News

Race, Racism and Racial Privilege in Singapore

September 8, 2021

In ‘Race, racism and racial privilege in Singapore’ (The Straits Times, September 2021) Professor Chua Beng Huat (NUS Sociology and Yale-NUS Urban Studies Program) discusses the conceptual development of racial privilege in Singapore, documents developments in Singapore’s history that have accorded privileges, conscious and unconscious, to specific racial groups, and evaluates the frameworks and solutions […]

“First world problems” in the “third world”?

September 8, 2021

  Singapore has long pursued neoliberal economic policies through international trade, cementing itself as one of the most globalized nations in the world. At the same time, the nation-state remains politically and socially conservative, prioritizing economic and communal well-being over individual political rights. Therein lies a tension between these ostensibly contradictory positions. In “‘First world problems’ in […]

Singapore bilingual education: One policy, many interpretations

September 7, 2021

Bilingualism has often been touted as the cornerstone of Singapore’s language policy. The original aim of Singapore’s bilingual education was for citizens to gain access to knowledge of the West via English and to understand themselves via their mother tongue. However, the formation of bilingual policy was never properly established, causing for intense debate both […]

The Evolution of multi-Ethnic Singaporean Families

September 6, 2021

Eat with your Family Day started in 2003 as an attempt to increase bonding time for Singaporean families. On designated days of the year, companies are urged to grant early leave, at 5pm, for employees to return to their families and have dinner together. This effort by the Centre for Fathering (CFF) is reflective of […]

Exploring Creativity Dimensions in Singapore and Beyond

September 3, 2021

  Teacher’s Day is observed on the first Friday of September and seeks to recognize the unwavering efforts of teachers and staff towards molding the next generation of Singaporeans and building a world-renowned education system that has consistently produced top performers. In the 2019 edition of Trends in International Mathematics and Science (Timss), an international […]

HDB Facade

Singapore’s thirty-somethings are leaving home

September 2, 2021

In ‘Singapore’s thirty-somethings are leaving home’, (The Economist, August 2021), Professor Wei-Jun Jean Yeung (NUS Department of Sociology and Centre for Family and Population Research) notes that the country’s housing policy makes it difficult for young people to move out of their family homes. Near 80% of the population live in government-subsidized flats and Singaporeans […]

Elderly People May Feel Lonely, Isolated Even While Living with Family

September 1, 2021

  ‘Social Disconnection and Living Arrangements among Older Adults: The Singapore Chinese Health Study’ (Gerontology, 2021), a study by Dr. Jon Barrenetxea, Dr. Yi Yang (both from Duke-NUS Medical School), Dr. An Pan (Huazhong University School of Public Health), Associate Professor Feng Qiushi (NUS Department of Sociology and Centre for Family and Population Research), and […]

Encountering enchantment: stories from the street football court in Singapore

August 30, 2021

The Singapore Amateur Football Association (SAFA) was founded on 29 August 1892. Now called the Football Association of Singapore (FAS), it is the governing body responsible for the sport’s development, organizing the professional league and cup competitions. Despite the popularity of football, street football is emerging as a popular alternative in Singapore. Street football courts […]

Poetic Records of the History, Society, and Culture of Singapore Chinese

August 24, 2021

In August 1881, Zuo Binglong was appointed by the Qing imperial court to serve as the diplomat to Singapore. He was responsible for the welfare of the Chinese people working in Singapore. During his time as the first Qing consul to Singapore, he promoted the development of Chinese culture in the country by setting up […]

China’s Three-Child Policy Slogan Competition Leaves Many Unimpressed

August 18, 2021

  Pressure is mounting on the Chinese government to combat the long-term effects of a rapidly aging population and reverse the country’s falling birth rates. In 2015 the Chinese government scrapped its controversial one-child policy, allowing Chinese families to have two children. The two child-policy was passed in December 2015 and came into effect on […]