CHILDREN IN SINGAPORE

John Aglionby wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald, “Vinn Yip is not sure when she last did something that was really fun. "It was probably in the holidays with my dad but I can't really remember," said the 11-year-old who is in the top 20 percent of year 5 pupils at her primary school. Vinna's experience is typical in the tiny island nation. The fear of losing or failing, known as kiasu, is all-pervasive here. Indeed, it so ubiquitous that there is a popular cartoon character named Mr Kiasu. "I'm worrying about my son's education already, and he has only just started kindergarten," says Lim Poh Chay, a shopkeeper. [Source: John Aglionby, Sydney Morning Herald, September 7, 2002 -]

“By the time most children reach year 5 there is little time for anything other than eating, sleeping, washing and working. A recent Straits Times survey revealed that the average child has only about 1 to two hours' free time a day. More than a quarter of the 332 year 5 pupils polled said they had less than an hour a day. In addition to school, most pupils attend remedial or supplementary classes several times a week. The well-funded schools cannot be blamed entirely for the cramming complex. "We have clear guidelines for the teachers on homework," said Teo Kun Fung, the principal at East Spring primary school. "They write up on the board what they have given and so those coming later know not to give so much." -

Most pupils agree it is not school-set homework that fills their lives. "On average I only take about one to two hours to do my homework," said Laura Tan, from Rosyth primary school. Nor is it an abundance of drama, music and sport after school. The serious time-fillers are tuition classes and assessments. The former are either one-to-one or small group lessons, while the latter are assignments and tests that are among the nation's bestsellers. "If you go into any bookshop you will see more than 1000 different assignment books to choose from," said Evelyn Foo, from Rosyth. -

One result of all this os a "lack of entrepreneurs and risk takers, particularly compared to Hong Kong, according to Margaret Thomas, a media analyst and women's rights activist. "From an early age people are inculcated with the importance of following rules," she says. "In Hong Kong people who are not sure about something will do it until they are told they cannot, whereas here they will check first to see if there's a rule or law that states they are allowed to do it." This adherence to the rules and lack of creativity is being addressed. Thinking skills were incorporated into the revised syllabuses and assessment modes in 1999 and the following year project work was introduced.” -

The Singaporean government is increasingly trying to encourage its youth —stereotyped as cowed and materialistic—to become entrepreneurial, creative and outspoken.

Children Statistics for Singapore

Under-five mortality rate: 2.7 (per 1,000 live births): [Source: UNICEF DATA data.unicef.org]

Child protection
Children under age 5 whose births are registered: 100 percent.
Women aged 20-24 years who were first married or in union by age 18: 0 percent.

Education Statistics
Youth literacy rate (15 - 24 years): 100 percent

Child Health
Percentage of infants who received three doses of DTP vaccine: 97 percent.
Percentage of children who received the second dose of measles containing vaccine: 93 percent
Prevalence of moderate and severe stunting: 3 percent.

Child Survival
Number of under-five deaths: 128
Infant mortality rate (IMR): 2 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Neonatal mortality rate (NMR): 1 death per 1,000 live births.
Male under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 3 deaths per 1,000 live births.
Female under-five mortality rate (U5MR): 3 deaths per 1,000 live birth.
Proportion of population using basic sanitation services: 100 percent.
Proportion of population using limited sanitation services: 0 percent.
Proportion of population using piped water: 100 percent.

Sheltered Singaporean Kids

Seah Chiang Nee wrote in The Star he once observed a 12-year-old girl leap in fear and hang on to the dress of her mother at the sight of a cat, apparently because rarely sees them. He also described mother who wouldn’t allow their kids to take a bus to school, bicycle within the estate by themselves, climb trees, go camping, play on swings or climb over "dangerous" amenities in the HDB playground.[Source: Seah Chiang Nee, The Star, December10, 2003]

Buginese children in Singapore around 1890

“As a result, Singaporean kids are raised in a fishbowl, deprived of any harsh lessons needed to prepare them for the real world. Instead, our MTV generation, raised by maids, is being caught between two forces, molly-coddling parents and a society that still largely considers obedience as a virtue. Maybe we don't have any PhDs who can't change a light bulb, but we do have junior college girls who don't know how to iron a dress or boil rice.

Some time ago, during Racial Harmony Day, I was invited by an elite SAP (Special Assistance Plan) school to share my experience in reporting Singapore's race riots. The audience was some 700 Secondary 3 and 4 students, representative of the best in Singapore. Quietly, they filed into the auditorium and sat on the floor in neat rows. It was a strong display of obedience and discipline. My own school days some 50 years ago were a lot noisier. The format was a 20-minute talk, followed by a question-and-answer session,but the teacher cautioned me not to expect too much. "You may not get any questions," she warned. Things went according to plan. The talk ended and the teacher invited questions and, as expected, no one stood up. Obviously, she was used to this reticence, which I later learned was reflective of Singaporean youths in general.

She announced refreshments in the next room and said anyone with questions could approach and ask the speaker there. During the meal, two boys approached me and one began asking a series of sharp questions about the state of race relations in 1964, while his friend listened intently. When they left, I turned to the teacher and remarked: "Well you were wrong.At least one of them did ask questions." She smiled and replied: "Yeah, except the boy who asked the questions is from Taiwan."

There's a danger of our over-protected, obedient children growing up to be wimps and softies unprepared to face the challenges of the real world when they grow up. They are raised to obey the rules, not to speak out of turn, far from being "mavericks" that Senior Minister Lee Kuan Yew is exhorting them to be. It's quite a contradiction, right? But as the world becomes more competitive and dangerous, we should start thinking of further loosening control or diminishing protection for our youths.

Charm School for Kids in Singapore

In 2010, AFP reported: “Pricey etiquette classes designed to turn little girls and boys into proper ladies and gentlemen are becoming popular among Singaporeans who are not content with traditional ballet classes and piano lessons for their children. will also stay with them for life," said Eunice Tan, a trainer and consultant at the Image Flair Academy of Modern Etiquette. Tan, 37, says "please" was the first word her own daughter Ethel, now six, learned to speak when she was just one year old. "The skills they learn in the social graces classes will stay with them as they mature and will influence them in all areas of their lives," she told AFP. "I feel that it is best to train children before bad habits have a chance to develop, and such skills.” [Source: AFP, October 7, 2010 ==]

Students of Fairfield Methodist Primary School, Singapore.

“After breakneck economic growth turned Singapore into one of the world's richest societies in just one generation, commentators and government officials admit Singaporeans have yet to catch up on the etiquette front. One government campaign urges Singaporeans to make it a point to show small acts of kindness in their everyday lives. "I think the soft skills are something that parents do see as important," said Jonathan Goh, an associate professor at the National Institute of Education of Singapore. "I do see a lot of benefits," he added, stating that children well-versed in social graces would have a "special advantage in the working world" when they grow up. ==

“Typically held during the school holidays in June and December, children's etiquette classes don't come cheap, with hourly rates ranging from 30 to 48 Singapore dollars (about 22 to 35 US). Tan, who conducts classes of 10 students each, said she had to open a new class during the month-long June school holidays as all lessons were fully booked, a far cry from her company's quiet start four years ago. Lessons are divided into three levels, with the introductory grade teaching children as young as three how to meet and greet people. Level two teaches telephone manners as well as anger management techniques, and the most advanced course imparts values such as honesty and responsibility in a step-by-step method. ==

"The quiet encouragement they receive when they do well and the extra coaching given to quieter children makes them good learners," Tan said. "After the sessions, children are eager to showcase their new graces in front of parents, family and friends, be it their newly-acquired dining skills, tolerance for siblings or sensitivity to their pet!" But not all parents pay as much attention to their children's social graces, said Elaine Heng, founder of a self-named image consultancy firm which offers similar classes as well as one-on-one etiquette consultations. "Nowadays, parents send their kids to lots of enrichment classes to discover their musical, artistic talents and focus more on academic results, but many forget that their kids require coaching in social graces," Heng said. ==

“The former beauty queen also conducts etiquette and grooming sessions for schools and organisations, and says she has taught more than 2,000 youths so far. "It is much easier for a third party, like us, to teach the students on the proper social graces as parents may not know how to go about doing this." Agnes Koh of training firm Etiquette and Image International suggested the attitudes of some children of double-income parents could be attributed to growing up with foreign maids as their main companions. Lack of social graces also resulted from over-emphasis on academic work, Koh said. "Parents are competing among themselves on making their kids score on education and achievement-oriented results. The basic modesty of humanity has thinned," she said. ==

Singapore Introduces Then Scraps Extra Exercise for Fat Kids

In the early 2000s, Singapore intensified efforts to combat childhood obesity through a nationwide school-based initiative known as the “Trim and Fit” program. Overweight students in primary and secondary schools were placed in compulsory “Health Clubs,” where they performed additional exercises beyond the regular physical education curriculum. Activities included skipping rope, running, and basketball drills, often during recess periods while classmates socialized or ate at the canteen. Teachers regularly monitored students’ height and weight, while schools also encouraged parents to prepare healthier meals at home. The policy reflected Singapore’s broader strategy of addressing rising obesity rates and future health care costs by targeting children at a young age. [Source: Associated Press, October 5, 2004; March 20, 2007]

One student highlighted in reports was 10-year-old Mona Siow, who had been trying to lose weight for four years. At 4 feet 8 inches tall and 128 pounds, she needed to lose about 37 pounds before being allowed to leave the program. Mona said, “I feel sad to be overweight when I look at people and they’re so skinny and can wear so many clothes.” She explained that she initially disliked vegetables but gradually learned to eat them after guidance from teachers and parents. If she failed to lose the required weight, she could remain in the program until the end of her pre-university education.

Singapore’s anti-obesity campaign began more than a decade earlier as leaders sought to address the effects of fast food, television, and computer games on children’s health. The government combined mandatory exercise programs with efforts to improve nutrition in school canteens, where Western-style fast food was increasingly popular alongside local cuisine. According to Education Ministry statistics, the proportion of overweight students fell from 14 percent in 1992 to 10 percent in 2003. Despite these improvements, many students remained in the program for years without substantial weight loss. Lim Ee Kheng, head of physical education at the Singapore Chinese Girls’ Primary School, said, “It’s quite disheartening to see students remain in the club for a number of years.”

Critics argued that the program created stigma and damaged students’ self-esteem because overweight children were separated from their peers. Parents increasingly complained that children in the program were teased and singled out by classmates. Lim acknowledged these concerns, saying, “To keep them in the club for a long time is bad for their self-esteem because there’s a stigma tied to it.” By 2007, Singapore’s government announced it would end the 15-year-old “Trim and Fit” campaign and replace it with a more holistic health program involving all students rather than only overweight children. Officials said the new initiative would focus on physical fitness as well as mental and social well-being through broader healthy lifestyle promotion.

Although controversial, the “Trim and Fit” program was credited with reducing the proportion of overweight students from 14 percent in 1992 to 9.5 percent in 2006. Masagos Zulkifli, senior parliamentary secretary for education, acknowledged that the program stigmatized overweight students, stating, “If you want to focus on just overweight children, then no matter what you call it, there will be a stigma associated.” Health officials nevertheless defended school-based interventions as an important tool against obesity in a generation increasingly shaped by sedentary lifestyles and unhealthy diets. The Education Ministry also rejected claims that the program contributed to eating disorders among girls, arguing that such disorders were “complex psychological problems” that could not be blamed on a single factor. The debate highlighted Singapore’s struggle to balance public health goals with concerns about emotional well-being and social stigma among children.

Singaporean Prime Minister Urges 'Pampered' Youth to Toughen up

In 2001, Jake Lloyd-Smith wrote in the South China Morning Post, “Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong has taken a swipe at the country's youth, saying their pampered existence has left them ill-prepared to meet the challenges of the future. In an unusually forthright speech, Mr Goh said young people should rely less on the government and rediscover the "self-reliant spirit" of the city-state's early immigrants. "I think many Singaporeans too, especially the younger ones, take their comfortable lives for granted. "They were born after the tumultuous early years of our independence and never knew the hardships of their parents' generation," Mr Goh said. "They grew up with a silver spoon in their mouth, a maid at their beck and call and a car to bring them around. They have only experienced strong economic growth and ever-improving standards of living." [Source: Jake Lloyd-Smith, South China Morning Post, August 27, 2001 +]

“The Prime Minister conceded, however, that the problem of dependency had in part been created by success of the People's Action Party (PAP) administration, which has ruled Singapore since independence in 1965. "Ironically, the efficiency and thoroughness with which the government has provided for and looked after the needs of Singaporeans, have contributed to this attitude of depending on the government to solve even simple problems. +

“In his speech, Mr Goh contrasted the drive and ambition common to workers and students across China, who were eager to better themselves, with the sometimes complacent attitude of young Singaporeans. He said Singapore should send more of its young people to placements on the mainland so they would "understand more intimately the fierce competition we are facing from China". "We should rediscover some of the self-reliant spirit of earlier generations of Singaporeans," he said. "When our immigrant forefathers came here, they did not receive nor expect help from the government of the day. They built their homes and their fortunes from scratch, without any government help. In times of hardship, they counted on their own wits and resources." +

Success Drive Sends Singapore Children to Psychiatrists

In 2001, AFP reported: “Singapore psychiatrists say they are being swamped by children unable to take the city-state's pressure-cooker education environment that demands success. More than 20,000 children received treatment in 1998, the latest figures available, up 250 percent on the 5600 who sought psychiatric help in 1990. Two-thirds of the patients were in primary school or pre-primary centres, according to data released at the opening of a new behavioural health services clinic. [Source: Agence France Presse, March 2, 2001 ]

“Tan Chue Tin, a consultant psychiatrist, said Singapore's competitive environment generated stress. "The school system is very result-oriented. As a result, parents become anxious and push their children to succeed, sometimes beyond their means," Tan was quoted as saying in the Straits Times Mar 2. Most of the children seeking psychiatric help were suffering from anxiety disorders and behavioural problems.

“The senior parliamentary secretary for the community development ministry, Yu-Foo Yee Shoon described the trend as disturbing, and said a secure family environment was optimal for child development. Divorces in Singapore have risen nearly 66 percent in the past decade and "this means that young children are caught in distressful marital break-ups and the problems of single parenting that follow," she said. Tinkle Friend, a child-help hotline in Singapore, said it took an average 1500 calls a month, mostly from primary school pupils.Across the population, nearly 17 percent of Singaporeans have neurotic disorders such as anxiety and depression, double the number of 20 years ago.

In 2006, Wee Sui Lee of Reuters wrote: “Children who are cared for at day-care centres, by foster parents or maids are twice as likely to develop mental health problems than those cared for by their parents, researchers in Singapore said. Their study of more than 2000 children, from the ages of six to 12, showed a direct association between parental absence and emotional and behavioural disorders such as depression, anxiety, aggressive and disruptive behaviour. In particular, children whose mothers are either single, divorced, widowed or dead are three times more likely to develop mental health problems as other children, Dr Bernardine Woo and researchers at Singapore's Institute of Mental Health and the National University of Singapore found. [Source: Wee Sui Lee, Reuters, October 18, 2006]

“Woo, who led the investigation, said the team did not study the reasons for the link. "Some postulated reasons were the children received less support from their parents and the quality of care may be different," Woo told Reuters on Wednesday. "It may affect them psychologically." In Asia, it is common for both parents to work and to leave their children in the care of a maid, a relative or professional day-care centre. The study also found that in general, boys are twice as likely as girls to develop emotional and behavioural problems. Boys with a lower IQ, or intelligence quotient, were also three times as much at risk compared to those with a higher IQ.” [Ibid]

“I Not Stupid”: Film About Pampered but Bullied Singapore Kids a Big Hit

Seah Chiang Nee wrote in The Star, “In Singaporean fashion, several mothers are talking about motivating their pre-teen children in school, drawing one cracking advice from one: “Use the cane. Got cane 90 marks, no cane 40 marks.” Invariably, the subject moves to grades and streaming, boastfully or ruefully whatever the case may be. “Wah, your son only EM3, mine EM1!” EM stands for English-Mother Tongue, with top students rotating to the latter stream. These scenes are from “I Not Stupid”, a local film now playing to packed houses here. [Source: Seah Chiang Nee, The Star, February 24, 2002 |=|]

“The reason for its popularity is it pokes fun at the way intelligence is measured by exam marks and reflects public disdain for imported foreigners when unemployment is growing. It strikes an emotional chord among Singaporeans who interpret it as an indictment of government policies they dislike and ridiculously over-expectant parents who drive their kids to suicide. The movie speaks up for poor graders, who are suffering the ignominy of being branded as stupid by their own parents and society at large. It has provoked a lot of discussions at Internet chat-rooms. |=|

“Several boys act well as first-timers. One of them plays the role of an overweight pampered son of a crude but rich dialect-speaking businessman, whose wife scolds her children for buttering their bread at breakfast. “Aiyah, how many times I tell you to leave the maid to do it.” Her rationale: the maid is paid to do the work. Symbolising the government, the matronly mother, dressed in white (colour of People’s Action Party) whacks her son into obedience so much that he dares not do anything without his mother. He is in his pre-teens and he allows his mother, strong-minded but well meaning, to make all his decisions. She knows what’s best for them. Some fans say she represents the nanny, interfering state; she keeps telling her children: “You are so lucky to have such a good mother who gives you everything.” The result is a son who hasn’t a thought of his own and a rebelling teenage daughter. Once at a party at their bungalow, he is bullied to tears by some other boys, and later complains: “I'm in my own home, why should I be bullied by outsiders?” This is seen as a criticism of “foreign talent.” |=|

“The fat boy, who is lousy in his studies but is a great artist, angrily shouts “I Not Stupid” when his mother tears into him over his report card. His talent is revealed at the end when he wins a world-class painting award and matures to develop a mind of his own. The message is: “Stop raising children who are hopelessly dependent on parents or government.” The movie’s comment on politics – or so some fans believe – comes in the form of the teenage daughter (the opposition?) who is always demanding more individual freedom. In one scene she resists the efforts by her mother (allegedly the government) coming into her room to replace some “goofy” decorations she had put up with old-fashioned ones. “But this is my room, leave it to me to decide,” she protests to no avail. She is also unhappy because her mother keeps her ang pow money, saying it is hers. When her mother says “I’ll keep it and invest it for you,” she bursts out: “Yeah, you keep my money and you lose it in some of your stupid investments.” |=|

Singapore Education Minister: Please Don’t Belt Your Stressed Out Kids

In 2000, AFP reported: “Singapore Education Minister Teo Chee Hean has pleaded with parents not to belt children who fail exams, after a survey exposed deep fears among primary pupils under pressure to succeed, a report said. One in three primary school children finds life not worth living, according to the survey which found a clear link between the sad outlook of 9-12 year olds and fear of not achieving in exams. The academic pressure on primary school children led Teo to urge parents not to push their children too hard or over-stress them, the Straits Times reported today. "It's not a good thing for a parent to be caning his child just because he failed his exams," the minister said during a weekend walkabout in his constituency. [Source: Agence France Presse, November 27, 2000 ]

“Academic stress was "something schools and parents have to work at together." Teo said the government had taken steps to reduce the workload of students, but he acknowledged that parents in the fiercely competitive city-state would not accept a total ban on homework. "Parents will go and demand that the schools give homework, and if the schools say no, they will go to bookshops and buy assessment books," he said, summing up the attitude of families in a society which demands success.

“The survey by Singapore Press Holdings, publisher of the Straits Times, found one nine-year-old who had to be stopped from jumping from the third-floor of his school because he was not doing well in class. Another nine-year-old told of being caned after getting 83 percent in a science exam and 73 percent in a mathematics exam, and said he had become so nervous he suffered diarrhoea and asthma attacks and broke into a cold sweat before and during tests. His mother, who makes the boy do six hours of homework a night, made no apologies for the punishment saying her son "is a clever boy who has not reached his full potential." She said the diarrhoea would cure itself after the exams and the asthma could be controlled by medication.

'Smug' Youngsters Told to Be More Open-Minded

Barry Porter wrote in South China Morning Post, “Youngsters are smug, narrow-minded and stuck in a "comfort zone". Plus, their arrogant "gimme" mentality prompts them to "ask for the sky" at job interviews. That's the opinion of Singapore's National Youth Council after a series of workshops conducted with young people last month. The council warned that unless Singaporean youngsters showed a greater willingness to be open-minded and continue learning from others, they might flounder when they have to compete on a world stage. [Source: Barry Porter, South China Morning Post, February 25, 2000 ***]

“It discovered from 60 young people who attended its workshops that many seemed to think that, given Singapore was already top in a number of areas, they could not learn much from other people. The council warned that such narrow-mindedness could lead to a loss of Singapore's competitiveness. The government has long been concerned about a lack of creativity and buzz in Singapore society as it tries to transform the island state into a hi-tech regional hub. ***

“In 1999, school teachers were instructed to shift away from rote learning and to teach youngsters how to think. To help youths change tack, the youth council has suggested revamping employment and rewards systems. It also recommended the civil service lead the way by shifting from the present system of using academic results as the key yardstick in hiring and promoting staff. ***

Image Sources: Wikimedia Commons

Text Sources: “Encyclopedia of World Cultures Volume 5: East/Southeast Asia:” edited by Paul Hockings, 1993; National Geographic, Live Science, New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Times of London, Lonely Planet Guides, Library of Congress, Singapore Tourism Board, The Guardian, Smithsonian magazine, The New Yorker, Time, Encyclopedia.com, The Conversation, BBC, CNN, Reuters, Associated Press, AFP, Lonely Planet Guides, Google AI, Wikipedia and various websites, books and other publications.

Last updated May 2026