ESSENTIAL ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS

INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT 02

Prepared by
Tan Kok Hua

08 April 2011

MemoRANDUM

To: Steven Wong, Assistance Director (National Youths Programme), NYC

From: Tan Kok Hua, Senior Executive (National Youths Programme), NYC

Date: 08 April 2011

Subject: Dilution of the Singaporean Spirit in Youths

As you requested on 23 February 2011, this report outlines the analysis and findings of my research on the dilution of the Singaporean spirit in youths.

Following the Question and Answer session at the NTU Students’ Union Ministerial Forum held on 29 Oct 10, Ministry of Home Affairs directed REACH to present a report on the underlying issues for the lack of sense of belonging in Singaporean youths. REACH sought NYC’s inputs as we have direct dealings with youths.

Our Prime Minister highlighted the importance of the Singapore spirit to maintain a Singaporean core in our society. It needed to be instilled in the next generation of youths to sustain the core into the future. Losing the Singapore spirit could translate into individuals not knowing the cause, the community and the country to defend or die for. This discernment is becoming a concern as more Singaporeans are studying or working abroad.

Data for this report was obtained from: (1) the Census of Population 2010, to study the trends of the Singapore Population so as to better understand the characteristics of the evolving generations; (2) the Youth Study by the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI), to analyse the changing aspirations of young Singaporeans.

The key findings on the cause of the dilution of the Singaporean spirit in youths, causing them to feel uncomfortable in their own home-land were: (1) Low receptiveness to the inundation of foreign talents and (2) Educational barriers to engagement with Singapore.

RECEPTIVENESS problemS

The