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作者:冀居·谢 老实说，看到媒体报道国会三读通过私校法案，执政党利用国会占绝大多数的优势，糊弄一个新瓶装旧酒，轻轻就化解了自己之前的监管不力（CaseTrust for Education），真的很心寒。 咱们这里号称集体责任制，实在看不出。里子都是文恬武嬉，衣冠禽兽。 早报社论说：『 随着私校法案的通过，政府今后加强对私校的管制主要是通过三方面：一是，正式成立一个新的法定机构“私人教育理事会”(CPE)，给这个行业做更好的规 范。二是，强制性的“加强认证架构”，对私校的教育内容素质给予监督和确认。三是，自愿性质的“教育信托保障计划”(Edutrust)，逐渐取代现有的 由消费者协会发出的品质认证（CaseTrust for Education）。』——除了最后一项替杨木光的消协免责之外，前面两项有哪样不是原本CaseTrust涵盖的？ 游润恬说：『议员们最不客气的批评之一是这项法案早就该出炉了。例如再努丁（碧山—大巴窑集选区）和潘惜玉（阿裕尼集选区）都异口同声指出政府早该在2003年定下把我国打造成为环球教育枢纽的目标时，就提出这项法案。』——其实，潘惜玉和再努丁都有老人痴呆，当年CaseTrust就是对总理的回应；根据消费者协会主席杨木光在2004年9月9日CaseTrust for Education成立时在经济发展局记者会上的讲话，这是回应2003年李显龙总理在国会里的呼吁，要把新加坡成为环球教育枢纽的一个重大标志。该计划是①新加坡消费者协会、②新加坡经济发展局、③新加坡标 准、生产力与创新局、④新加坡旅游局及⑤新加坡资讯通信发展管理局的合作项目，要求私立教育机构具有透明的收费制度，明晰的学生索赔措施和体系、公开承认 的教学管理品质和训练有素的教学、行政人员。此外获得获得CaseTrust标志的私校在外国学生申请准证的时候，还能获得⑥新加坡移民与关卡局的优先照 顾。 贸工部兼教育部高级政务部长易华仁说：『私营教育机构出现爆炸性扩张，造成私校的教育素质与监管高度失衡，有私校进行不道德作业方式，导致新加坡名誉受损。』——别看部长领百万年薪，政府还真有管不来1000所私校的隐忧！ 易华仁在国会上说：『其 实政府并不是完全没管。它过去几年先后牵头推出了‘新加坡素质级私立教育机构计划’（SQC－PEO）和‘消协保证标志教育服务鉴定计划 ’（CaseTrust for Education）。……后者虽是有意招收外国学生的私校需加入的计划，但是却流于形式，以致一些私校在获得认证后仍是问题频出。……反映了教育部在一 个重要概念上的转变，即它终于承认私校是本地教育生态的一部分，私校教育不再被视为一个与教育部毫无瓜葛，可在自由市场上买卖的商品。……教育部发挥了新 加坡团队的精神，愿意接过贸工部留下的烂摊子，也值得表扬。』——最后一句最值得玩味，因为易华仁就是个“贸工部兼教育部”的高级政务部长 游润恬说：『如果说公共学校是教育部这个大娘生的孩子，那么私立学校过去是被视为以牟利为出发点的业者这个二娘生的孩子。不管是大娘还是二娘的孩子，都一样以新加坡为姓氏，闹丑闻时，丢的都是新加坡的脸。教育部早就该为了顾全新加坡的面子，把私校这个二娘的孩子接过来好好管教。』 其实不管大娘、二娘、小妾生的孩子也好，这妻妾成群的老爷出了错误，都是要别人买单的。CaseTrust出了错，这一大堆机构里面竟没有人可以问责，当然也 没有人头落地。社论还把这些归类为改革、德政（看游润恬写得多兴奋）；那么谁最惨？当然是那些正派私校经营者和无辜的学生。什么叫做重新注册？其实就是多 了一个衙门，再缴一次保护费。那么那些教育部看不上的私校（每所私校都需要设有董事会，由身家清白的人出任成员），要缴保护费都没得缴，校内的外地学生 呢，是不是又要摸一次学校门钉？ 我们这个国度的政府，还有没有反省、问责的空间呢？值得大家深思。 摘自大马论坛  Read More →

From our Correspondent The government's pro-foreigner policy has come under siege again this time at a polytechnic forum where Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community, Youth and Sports is the guest of honor. A male student asked Dr Vivian point-blank in the face why the government is allowing foreigners to compete with Singaporeans for job. The feisty Dr Vivian shot back immediately: "Would Singaporeans be willing to be taxed heavily to support the country's ageing population in 20 years' time? This would be the case if Singapore did not bring in foreign talent." Dr Vivian then proceed to placate the audience with the standard (official) reassurance that the government will continue to safeguard the interests of citizens: "You have a birthright. Everything we do is for your long-term benefit. Foreigners are here to help make Singapore more viable and competitive and to help us create more job and opportunities but it's all about Singaporeans." Dr Vivian did not elaborate more about the "long-term" benefits that Singaporeans have acquired from the government other than the mandatory 2 year National Service for Singapore males. During the dialogue which lasted for more than one hour, Dr Vivian also answered questions on political apathy put by a group of students who proposed that a political education program, along with the continued cultivation of a media landscape would help address the problem. Dr Vivian dismissed the students' proposal altogether by claiming that there was no political apathy among the youths without substantiating them. He also warned against labeling youths as apathetic, saying it was “trendy” to do so. [A classic PAP way of addressing genuine concerns of Singaporeans - by ignoring the existence of the problem in the first place!] As the dialogue drew to a close, Dr Vivian would not fail to notice the restless and dismayed looks on the faces of some students. The PAP government is feeling the heat from the electorate especially on some of its important long-term policies such as the massive influx of foreign talent, rising costs of HDB flats and the non-transparent nature of the way the country's reserves are being managed. It will only be a matter of time before Singaporeans start questioning the inherent deficiencies in the one-party system promulgated by the PAP. EDITORS' NOTE: Dear readers, we have made it easier for you to assess our old articles. Just type www.tremeritus.net/year/month/day and you will be able to read all the articles published on that particular date.  Read More →

From our Correspondent During his recent visit to China, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong met up with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang where they reiterated their committment to foster a strong and stable relationship between China and Singapore. Since 1997, China has been Singapore's top foreign investment destination. For the past 3 years, bilateral trade has been growing by more than 25%, making Singapore the eighth largest investor in China. The entry of China into the WTO and the start of the China-Asean tariff reduction plan on July 20, 2005 have further opened up the Chinese market. This provides more opportunities for Singapore to improve its bilateral trade relationship with China.Bilateral trade between Singapore and China has been flourishing since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990. Mr Deng Xiaoping's Southern Visit to Singapore in 1992 has further cemented relationship with China. In 2005, at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited China. Such frequent high-level visits indicate the importance of the Chinese market to Singapore’s economy.Recent PerformanceSingapore's trade with China reached S$67.08 billion in 2005, an increase of 28.7% over the corresponding period in 2004. A seven-fold growth in Sino-Singapore trade was registered in the last decade, from S$7.6 billion in 1994 to S$53.3 billion in 2004.  Today, China is Singapore's fourth largest trading partner, accounting for 9.4% share of Singapore's total trade, after Malaysia, EU and US. With a cumulative contractual investment value of US$52.98 billion as at 2005, Singapore isChina's 7th largest investor. The number of Chinese firms in Singapore also grew from 509 (1999) to 1,161 (2003). As of Oct 2005, there are also 89 Chinese companies listed in Singapore. From our Correspondent During his recent visit to China, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong met up with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang where they reiterated their committment to foster a strong and stable relationship between China and Singapore. Since 1997, China has been Singapore's top foreign investment destination. For the past 3 years, bilateral trade has been growing by more than 25%, making Singapore the eighth largest investor in China. The entry of China into the WTO and the start of the China-Asean tariff reduction plan on July 20, 2005 have further opened up the Chinese market. This provides more opportunities for Singapore to improve its bilateral trade relationship with China.Bilateral trade between Singapore and China has been flourishing since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990. Mr Deng Xiaoping's Southern Visit to Singapore in 1992 has further cemented relationship with China. In 2005, at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited China. Such frequent high-level visits indicate the importance of the Chinese market to Singapore’s economy.Recent PerformanceSingapore's trade with China reached S$67.08 billion in 2005, an increase of 28.7% over the corresponding period in 2004. A seven-fold growth in Sino-Singapore trade was registered in the last decade, from S$7.6 billion in 1994 to S$53.3 billion in 2004.  Today, China is Singapore's fourth largest trading partner, accounting for 9.4% share of Singapore's total trade, after Malaysia, EU and US. With a cumulative contractual investment value of US$52.98 billion as at 2005, Singapore isChina's 7th largest investor. The number of Chinese firms in Singapore also grew from 509 (1999) to 1,161 (2003). As of Oct 2005, there are also 89 Chinese companies listed in Singapore. Since 1997, China has been Singapore's top foreign investment destination. For the past 3 years, bilateral trade has been growing by more than 25%, making Singapore the eighth largest investor in China. The entry of China into the WTO and the start of the China-Asean tariff reduction plan on July 20, 2005 have further opened up the Chinese market. This provides more opportunities for Singapore to improve its bilateral trade relationship with China. Bilateral trade between Singapore and China has been flourishing since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1990. Mr Deng Xiaoping's Southern Visit to Singapore in 1992 has further cemented relationship with China. In 2005, at the invitation of Premier Wen Jiabao, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong visited China. Such frequent high-level visits indicate the importance of the Chinese market to Singapore’s economy. Recent Performance Singapore's trade with China reached S$67.08 billion in 2005, an increase of 28.7% over the corresponding period in 2004. A seven-fold growth in Sino-Singapore trade was registered in the last decade, from S$7.6 billion in 1994 to S$53.3 billion in 2004.  Today, China is Singapore's fourth largest trading partner, accounting for 9.4% share of Singapore's total trade, after Malaysia, EU and US. With a cumulative contractual investment value of US$52.98 billion as at 2005, Singapore isChina's 7th largest investor. The number of Chinese firms in Singapore also grew from 509 (1999) to 1,161 (2003). As of Oct 2005, there are also 89 Chinese companies listed in Singapore. By The Temasek Review During his recent visit to China, Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong met up with Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang where they reiterated their committment to foster a strong and stable relationship between China and Singapore. Li Keqiang was formerly the CCP party secretary of Liaoning province before he was transferred to the central government. The presence of Li in the Politburo Standing Committee may herald a shift in the government's focus to economic development in China's northeast provinces (dong1 bei3 san1 shen3) When China was set on the path of economic reform in the 1980 by paramount leader Deng Xiaoping, the plan was to open up the coastal regions to foreign trade first leading to the formation of the four Special Economic Zone (SEZs) of Shenzhen, Zhuhai, Shantou and Xiamen. Deng's strategy was to allow a few cities to prosper and get rich first before spreading the growth to the inland provinces to prevent over-heating of the economy and to maintain the CCP's political control and hegemony. For the last 20 years or so, the three northeast provinces of Liaoning, Jilin and Heilongjiang languished in obscurity, burdened by its unproductive giant State-owned Enterprises (SOEs) harking back to the Maoist era which earned them the reputation of being the "rust belt of China". Since 1997, China has been Singapore's top foreign investment destination. For the past 3 years, bilateral trade has been growing by more than 25%, making Singapore the eighth largest investor in China. Today, China is Singapore's fourth largest trading partner, accounting for 9.4% share of Singapore's total trade, after Malaysia, EU and US. With a cumulative contractual investment value of US$52.98 billion as at 2005, Singapore is China's 7th largest investor. Read rest of the article on East Asia Review: http://www.eastasiareview.com/?p=78  Read More →