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​Tackling social mobility and inequality a priority for 4G

19 Jul 2019 2 min read

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Singapore’s 4G leaders will continue to strengthen support for those who have less and strive to ensure that all Singaporeans have opportunities to improve their lives, assured Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office Ms Indranee Rajah. 

Emphasising that “Every Singaporean matters and we want all to do well,” Ms Indranee, who is also Second Minister for Finance and Education, said inequality and ensuring social mobility are critical concerns, and they have been since 1965. To address these issues, Singaporeans have to care and look out for one another, she added.

“Singapore must always be a society of opportunities for all, throughout life, where everyone can progress irrespective of starting point; where all Singaporeans will have equal chance to seek better lives – to meet their aspirations and find happiness – regardless of background,” she said.

While Singapore had made progress in life expectancy, education and home ownership, the economic progress has also resulted in resources and benefits accruing to those in the top. Therefore, the approach of the next generation of political leadership is not to cap the top, but to uplift the bottom by improving access to opportunities to whose who are less advantaged.

Separately at two different events, Minister for Education Mr Ong Ye Kung emphasised the importance of continuous learning and development of skills, and highlighted the changes in the Institute of Technical Education. He said that ITE has taken on a role of being a lifelong learning institute, with an expanded selection of courses for their students.

At another ceremony, Minister for Trade and Industry Chan Chun Sing handed out scholarships to the recipients of the Public Service Commission Scholarships, reiterating the importance of a civil service which should be diverse and have different skills sets. This year, nine polytechnic graduates were also among the Public Service Commission scholarship recipients.