More students who fall short of the entry score for a degree course can be considered based on their talents in various fields, including the arts and sports. Up to 2,240 university places will be available this year under the discretionary admission (DA) scheme.

The National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU) and Singapore Management University (SMU) will increase the places for the DA scheme, from 10 per cent to 15 per cent of their intake. This translates to about 1,050 places at NUS, 900 at NTU and 290 at SMU.

The total university intake figures for this year are still being finalised, but the Ministry of Education (MOE) said the number of places will increase by a few hundred.

This is in line with the Government's plan to increase the cohort participation rate to 40 per cent by 2020. It means four in 10 pupils from each Primary 1 cohort will go on to pursue a full-time degree in one of Singapore's six publicly funded universities. Last year, 15,500 places were offered and the cohort participation rate rose to 33 per cent, from 32 per cent in 2015.

MOE announced last year that the tertiary institutions, including polytechnics, will place greater emphasis on holistic selection practices for admissions, and said there was room to admit more students through the DA scheme.

With the increase, university officials said they are likely to cast a wider net and shortlist more students under the scheme, which was introduced in 2004. Admission officials use personal essays, aptitude tests, portfolios and interviews to assess students.

NUS provost Tan Eng Chye said the university is likely to shortlist and interview more than 2,000 students this year for admissions under the DA scheme. However, he stressed that applicants would still need good grades.

He said: "At the end of the day, we have to be sure that the student will be able to take the rigours of a degree programme."

SMU provost Lily Kong said the university welcomes the increase as it recognises the value of a student body with diverse interests and talents. Over the years, the university has admitted sportsmen, artists and students with a passion for community service and entrepreneurship.

NTU deputy provost for education Kam Chan Hin said of students admitted under the scheme: "The vast majority are able to cope with their studies, with some performing very well as they are a lot more driven after being admitted into a programme that they are passionate about."

Professor Tan said giving as much as 10 per cent of the places through the DA scheme since 2004 has helped NUS inject more diversity into its student body.

While NUS did not provide figures, the increased diversity is evident in its most competitive faculties, such as law and medicine.

These have, in recent years, accepted more students from polytechnics as well as students from a wider range of junior colleges.

Polytechnic graduate Sean Koh, 25, who was admitted into SMU's information systems degree course, impressed admission officials with his coding skills and experience working in two IT start-ups.

"I had a diploma in real estate and my GPA (grade point average) fell short of the entry score required. If not for the discretionary admission scheme, I would not have had a place in the IT degree course which really interests me, " he said.

sandra@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 20, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

At NTUC FairPrice outlets, it is not uncommon to see products from Singapore brands like Bobo, Khong Guan and Sing Long being prominently displayed.

This is no coincidence but part of a scheme to promote local brands, introduced by Singapore's largest grocery chain in 2009.

The number of local small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) benefiting from this Suppliers Support and Development Programme has gone up by about 30 per cent from 230 in 2012 to 302 last year.

Under this programme, FairPrice invests more than a $1 million a year to offer a 50 per cent discount on product and listing fees and to organise knowledge and networking seminars, said Mr Victor Chai, the chain's director of purchasing and merchandising (fresh and frozen).

In addition, FairPrice pays the firms within a month, instead of the norm of two months.

One of the key concerns of smaller businesses is maintaining a healthy cash flow, said Mr Chai.

"The programme alleviates the firms' financial burden and they can, in turn, use their savings and higher profits to launch a product earlier or invest in technology to boost productivity," he said.

The programme is open to Singapore-owned companies, or foreign companies here which have local employees and local productions or distribution facilities, with an annual turnover of less than $5 million.

Currently, FairPrice, which has more than 140 outlets, carries more than 4,500 local products, making up about 10 per cent of its range.

"We have seen an increase in awareness and support for locally produced goods grow over the years," Mr Chai said.

Sing Long Foodstuff, which has been supplying FairPrice since 1983, is one of the SMEs that has seen business grow since joining the scheme in 2012.

The scheme has reduced the need for Sing Long to take bank loans and this has helped it to save on interest costs.

Its managing director, Mr Ng Chin Nyan, said: "We are able to use the savings to invest in technology and manpower to tackle challenges, and to scale up the business."

His business has grown 6 per cent year on year since 2012.

Sing Long hopes to expand overseas and is looking to groom talent.

It currently exports to countries like Malaysia, Australia and Canada, but hopes to also open factories in neighbouring countries.

Association of Small & Medium Enterprises president Kurt Wee said SMEs are capable of manufacturing house-brand products, which tend to be no-frills products, and should be roped in more.

He said: "The initiative is welcome and useful. The help in cash flow is extremely good, because it is material to SMEs."

FairPrice's Mr Chai is happy to do his bit to help local products.

"I am proud that our locally made products are able to stand shoulder to shoulder with international brands in terms of quality and value, and I am happy to support them," he said, adding that his own kitchen is also stocked with goods from these SMEs, from oil to coffee and eggs.

30%
The number of local SMEs benefiting from the Suppliers Support and Development Programme has risen by about 30 per cent from 230 in 2012 to 302 last year.

$1m
Under the programme, FairPrice invests more than $1 million a year to provide a 50 per cent discount on product and listing fees and to organise knowledge and networking seminars.

jalmsab@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 20, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

After struggling with pain from a torn ligament for two weeks, Mr Gerry Gewi turned up at the accident and emergency (A&E) department of Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH).

The 37-year-old could not walk and had little faith in physiotherapy.

But the A&E doctor told him it was a good option for him, and the hospital activated senior physiotherapist Jason Loh, who was on standby.

Instead of being warded or sent home with painkillers, Mr Gewi had his foot massaged by Mr Loh, who got the blood flowing before asking him to put weight on it.

"I walked and it was a good feeling," Mr Gewi said.

"I was wheeled into the hospital, but I walked out."

The Singapore General Hospital (SGH) and the National University Hospital (NUH) have also opted to have physiotherapists on call for patients in the A&E department.

Physiotherapists at TTSH treated over 900 patients under this A&E programme between June 2015 and October last year.

The corresponding figure for SGH, which started the service in 2012, is around 3,500, while the NUH team sees about two or three elderly patients every day.

At TTSH and SGH, doctors first assess patients who have pain in their muscles and bones, or with symptoms like dizziness and vertigo, indicators of a relatively common inner-ear problem that a physiotherapist can resolve.

If necessary, the doctors refer these patients to the physiotherapist on duty for treatment.

The NUH programme is similar, although it focuses on elderly patients.

Said NUH emergency medicine specialist Sim Tiong Beng: "As a result, these patients can be discharged from the department safely on the same day, unlike in the past when they would have been admitted for such services."

Mr Loh said the patient benefits from having immediate treatment.

"When someone who sprains his ankle does not use his leg for two weeks, it stiffens and the muscle starts to waste. It's harder to undo what has already been done."

Getting physiotherapists involved in treating such uncomplicated cases also frees up doctors' time, said Ms Jennifer Liaw, who heads SGH's physiotherapy department.

"Many who are afflicted with sudden back pains and the like may need only some form of physiotherapy before being discharged from the A&E," she added.

"Expediting their care at that point also allows emergency medicine doctors to devote time to those with more serious conditions."

Having a physiotherapist on standby also means patients do not have to wait two to three weeks for an outpatient appointment.

The experts stressed that as a general rule, people should see a polyclinic doctor or general practitioner first, and not go straight to the A&E department.

linettel@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on February 20, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

The issue of Chinese students in the handful of Special Assistance Plan (SAP) schools, first set up about 35 years ago, having few or no friends of other races has often been highlighted. But this has also been discussed at other non-SAP schools with a strong Chinese tradition, like Hwa Chong Institution's junior college section, which are open to students of all races and usually do not require them to take Chinese as a mother tongue.

As far back as the 1990s, the college's head of English said some non-Chinese students did not choose Hwa Chong because they had the impression that it was Chinese in its orientation. "This is a (vicious circle). If the minority students do not come, they will never be able to explain what we offer and the image will remain, rightly or wrongly," he added.

The Straits Times understands there are fewer than 10 Indian and Malay students in Hwa Chong Institution's JC2 cohort of about 1,000 students, despite past attempts by the school to attract more.

At Nanyang Junior College, there are an estimated 50 to 100 non-Chinese in the JC2 cohort of about 700 students.

ST speaks to three non-Chinese students who had attended such schools about their experiences.

He learnt to mingle and picked up Mandarin

When Mr Shaik Nifael Shaik Nazeemuddin found out in 2003 that his secondary school posting was to Nan Chiau High School, one of Singapore's oldest Chinese schools, he cried.

It was not so much that it was his fourth choice, but more because its name rhymes with a certain Hokkien word.

"My older cousins were bothering me about it, and I couldn't take it as a 12-year-old," said Mr Shaik, who is now 27 and co-owns a waste management business.

Mr Shaik - who has Indian, Malay and Peranakan roots - wanted to get a transfer out of the school, but his businessman father told him to give it a try before making a decision.

Mr Shaik said: "He said I would get better development with the Chinese community, and that I would be more open-minded about being in business.

"When my father first started his business, he got cheated here and there. He told me to study hard and also make connections with people in school."

When Mr Shaik first went to Nan Chiau, he had a culture shock at just how much Mandarin was used in school.

Though the school was designated a Special Assistance Plan (SAP) school only nine years later, in 2012, it already had a strong Chinese culture before that.

"The school song was in Mandarin, we took the pledge in Mandarin... I felt very alienated when I found out," said Mr Shaik.

There were fewer than 10 non-Chinese students in his cohort, Mr Shaik said. Five were in his Malay-language mother tongue class, and there were another two who took Tamil classes at another school.

But he summed up his experience at Nan Chiau as an "an eye-opener".

"If you can't beat them, join them," said Mr Shaik.

He picked up Mandarin, took part in three co-curricular activities - including track and field, and debate - and got used to the unfamiliar environment.

"Of course, there were some upper secondary kids who would pick on the non-Chinese kids. I was a short boy, and an easy target... but I learnt how to mingle and not be around non-Chinese kids all the time."

Looking back, he said he has no regrets about being in a predominantly Chinese school.

In fact, his three business partners are friends he made at Nan Chiau. "When I found friends, I managed to find real friends," said Mr Shaik.

He also benefited from the school's traditionally strict discipline. He said: "I was a very naughty student... but I was taught how to tell right from wrong."

Could the school have done more to attract minority students, before it became a SAP school that admitted only Express students who take Chinese or Higher Chinese as a mother tongue language?

"The school was open to students of all races, but it is the students' choice at the end of the day. They did not want to choose the school because they probably thought that it would be filled with only Chinese students."

But Mr Shaik said the parents of students who feel this way should encourage their children to try something different.

"They shouldn't be too worried about what may happen, and let them find their own way."

An 'oddity', but he didn't feel alienated

Back when Mr Tinesh Indrarajah was a first-year junior college (JC) student at Hwa Chong Institution (HCI) in 2011, a school visitor was puzzled when they met.

"He asked me: Are you Indian? What are you doing in this school?" recalled Mr Tinesh, 23, now a master's student at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and concurrently a fourth-year undergraduate at Yale-NUS College.

Mr Tinesh's response was: "Why wouldn't I be in this school? Because the school is good and I can get into it."

However, he acknowledged that his presence in the school was indeed an oddity.

Students from the secondary section of HCI and Nanyang Girls' High School - both Special Assistance Plan schools - form the bulk of HCI students at the JC level as they are admitted via the Integrated Programme.

But those who want to enrol at the JC level usually do not have to take Chinese language as a mother tongue.

Mr Tinesh - an ASEAN scholarship holder from Malaysia who attended Bukit Panjang Government High School before HCI - said the small number of non-Chinese students in his cohort showed that stereotypes continue to deter students from other races from joining schools like HCI, which are perceived as predominantly Chinese.

In his cohort of around 1,000 students, fewer than 10 were non-Chinese.

As a scholarship holder, he had different considerations when it came to choosing a JC. Since he was already living at HCI's boarding school while in secondary school, and was also familiar with the community, going to HCI made sense.

"I already knew some of the seniors who were there, I had a good support network and I liked the school culture," he said.

However, what could deter others from choosing the school is the fear of being in the minority.

"There is a natural fear that if you don't see yourself being represented in the environment, you will think that you may face a hard time or even be alone."

But Mr Tinesh, who enjoyed his two years in HCI, did not find that a problem.

While there are cultural events where Chinese songs are used, such as during the Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations, he did not find them alienating.

"I was happy to take part and learn about another culture," he said, adding that it would be beneficial for the school if there was more minority representation.

"When I was at HCI, there were a few people who came up to me and told me that I was the first Indian friend that they could really connect with, or their first non-Chinese friend."

yuensin@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 20, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

SINGAPORE - Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat delivered his second Budget speech in Parliament on Monday (Feb 20), where he unveiled various measures aimed at helping businesses, workers and Singaporean households amid a tough economic climate.

Outlining the Government's budget position, Mr Heng said that a smaller budget surplus of S$1.9 billion, or 0.4 per cent of GDP, is expected this year.

In total, the Government will be providing additional support of over $850 million this year to help households with their expenses, though Mr Heng also stressed the need for growing revenues to fund increasing expenditure.

Here are five measures that are likely to affect Singaporeans directly.

1. This affects everyone: Water prices will increase by 30% over two years

Water prices are set to increase by 30 per cent in two phases starting July 1, 2017.

Mr Heng explained that prices needed to reflect the rising costs of producing water. The Government's efforts in building more desalination and NEWater plants have also made water more costly.

He added that for 75 per cent of households, the increase in monthly water bills will be less than $18 from July 2018. However, the Government will introduce measures to help lower and middle-class income households offset this increase.

This is the first time in 17 years that water prices have been revised.

2. Increase in GST Voucher rebate and new Personal Income Tax rebate

To offset the increase in water prices, there will be a permanent increase in the GST Voucher - Utilities-Save (U-Save) rebate for eligible HDB households.

The increases will range from $40 to $120 depending on the HDB flat type.

Lower-income households will also receive a one-off GST Voucher - Cash Special Payment of up to $200.

To help residents with tax bills, there will be a Personal Income Tax Rebate of 20 per cent of tax payable, capped at $500, for income earned in 2016.

The Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebate will also be extended. Eligible households will get 1.5 to 3.5 months of S&CC rebates this year.

3. This affects first-time home buyers: CPF Housing Grant increase

Couples who are buying a resale flat for their first HDB home will receive more subsidies from the Government.

First-timer couples who buy resale flats that are 4-room or smaller will get $50,000, up from the current $30,000.

Those buying resale flats that are 5-room or larger will receive $40,000, also up from $30,000.

4. If you're thinking of buying a motorcycle: Additional Registration Fees up

Motorcycle riders may soon need to pay higher taxes on their vehicles, following the introduction of a tiered Additional Registration Fee (ARF) system.

At present, all motorcycles incur an ARF of 15 per cent of their open market value (OMV).

But with the new system, the ARF for motorcycles with OMV of up to $5,000 will remain at 15 per cent, the next $5,000 will incur ARF of 50 per cent, while the remaining value over $10,000 will be subject to an ARF rate of 100 per cent.

The tiered ARF will apply to motorcycles registered from the second certificate of entitlement (COE) bidding exercise in Feb 2017.

However, Mr Heng noted that more than half of new motorcycle buyers will not be affected by the new system.

He added that the Transport Ministry will stop the contribution of motorcycle COE quota to the open category, as very few have been used to register motorcycles.

5. If you're a student: More bursaries for post-secondary education

Annual bursaries will rise up to $400 more for undergraduates, up to $350 for diploma students and up to $200 for students in the Institute of Technical Education (ITE).

Mr Heng added that existing bursaries already "more than cover" the course fees for ITE students.

Other than increasing bursary amounts, the income eligibility criteria will also be revised, enabling about 12,000 more Singaporean students to benefit and bringing the total number of beneficiaries to 71,000.

debwong@sph.com.sg

seanyap@sph.com.sg

A Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) regular serviceman has died, after losing consciousness while having his own physical training in Nee Soon Camp this morning (Feb 20).

The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said in a statement that the serviceman collapsed at 8:05am, and resuscitative efforts were administered immediately.

He was conveyed from Nee Soon Camp Medical Centre to Khoo Teck Puat Hospital via SAF ambulance, but was pronounced dead at 9.02am.

A spokesperson for Mindef said: "The Ministry of Defence and the SAF extend their deepest condolences to the family of the late serviceman. The SAF is assisting the family in their time of grief."

ljessica@sph.com.sg

SINGAPORE - An unusual rainbow, said to be a rare fire rainbow, caught the eye of residents in several parts of Singapore on Monday (Feb 20) afternoon.

In photos sent to The Straits Times, the paddle pop-coloured rainbow is seen peeking behind a cloud, against a blue sky.

National serviceman Aaron Toh, 23, told ST that he had been by the pool at Bishan 8 Condominium at about 5pm when he saw "a very bright orange glow" in the sky.

"But it wasn't the sun. I didn't know what it was," he said.

The glow later turned into a rainbow which he took photos of. It lasted for about 15 minutes, said Mr Toh.

Photography enthusiast Scott Cheng, a 16-year-old student, was taking pictures of the sky from his home at Bishan Street 25 when he saw the rainbow.

"It looked very weird," he told ST.

Netizens picked up on the ethereal sight, with some of them saying it could be a rare fire rainbow.

Fire rainbows are known as circumhorizontal arcs in technical terms, and are caused by light passing through cirrus clouds at high altitudes.

It could also be an iridescent cloud, which is a rainbow-like effect in clouds when light passes through tiny ice crystals or water droplets and is diffracted.

This article was first published on FEB 20, 2017.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Buzzwords such as "adaptability", "innovation" and "partnership" were used frequently throughout Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat's Budget speech earlier today.

Delivering his second ever Budget speech, Minister Heng emphasised the need to build capabilities and partnerships to foster an innovative and connected economy.

Describing enterprises as the "heart of vibrant economies", he talked about the importance for our enterprises to develop deep capabilities in order to stay competitive and grow. To achieve this, businesses need to use digital technology, embrace innovation, and scale up, he added.

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

Here are the key highlights of Budget 2017 that are especially relevant to SMEs and startups:

1. The government will enhance 'Adapt and Grow'. This initiative was launched last year to help workers looking to take on new jobs. Wage and training support provided under the Career Support Programme, the Professional Conversion Programme and the Work Trial Programme will be increased. An "Attach and Train" initiative will also be introduced to secure attachments, rather than full-time positions, for workers to train themselves for jobs of the future.

2. The Wage Credit Scheme will continue to help firms cope with rising wages. More than $600 million are expected to be paid out to businesses next month, and roughly 70 per cent of this amount will be to SMEs.

3. The Special Employment Credit will continue to provide employers with support for the wages of older workers till 2019. More than $300 million, which will benefit 370,000 workers, will be paid out in FY2017.

4. The SME Working Capital Loan, where the Government co-shares 50 per cent of the default risk for loans of up to $300,000 per SME, will be available for the next two years. Minister Heng shared that this initiative has seen good take-up since its inception in June 2016. More than $700 million of loans have been catalysed so far, which means that 2,000 or so SMEs have benefited from this.

5. The Government will enhance the Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rebate by raising the cap from $20,000 to $25,000 for YA2017. The rebate will remain at 50 per cent of tax payable. The CIT rebate will be extended for another year to YA2018, at a reduced rate of 20 per cent of tax payable, capped at $10,000. The enhancement and extension will cost an additional $310 million over YA2017 and YA2018.

6. The Additional Special Employment Credit will provide more support for firms hiring older workers. The re-employment age will be raised from 65 to 67 years, with effect from 1 July 2017. To encourage employers to continue hiring workers who are not covered, this initiative will be extended till end-2019. Under this scheme, employers will receive wage offsets of up to 3 per cent for workers who earn under $4,000 per month, and those who are not covered by the new re-employment age. Employers will receive support of up to 11 per cent for the wages of their eligible older workers. This extension will benefit about 120,000 workers and 55,000 employers, and will cost about $160 million.

7. SMEs Go Digital Programme will help SMEs to build digital capabilities. SMEs will get technology advice at each stage of their growth through the sectoral Industry Digital Plans. Sectors where digital technology can significantly improve productivity such as retail and food services will start first. SMEs will also get in-person help at SME Centres and a new SME Technology Hub that will be set up by the Info-communications Media Development Authority (IMDA). SMEs that are ready to pilot emerging ICT solutions can also receive advice and funding support. More than $80 million will be made available for these programmes.

8. A*STAR Operation and Technology Road-mapping. A*STAR currently works with firms to conduct operation and technology road-mapping to identify how technology can help them innovate and compete. A*STAR will expand its efforts to support 400 companies over the next four years.

9. A*STAR Headstart Programme allows SMEs to co-develop Intellectual Property with A*STAR to enjoy royalty-free and exclusive licenses for 18 months in the first instance. In response to industry feedback, this will be extended to 36 months. For companies seeking access to intellectual property, Intellectual Property Intermediary, a SPRING affiliate, matches them with IP that meets their needs. It will work with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) to analyse and bundle complementary IP from Singapore and overseas.

10. A*STAR Tech Access Initiative supports companies in the use of advanced machine tools for prototyping and testing, which may require costly specialised equipment. A*STAR will provide access to such equipment, user training and advice under this initiative.

11. The Government will commit up to $600 million for a new International Partnership Fund. The Fund will co-invest with Singapore-based firms to help them scale-up and internationalise, he explains. This could be game-changing for local companies looking to grow through acquisitions overseas.

12. SkillsFuture Leadership Development Initiative aims to groom Singaporean leaders by expanding leadership development programmes. This includes sending promising individuals on specialised courses and overseas postings. For a start, the programme will target 800 potential leaders over three years.

13. A Global Innovation Alliance will be set up for Singaporeans to gain overseas experience, build networks and collaborate with their counterparts in other innovative cities. It will have three programmes: Innovators Academy for tertiary students, Innovation Launchpads for entrepreneurs, and Welcome Centres for innovative foreign companies. The Alliance will be initially launched in Beijing, San Francisco and various ASEAN countries.

14. Increased accessibility of training for all Singaporeans. To enhance training that is more accessible, the Government will offer more short, modular courses, and expand the use of e-learning. Funding support for Singaporeans to take approved courses will continue to be available through SkillsFuture. In addition, union members can get subsidies for selected courses through the NTUC-Education and Training Fund. $150 million has been set aside to match donations to the Fund.

15. National Jobs Bank will be made more useful for jobseekers and employers, as it works with private placement firms to deliver better job matching services for professionals. Employers and Trade Associations and Chambers (TACs) are also encouraged to develop training programmes for their workers and the industry so as to receive funding support from SkillsFuture Singapore.

16. Industry Transformation Maps brings together TACs, unions, and the Government to transform each sector. 23 sectors have been identified, covering 80 per cent of the economy. Six has been launched so far, and the remaining 17 will be launched in FY2017.

17. The Government will top up the National Research Fund by $500 million to support innovation efforts, while the National Productivity Fund will be topped up by another $1 billion to support industry transformation. $2.4 billion will be set aside over the next four years to implement the CFE strategies.

Not a one-size-fits-all approach

As Minister Heng laid out the measures for our economy and society, he mentioned that it is important for Singapore to take on a "learning and adaptive approach" - to try new methods, continue with them when they work well, cut losses when they do not, and draw on feedback and experience to adjust and refine the plans.

"That is the Singapore way", he added.

So this concludes the round-up of the most important announcements regarding SMEs and the startup ecosystem in Singapore.

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Some Singaporeans waited with bated breath on what the Budget 2017 will hold for them (more like, what GST vouchers they will get).

Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat delivered his second Budget speech in Parliament yesterday (Feb 20), where he unveiled various measures aimed at helping businesses, workers and Singaporean households amid a tough economic climate.

But the one thing that seemed to have stood out most for our comrades in the online world of Twitter was the water price hike.

Water prices will increase by 30 per cent over two years in two phases starting July 1, 2017.

Mr Heng explained that prices needed to reflect the rising costs of producing water.

This is also the first time in 17 years that water prices have been revised.

In an interview with Channel NewsAsia, Member of Parliament for Nee Soon GRC, Dr Lee Bee Wah said "the increase in water prices is just to bring up awareness of the importance of water."

That did not sit well with some Twitter users who, then, gave their versions on how we can save water.

Well-known blogger Mr Brown @mrbrown shared an idea:

Twitter user Soh Hong Wei @hwsoh also contributed his thoughts:

Twitter user @kingofkows gave a suggestion:

Author and newspaper columnist Neil Humphreys @NeilHumphreys also chipped in:

Twitter user Tanvi Arora @tanviarora03 shared Singapore's possible future:

And Twitter user Joe @PhantomNuts asked a valid question:

While Twitter user Ira Alif Syabil @liverpool_98 pointed out other more pressing concerns:

Photographer Juraimi Sungip @librus17 probably summed up what some may be feeling:

Perhaps now with the announcement and social media reactions, Singaporeans are more aware of our country's water concerns. And that way, we will learn to save more water which will ultimately equal to saving more money for ourselves in the long run.

spanaech@sph.com.sg

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2017-02-21 11:48:42

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Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat receives warm welcome back in Parliament

Source:

The Straits Times

In the nine months since Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat collapsed during a Cabinet meeting in May last year, Parliament has sat seven times - and yesterday's Budget 2017 sitting was as keenly anticipated for his return as it was for the Government's spending plans.

With a sweeping, confident wave, he signalled it was business as usual yesterday as he entered with his characteristically purposeful stride of old into Parliament House to deliver the Budget speech.

Mr Heng was making his first appearance in the House after suffering a stroke from a burst aneurysm on May 12 last year. Some had wondered then if he would be able to recover and deliver another Budget this year.

So, as he made his way to the rostrum from his seat in the front row, it was clear the House was happy to see him back. Even before he began to speak, a loud thumping broke out spontaneously as Members of Parliament from both sides of the aisle tapped the armrests of their chairs in welcome.

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

A grin spread across his face as he looked around to acknowledge his colleagues, and asked: "Before I begin the Budget statement, may I express my deepest thanks to the House?" Of course, he could.

As he went on to thank Speaker of Parliament Halimah Yacob, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and members of the House for their get-well wishes when he was not well, a palpable feeling of goodwill swept the gathering. The minister, who appeared to have gained weight since giving his first public interview in December, continued: "Thank you also to all friends and colleagues, the residents of Tampines, fellow Singaporeans and friends from overseas. Your kindness and encouragement are both humbling and uplifting to me and my family. I am happy to be back in the chamber and grateful for the opportunity to continue alongside members of this House to serve Singapore and Singaporeans to the best of our ability."

Although Mr Heng returned to work at the Finance Ministry last August, he has mostly stayed away from public events on the advice of his doctor, as his lungs were still recovering from an infection picked up in hospital.

Read also: Budget 2017: Lack of 'goodies' to attract foreign investors

Still, the road to recovery after a stroke is not an easy one, let alone for a man in charge of a country's finances. But any concerns were dispelled as, appearing relaxed and steady, Mr Heng outlined the Government's financial plans and policies for the year.

For 11/2 hours, he spoke without a break, stopping briefly for a drink of water only when materials were being handed out to MPs.

In the even, purposeful manner with which he delivered his first Budget a year ago, he explained how the policies would address the immediate concerns of Singaporeans and companies, while laying the groundwork for a rapidly changing world.

Read also: Budget 2017: What startups and SMEs need to know

At the end of his speech, a relieved House burst into thumps again. Heng Swee Keat was back.

Said Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland- Bukit Timah GRC): "He was more relaxed (than during last year's Budget), and he paced it very nicely and delivered it very smoothly."

Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Chua Chu Kang GRC) said some people wondered if Mr Heng had intentionally spoken for a shorter time this year. His maiden Budget speech as Finance Minister last year lasted over two hours. But Mr Zaqy said the length had more to do with there being no "major blockbuster announcements".

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Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat receives warm welcome back in Parliament

Source:

The Straits Times

Political observer Zulkifli Baharudin said many would have been watching for the slightest pause or sign of strain. "People want to be confident that he can carry on in the job and do it well," he said. He added: "It is not just about him, it is about how Singapore keeps to its word that it will always pick the best person for the job, so if he had shown signs he was not up to it, people would have lost confidence."

Former Nominated MP and law don Eugene Tan said Mr Heng had been able to sustain his energy level throughout the session. "You look at his posture, his voice, his demeanour, no one would have suspected that he had suffered a stroke."

He pointed out that next week's Budget debate will be a lot more demanding for Mr Heng, as MPs typically make about 50 speeches.

This article was first published on Feb 21, 2017.
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Many cabbies are throwing in the towel but new taxi company HDT Singapore Taxi is hoping to lure them back by offering fixed salaries and employment benefits such as annual leave and Central Provident Fund (CPF) contributions.

The scheme to treat drivers as full-time employees instead of renters appears to be taking off. Since the all-electric taxi operator hit the road last October, it has recruited drivers for all its current 50 cabs.

HDT managing director James Ng told The Straits Times last week: "Although people say that taxis are a dead business, we look at it in a different way. Our employment scheme provides a realistic alternative to taxi drivers."

Of the company's approach, he said: "For us, it's about managing the revenue line. Our assets are not the cars but the drivers."

The other five taxi operators, which run a total of 27,500 cabs, rent out their taxis at a daily rate that can be as high as $130 a day for a saloon model. Cabbies keep whatever fares they earn.

HDT's cabbies get a basic gross income of $1,900 a month, including CPF contributions, which can go up to $2,800 with overtime. Their pay can go progressively higher with higher revenue targets. If $8,500 is achieved, for example, the gross salary rises to $4,300.

Besides street hails, HDT cabbies also get customers from bookings via ride-hailing app Grab, with which HDT has partnered.

The fare takings from all revenue streams are retained by HDT but its drivers do not pay a rental fee and get to keep any Grab incentives.

HDT cabby Michael Ng, 52, said he takes about three weeks, driving about 12 hours a day and six days a week, to hit the $7,500 target. With that, he gets $3,200 in gross salary. "I'll usually take Sunday off. And I don't have to worry about paying rental," said Mr Ng, who has been a cabby for 10 years.

HDT also provides annual and medical leave, and free charging of the China-made electric cabs at 40 charging points it has built, which will grow to 57 by early next month.

With fixed salaries and benefits, HDT's Mr Ng is "confident" it can recruit more drivers to fill the 100 cabs it intends to have by June, even as other operators are struggling to rent out their vehicles.

National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der Horng said it remains to be seen if HDT's business model is sustainable. "The fleet is still small, and they are able to attract sufficient drivers for now," he added.

Many taxi drivers said they still prefer renting their cabs. A cabby who wanted to be known only as John, 56, said: "It's not that easy to hit $7,500... It's still better to rent a taxi, and I have the flexibility of how much I want to work daily."

Read also: HDT Singapore Taxi's all-electric cabs may hit the roads soon
LTA removes requirement for taxi drivers to clock a daily minimum mileage

This article was first published on Feb 21, 2017.
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Singapore, a Southeast Asian city state whose early economic progress was closely tied to investments from foreign multinationals, presented a budget on Monday that has few incentives to draw more of such investors, one tax expert said.

Speaking to CNBC's "Rundown" on Tuesday, PwC Singapore's tax leader Chris Woo said the absence of such big-bang tax measures could mean that Singapore is feeling comfortable with its position amid an increasingly competitive tax environment.

"It's interesting to see there isn't anything spectacular that would grab the attention of the foreign investors. Last night in the US time or European time, if someone was looking to invest in Singapore or was waiting for goodies in the budget, there weren't really any big goodies for these multinationals outside Singapore to attract them to Singapore," said Woo.

"Singapore, at this stage of global tax competitiveness, believes that it's at a good position at the moment. There could be some tweaks later on. Singapore of course has a very substantial incentive regime… it appears to be that Singapore is investing for the long term," he added.

The city state's low tax regime and its current tax incentives to lure multinationals has come under the spotlight in recent years. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development's global initiative has worked to close the gap in international tax rules that allow companies to artificially shift profits across borders.

The OECD's initiative is known as the Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) project.

"The BEPS project seeks to ensure that companies are taxed where substantive economic activities are performed. Singapore supports this principle. We are, in consultation with businesses, refining our schemes and implementing the relevant standards," Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Monday while delivering his budget speech.

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

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Budget 2017: Heng Swee Keat receives warm welcome back in Parliament

Source:

The Straits Times

Ajay Sanganeria, tax partner at KPMG in Singapore, said in a note that the country's compliance to the BEPS initiative enhances its reputation as a legitimate place to do business.

"Singapore will definitely stand out as a low tax yet BEPS-compliant market to [multinational corporations] looking for jurisdictions in which to invest," he said.

Today, even as the country increases its focus on building local capabilities, it continues to work on attracting foreign companies with its Economic Development Board targeting to draw between S$8 billion and S$10 billion in investments this year.

On Monday, Heng unveiled an annual Budget statement that featured strategies to tackle a rapidly changing economic climate and advances in technology. Among measures announced by Heng include help for local companies and workers to gain capabilities, higher corporate tax rebate and a new carbon tax.

For the fiscal year starting in April 2017, Singapore's expenditure is expected to grow by S$3.7 billion from a year ago to S$75.1 billion with an overall surplus of S$1.9 billion, down from the previous year's S$5.2 billion.

While many observers lauded the budget as being expansionary and inclusive, some questioned the lack of assistance to smaller companies, who are grappling with rising business costs.

Kurt Wee, president of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association, said on CNBC's "Squawk Box" that rising costs are a concern flagged by the community over the last three to four years, but there have not been sufficient measures to address that.

"You've got labour cost that's quite a bit of pressure on businesses, you've got rental cost, compliance cost… In the near term, you're going to see levies going up, we don't see many cost measures that are going to help SMEs in this climate," he said.

Read also: Budget 2017: What startups and SMEs need to know

The market for taxi and taxi-like services has doubled since private-hire car services Uber and Grab began operating here in 2013.

Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan told Parliament yesterday that these private-hire services have now claimed about half the market for point-to-point transportation services.

This comes as the total number of taxi trips has remained relatively stable, with only a slight drop from an average of 967,000 trips daily in 2013 to 954,000 trips daily last year, he said.

"That means that the new players have been meeting new demand or unmet demand," he said, in response to Mr Gan Thiam Poh (Ang Mo Kio GRC).

Mr Gan had asked if the Transport Ministry would control the private-hire car population, citing concerns that the expansion of private-hire car services could drive up certificate of entitlement (COE) premiums.

Demand from Uber and Grab has fuelled an increase in the rental car population over the last two years.

There are now about 53,000 rental cars in Singapore, compared with around 29,000 in 2015.

Mr Khaw said his ministry will leave the growth of private-hire cars to market forces and monitor the situation.

New services that apply innovative business models and improve the commuting experience should not be stifled, he added.

"The best approach I think is to let Singaporeans decide," he said.

Referring to a recent survey conducted by the Public Transport Council, he said commuters expressed greater satisfaction with Uber and Grab compared with taxis in areas such as customer service and waiting times.

However, he noted that satisfaction with taxi services also went up between 2015 and 2016, due to taxi operators ramping up efforts to improve service in the face of competition from Uber and Grab.

"So in this particular space, competition has been good," he said.

On private-hire car services affecting COE premiums, Mr Khaw said the evidence "does not suggest" premiums are going up as a result of private-hire car services.

He said the bids submitted during each cycle were "more or less" at the market rate, and that private-hire car firms were "not being particularly aggressive" in bidding.

This article was first published on Feb 21, 2017.
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Mrs Rosa Huey Daniel will be the new chief executive officer of the National Arts Council (NAC), the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY) announced yesterday.

The 53-year-old will take on the role from March 1.

NAC deputy CEO Paul Tan is currently the covering CEO, after Ms Kathy Lai completed her tenure at the council on Oct 31 last year.

Mrs Daniel has been in public service for more than 30 years and has been posted to various ministries. As the current deputy secretary (culture) in MCCY, she oversees policy formulation and implementation in the arts and cultural sector.

She was involved in major developments in the sector, including the opening of the National Gallery Singapore, the setting up of Arts House Limited to run the Singapore International Festival of Arts, and the launch of the Cultural Matching Fund, which encourages private cash donations to arts and heritage charities and Institutions of a Public Character by matching them dollar for dollar.

The release by MCCY noted that Mrs Daniel "has a strong interest in arts and heritage, and a strong ability to connect with diverse stakeholders" .

It also stated that her concurrent appointment in MCCY would "provide greater synergy between the ministry's role in shaping the wider cultural and heritage landscape, and NAC's role in taking the Singapore arts scene forward".

Mrs Daniel will continue as CEO of the National Heritage Board and will oversee the completion of its key projects until a new chief executive is appointed.

nabilahs@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on Feb 21, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - Every Tuesday and Wednesday night, a long queue of migrant workers forms outside a small clinic in Geylang. They are here for the low-cost medical care.

Consultation is free for special pass holders while work permit holders pay $5. The clinic is run by non-profit organisation HealthServe, with the help of volunteer doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals.

A doctor at the Institute of Mental Health, Dr Joshua Lam currently volunteers twice a month at the clinic.

"I decided to volunteer for HealthServe because I wanted to play a part for migrant workers after seeing them at the polyclinics where I used to work. I know that they are always hesitant to seek treatment because of the cost, given that they are non-residents," said Dr Lam, who is single.

The 30-year-old started volunteering at HealthServe in July 2015 and sees around 15 to 20 patients a night.

HealthServe was founded in 2006 in order to provide affordable healthcare services to migrant workers.

In 2015, it provided medical consultation for 4,618 workers and helped nearly 500 on their workplace injury or salary/contractual issues.

The migrant workers come primarily from China, Bangladesh and India.

In this episode of video series Heroes Among Us, Dr Lam talks about his experiences helping the workers at the organisation.

This article was first published on FEB 19, 2017.
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Spelling and grammar mistakes are aplenty on the internet.

For most of us, committing a boo-boo as such can be a slightly embarrassing affair (mostly drawing jibes from close friends), but for an account with a decent following, such errors can spell - pun intended - someone's job being put on the line for the slip of hand or mind.

Regardless, these very public mistakes are usually spotted by and harped on by netizens and publications alike, and most recently, Pentel Singapore was the new butt of jokes.

Two days ago, this Facebook post by the Singapore arm of the stationery-maker got much attention for all the wrong reasons.

Glaring grammatical errors aside, the post itself didn't conform to any definition of exciting, but it has since been shared 172 times so far, and covered by online publications like Mothership and SGAG (and now us as well).

The comments section is also rife with (pretty hilarious) jibes at the bad English, spurring Pentel Singapore themselves to address the situation:

Fair enough.

However, two days on, the mistake still mysteriously remains.

To give them the benefit of the doubt, let's just assume that they're not entirely active on their Facebook page (though they could have corrected the error when they posted the comment).

Not exactly.

While we appreciate that little plug for their erasers, there's yet another grammatical error in a post promising to not have any more of said errors.

And yes, the mistake on the 18 Feb post still remains as well.

But given that Pentel is (fortunately?) not a company whose main business is selling educational courses or anything that would require good grammar, their sales probably won't decline after this incident.

In fact, the buzz garnered by this fiasco might have actually drawn even more attention to their products than usual.

No one can really say for sure the exact intentions of their social media team (or even the lack of one), but hey, if they wanted hype - they certainly got it.

Vulcan Post is all about living life with a digital edge, up and coming startups, and people who inspire conversations.
Visit Vulcan Post for more stories.

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25 hilarious mistakes made in news

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SINGAPORE - A 28-year-old woman who was allegedly drunk drove a stolen lorry along Orchard Road in the early hours of Tuesday (Feb 21) morning.

Facebook user Edwin Teo said in a post on Tuesday that the woman took a lorry for a joy ride from Orchard Towers.

According to Mr Teo, she hit his bus, as well as taxis and a few cars on the way.

Mr Teo, a 32-year-old private bus driver, told The Straits Times on Tuesday that he had been in his car with a friend near Orchard Towers when he saw a woman try to open the door of a car.

It was locked, so she tried the door of the lorry. The lorry driver had left the door unlocked and was out for deliveries.

"She managed to open the door so she drove off," said Mr Teo.

She was swerving all over the road, he said, and hit at least five vehicles, spilling goods from the lorry on the road.

The driver returned and chased after the woman, getting into Mr Teo's car. The police later arrived and arrested the woman, he said. The ordeal lasted for under 30 minutes.

The police told The Straits Times that they were alerted to a case of motor vehicle theft at 4.56am on Tuesday.

The 28-year-old woman was arrested in relation to the case. ST understands that no one was injured.

Police investigations are ongoing.

This article was first published on Feb 21, 2017.
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SINGAPORE - The reaction by a teacher disciplining his student was 'inappropriate', the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) College West principal Dr Goh Mong Song said in a statement to the media on Wednesday.

A video of the incident, which happened one year ago, has been circulating on Facebook with over 230,000 views and 4,700 shares after it was uploaded on Tuesday (Feb 21).

The video, which was supposedly filmed by a student, shows the teacher peering over a student's shoulder as the latter stares at his laptop. The teacher then unplugged the laptop's power adapter, not before uttering "you are too much" to the student.

Read also

• ITE students who helped cabby change tyre: He was having trouble so we volunteered

As the student tries to plug the adapter back in the power socket, the teacher grabs the student by the collar, and a scuffle ensues.

"The student captured in the video had just joined the college then, had disruptive behavioural issues, and refused to put aside his personal laptop to do a project during practical lessons," Dr Goh said in the statement.

Describing the incident as 'isolated', Dr Goh added that the teacher regretted his action and has since been counselled.

Read also

• Youth slashes another in fight on ITE campus

Dr Goh also noted that current and past students have commended the teacher for his commitment and patience, while the student's classmates were also encouraged to understand and support the student.

While many netizens were quick to slam the teacher, some urged viewers to exercise restraint before judging the situation.

"Why blame the teacher instead of asking what is really going on? Do you guys know what happened?" a Troy Lee asked.

Facebook user Christopher Ng wrote: "This is my ITE teacher and he is a very kind and friendly teacher. I've been in his class for two years he wants the students to be well-disciplined during his class."

Dr Goh noted that the student and his classmates have adjusted better and learnt to be more understanding and accepting of the student's behavioural issues.

He said: "The student's parents are aware of the son's behaviour and are appreciative that the college and counsellors are helping him to cope better."

grongloh@sph.com.sg

Read also

• ITE student suspended after bashing schoolmate and threatening to 'break his face'

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2015-03-10 14:37:53

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Video shows slashing incident at ITE College West

Source: Twitter, Video screengrabs, Stomp

The budget delivered by Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat on Monday outlined the key changes set to take place in Singapore in response to a fast-changing economy. Is the government addressing near-term concerns and doing enough to future-proof our people?

In a roundtable discussion moderated by Michelle Quah, senior correspondent at The Business Times, four panellists expressed their views. They are:

• Melvin Yong, director (Industrial Relations Field) at NTUC;
• Selena Ling, economist with OCBC bank;
• Kurt Wee, president of the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises (ASME); and
• Alan Lau, head of Financial Services, Tax at KPMG (Singapore).

Q: What are your thoughts on Budget 2017?

ASME: I think for the SMEs, it unfortunately doesn't address the near-term concerns. With a budget surplus of S$5.2 billion in 2016, we don't see any new cost measures to help businesses. In fact, we see costs going up. It's still about picking the winners.

KPMG: We see a clear indication from the government to work towards a very balanced and inclusive Budget. I think there were things for SMEs as well as the man on the street, but more could have been done to address rising costs as well as value creation.

Q: The Budget could be split into short-term fixes versus more long-term measures for the future economy. How disappointed were you in the short-term measures that were announced?

ASME: There are some wins in the Budget. For example, the part on IP innovation vis a vis A*Star and the set-up of the SME Tech Hub. If you link it with the SME centre network, I think it can really help the ground in digitisation, but I'm not sure how far S$80 million will go. Businesses have seen a big chunk of the demand disappear and it's not coming back. The S$700 million for construction is advanced expenditure from the future. There're no new bold cost measures to help businesses with the wage bill.

Q: It seems like deferring foreign worker levies for two sectors is not going far enough.

ASME: It's being deferred for the marine sector but for construction, they're going to continue to allow it to increase. We were really expecting to see an expansion in the quantum from S$300,000 to S$1 million or even S$1.5 million for the SME working capital loan, but there's no expansion.

Read also: Twitter users share how to save water after Budget 2017's announcement of water price hike

Q: What are your thoughts for the broader economy and the larger-size businesses?

OCBC: Last year's growth was slightly better than expected at 2 per cent, and they're fairly confident that this year's growth outlook is going to be in the 1-3 per cent range, so it's a case of saving some ammunition for the future years to come. Last year's Budget out-turn was a fairly sizeable surplus. I think some people were anticipating what the government could do to help workers with the transition between jobs, like the PMETs (professionals, managers, executives and technicians) in this year's Budget.

NTUC: We're quite happy to note that greater support will be given to improve job matching and job placing, as well as continuation of existing wage support schemes.

Q: Do you think that this suggests that the government is moving away from more broad-based tax measures and into more selective schemes?

KPMG: Yes. The other concern we have is the Productivity and Innovation Credit or PIC. It is intended to expire in 2018 and there's no mention of that. Obviously, that is a broad-based tax incentive that was welcomed by businesses. We were also hoping to see a more focused approach as well, targeted at encouraging and rewarding value creation.

Q: On wages and job creation, do you think the measures are enough to achieve the government's aim in ensuring Singaporeans have jobs and meaningful careers?

OCBC: The Ministry of Manpower is still looking to create 25,000 to 40,000 jobs this year. It's not a case where you have a recession on hand or you have outright contraction on the labour market. Wage increment this year is probably going to be very constrained. In terms of expectations and continuing to grow the jobs and whether people can transition into new jobs when they're displaced, how is the government going to help them in this period?

Read also: Budget 2017: 5 things that may affect you directly

Q: From NTUC's point of view, do you think that workers are going to be happy enough with the wage scheme measures?

NTUC: There're three challenges facing the labour movement. One is mindset change, both from companies and workers on how to remain competitive. The next challenge is putting in place the relevant infrastructure to facilitate the training and continuous learning so that the workers can transit to these new jobs. The last is enhancing our job matching and job placement abilities. A lot needs to be done to be able to do the transition well and effectively.

Q: SMEs might not be completely happy with what they've got on hand but it still requires a fair bit of a mindset change. Do you think that they're ready to take on these new initiatives?

ASME: If you take into account 155,000 SMEs, of which 120,000 are small and micro, they are going through this tight economic phase during which they can't find margins and their cost remains high, so what is the trajectory for them going forward? They also face challenges from neighbouring countries. We've been calling for broad-based grants for internationalisation to push the SMEs out of the country and build their demand pie in the foreign markets. If things aren't progressing fast here, the MNCs (multinational corporations) and FDIs (foreign direct investments) will go to where economic marketplaces are moving and gaining momentum.

Q: Was there disappointment that there weren't enough tax incentives to push companies overseas?

KPMG: The S$600 million internationalisation fund is certainly a step in the right direction, but I think the devil is in the details. How do we go about implementing it? There are thousands of SMEs out there, but what is the selection criteria the government is going to use to administer the scheme? It's going to be a tough call on the government on which to go along with, who to co-partner and co-invest with. We do not have a broad-based incentive to substitute the PIC scheme and we haven't plugged a gap in the tax incentive scheme.

Read also:Budget 2017: What startups and SMEs need to know

Q: Are measures enough in the face of rising protectionism from the US?

OCBC: A lot of the measures are an ongoing continuation of last year's Budget and the CFE (Committee on Future Economy) recommendations. No one really knows what will happen with the US economic policy and President (Donald) Trump's plans to adjust taxes. It's not necessarily a bad strategy to keep some ammunition for a rainy day. The government has moved away from cash handouts and they recognise that the environment is evolving so fast.

Q: The Budget tried to encourage Singapore families and give support in terms of housing and preschool education. Do you think this will encourage more Singaporeans to have families?

OCBC: It's the right shift away from monetary incentives like baby bonuses because bringing up a child is a lot more than just money on the table.

ASME: There's a need to decentralise financial resources and let the resources flow to private preschool operators. In Singapore, we tend to concentrate on resources issued out of the Budget. ... Very often, the private sector feels that they don't get enough resource support for their ideas. We should think about decentralising Budget resources towards private enterprises and trade associations or professional bodies if we want to strive for diversity.

Q: The minister seems to be laying the stage for quite a number of tax changes in the future. What are your thoughts on this?

KPMG: I think they're good initiatives but if you look at Canada, Ireland, United Kingdom and China, they have strong tax regimes to incentivise value creation. My concern is that we don't have that in Budget 2017. We could fall behind.

Q: Do you think enough has been done in this Budget to future-proof our people?

NTUC: Singapore is a small and open economy and not in a position to shape the global economy. The task ahead is harder because change is much faster now and the state of the global economy going forward remains unpredictable. Businesses have to constantly reinvent themselves and workers have to be prepared to learn new skills.

OCBC: I'm cautiously optimistic. We do recognise the economic environment is different from the past where the government can set the strategy and pick winners but the world is very different today. What's the catalyst to unite unions, companies, employers, SMEs and individuals together? I think it's a work in progress. It'll take a few more Budgets and committee recommendations to get there.

This article was first published on Feb 22 , 2017.
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Private schools here will now have to meet higher standards that require them to track - and improve - student outcomes, including the academic performance, progression and employability of their graduates.

The Committee for Private Education yesterday released its enhanced EduTrust certification standards, part of a major shake-up of the private education sector to protect students and make information more transparent.

The revised standards will take effect for all private education institutions (PEIs) applying for or renewing their EduTrust certification from June 1.

EduTrust is a quality assurance scheme recognising PEIs that achieve high standards in key areas of management and the provision of educational services.

Currently, the scheme assesses PEIs against six criteria, such as corporate governance and administration, and student protection and support services.

The key change to the EduTrust scheme is the introduction of a seventh criterion to assess student and graduate outcomes. This standard will measure how the institutions track, review and improve the performance and outcomes achieved by their students.

Mr Brandon Lee, director-general (private education) of SkillsFuture Singapore, said this is "even more important" than before, given that the pilot employment survey of private school graduates released last year showed many lagged behind their peers from public universities in the job market.

"PEIs should focus more attention on the outcomes of their graduates and see what needs to be done to improve them," he said.

"We also encourage prospective students to research their options carefully before deciding if they should pursue a degree with a private education institution."

PEIs welcomed the change, noting that the higher standards are aimed at raising the quality of the sector.

PSB Academy acting chief executive Derrick Chang said student outcomes continue to be a key component of how his institution measures success internally.

Every year, for instance, PSB Academy commissions external agencies to conduct their own graduate employment surveys, which are published online and in recruitment materials.

"But more importantly, we remain focused on preparing our students to thrive and contribute in our future economy," said Mr Chang.

This article was first published on Feb 22, 2017.
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