Jul).
• More than 50 couples attended a virtual inaugural seminar Islam And Fostering: Webinar
2020, jointly organised by Singapore Muslim Women's Association (PPIS) Oasis, in partnership
with the Singapore Islamic Scholars and Religious Teachers Association (Pergas)) (ST, 19 Jul).
− Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) reported an increased number of
children in foster care in the past five years, after efforts to place more children who
have been abused, abandoned or neglected under the care of foster parents instead of in a
children's home (ST, 19 Jul).
32. 32
Malay/Muslim Affairs
• Under the SG Teguh Bersatu initiative, MENDAKI SENSE, NTUC, and M3 agencies and
Malay Muslim organisations such as AMP, PPIS, Pergas, and NTUC, will increase efforts
to support Malay/Muslim workers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensure that
national and community initiatives can be easily accessed (BH, 3 Jul).
− One initiative is the CariKerja mobile app launched by MENDAKI SENSE to make
it easier for job seekers to search and apply for jobs (BH, 3 Jul).
• Attending a virtual dialogue session with
about 70 M³ mentors organized by
MENDAKI, Minister Masagos highlighted
that mentors under M³ play an important
role in empowering and developing
Malay/Muslim youth with competencies,
good character and citizenry (BM, 24 Jul).
33. 33
MENDAKI Education Symposium
• The MENDAKI Education Symposium 2020, held from 22 to 24 Jul online in collaboration with
National Institute of Education (NIE) Centre for Research in Child Development (CRCD), saw
more than 1,300 attendees including preschool professionals, practitioners, primary school
teachers – local and overseas.
34. 34
MENDAKI Education Symposium
Webinar 1
How do we teach our children to be bilingual
at home and in school?
Issues Discussed
• Strategies for teachers and parents to
provide equal exposure to the
development of English and Mother
Tongue languages for young children.
35. 35
MENDAKI Education Symposium
Webinar 2
How do we improve the quality of teacher-
child interactions in the preschool
classroom?
Issues Discussed
• Tools to measure and assess teachers’
competency in the domains of emotional
support, classroom organisation and
instructional support.
• Strategies for Centre Leaders to support
the professional development of teachers
in the area of teacher-child interactions.
36. 36
MENDAKI Education Symposium
Webinar 3
How do we help children feel safe and ready
to learn?
Issues Discussed
• Strategies to support young children
overcome separation anxiety.
• Role of parents to prepare their young
children for new learning experiences and
environments.
37. 37
MENDAKI Education Symposium
Webinar 4
How do we help children develop self-
control skills?
Issues Discussed
• School and home-based activities that can
be carried out to develop children’s self-
control skills.
• The importance of adults scaffolding and
trusting children’s ability to develop self-
control skills.
38. 38
MENDAKI Education Symposium
Webinar 5
How can Neuroscience (knowledge)
contribute to learning and education?
Issues Discussed
• Strategies for teachers and parents to
develop children’s executive functioning
skills.