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What are the measures taken to foster social cohesion?

Singapore has taken several measures to manage social cohesion.These are the measures that were taken:

Multi racialism

The policy of multi-racialism promotes equality among all races, with no special rights granted to any particular racial or religious group. This means that everyone has equal opportunities to suceed, regardless of their background. Favouring a certain group of people because of their race or religion is prohibited by the Constitution. Since everyone is seen as a valued member of the Singapore society, they have a sense of national identity as Singaporeans.

Children of different races wearing different traditional costumes

Common Practices

Common practices are actions that Singaporeans carry out together, like singing the national anthem, taking the pledge and attending the flag raising ceremony.These practices help to foster a national identity. Inculculating loyalty and national pride towards Singapore is one way to get Singaporeans to see themselves as one people. Bilingualism

The policy of bilingualism was introduced in schools in 1966. Students were expected to learn English and their own Mother Tongue. With bilingualism, English is used as the language that links the different ethnic groups. Mother Tongue language is used to impart moral values and cultural traditions of each race.

Safeguarding the interests of the minority groups

Minority Representation

This policy gives minority groups a say in governance and safeguards their interests. The President Council Of Minority Rights(PCMR) and the Group Representation Constituency(GRC) are 2 examples of how representation of the minority groups is achieved.

The PCMR consists of members from the minority racial and religious groups. It ensures that no racial or religious group is disadvantaged as a result of a law that is passed in the Parliament.

The GRC ensures that at least one of the candidates in the team contesting in the General Election is from the minority racial communities such as Malay, Indian or Eurasian. The GRC system ensures that the minority racial groups are represented in the Parliament. This way, the concerns and needs of the minority groups are made known to the government.

Self-Help Groups

Chinese Development Assistance Council(CDAC), Singapore Indian Development(SINDA), Mendaki and the Eurasian Association play an important role in helping members of their community, who are less fortunate, to get help in their studies and training for their jobs. It also gives moral support to their members of the community and helps Singaporeans to cope and compete with one another on an equal footing.

Since 2002, the different self-help groups have embarked on joint projects such as joint tution programme. These joint efforts allow students from different ethnic groups to attend the same tution classes in tution centres run by CDAC, Mendaki and SINDA. This provides the opportunity for youths from different ethnic groups to inteact and get along with one another.

Developing common space

Common Space refers to the time and place when people get together. It provides opportunities for Singaporeans to interact and throught this interaction, understanding among Singaporeans from the different races can be deepened.

Events and programmes organised by grassroots organisations

Grassroots such as People's Association(PA) create common space through their wide range of programmes and activities developed to cater to the needs and interests of every Singaporean.

One of the programmes conducted for students was a home visit or home stay opportunity with a host family from another ethnic group. This allows participants to gain a better understanding of the cultures and customs of other races. With mutual respect, strong friendship can be built over time.

The Choa Chu kang Grassroots organisation participating in the walk-a-jog on 9 April

Opportunities offered by educational institutions

Educational institutions such as schools and tertiary institutuions are open to every Singaporean, regardless of race, language or religion. Students from different races and religions study and play together. Through this daily interaction, the students have ample opportunity for friendships to be cultivated and strengthened.

Co-Curricular Activities(CCAs) in schools play an important part in forging closer bonds among youths of all races. The variety of activities conducted during CCAs provides opportunities for students to work closely together to play games and work on a task.This helps to build teamwork among them. Students will also learn to appreciate one another's talents and respect one another as individuals.

Common living space provided by public housing

In the 1980s, it was observed that there were too many people from the same racial group living in the same housing estate. This situation could hinder the social bonding amog people from the different races.

In 1989, the ethnic intergration policy was introduced. It puts a limit on the proportion of races in every neighbourhood and block. This ensures that there is an even number of the different races in all housing estates.

Living together in the same neighbourhood provides several opportunities for people from different ethnic groups to interact.

Activities conducted by Inter-Racial Confidence Circles(IRCCs) Aand Harmony Circles(HCs)

The IRCCs were introduced in January 2002 to provide the common space to foster greater inter-racial understanding. The activities carried out by the IRCCs such as visits to places of worship, create opportunities for Singaporeans to appreciate their differences and develop strong bonds among different ethnic and religious communities. At the workplace, these inter-racial and inter-religious activities are carried out in HCs. All these activities help to build confidence and friendship among people.

Shared experience through National Service

Another area where common space is created for the various races to interact is National Service. National Service, introduced in1967, requires all able-bodied men to serve in the defence of the country. The shared experiences, for example, going through military training during National Service, help to strenghten the bond among the men.

Why is it important to manage ethnic diversity?

Security and peace

Because Singapore is a multi-ethnic society living harmoniously, all Singaporeans can enjoy feeling safe in the security and peace of our country.

Economic Progress

With peace and stability comes economic progress. Foreign investors invest and set up their companies in Singapore because they know their investments would be protected.

An example of an economic benefit of maintaining peace and harmony in Singapore is the tourists industry. Tourists generally avoid visiting countries that are caught in violence and conflict. In addition the multi-ethnic characteristics of Singapore's population attract tourists from all over the world.

Explore other ways to foster social cohesion in Singapore

Have some CIP work in our CCAs that allow us to visit different counntries or in the very least, go to different parts of Singapore such as Little India or Chinatown and learn the food,tradition and culture of different races and religions.

Ask our friends, especially those from different foreign countries, to tell us about their customs and culture and perhaps teach us their language as well. But at all due costs, respect their traditions all the same.

Sources from EPB/Pan Pacific Upper Secondary-Social Studies-Textbook 3

Pictures from Google images