First sacred cow slaughtered

The abolishing of the banding of schools is a major policy change in education. With this change, it could impact many areas of educating the children as it would in a way release some pressure on competing for good schools, good grades and a very demanding not doing well is not an option system. The annual panic of school selection when going to a school in the lower band brought immediate stigmatization could be less felt by parents and children with the change. It is a big step to make education less pressurizing and maybe more enjoyable for all, parents, teachers and children. Just don’t go over board and do away with examinations and grades as well.

Heng Swee Kiat is new in politics but his approach is like a veteran. Make the necessary changes that are needed, not the piece meal approach like the other veterans in the game. This is exactly what is happening in housing. It is all piece meal and the major policies are still hanging over the head. Would Boon Wan do the necessary and dismantle the wicked policies of his predecessor and make housing, choosing a flat, buying a flat, less stressful to the citizens? The babies may come faster too.

Would there also be more major changes coming the ways of health and manpower, the latter more with respect to the population size of this little rock, and not blindly looking at economic growth as the sole determinant of how many people it can take.

The mistakes of the govt have been so gross in so many areas, that without acknowledging it, are hardly unrecognizable. Despite all the great numbers and data that this is a miracle island, the flaws are so painful that they erased whatever goodness and goodwill that should be duly acknowledged. Funny, with so much wealth, talent and resources, the problems are found so difficult to solve. Just throwing more money at the problems will and can work, if the govt is willing, like throwing money into the pay of the elite to attract the best of the crème la crème into politics.