Education in Singapore has been the centre of focus over the last few decades.[G1] The major reason being that education is marred by inequalities, where children are not given equal opportunities[G2] (Brown, 2017, p.5). The ultimate test of any education system is whether it offers equal learning opportunities to all students. Singapore has failed on this ultimate test, where students from rich families attend better schools compared to students from poor families (Tan, 2010, p.420). As the level of income inequality rises, the chasm of inequality in education continues to grow wider (Tamura, 2003, p.188). This study is dedicated to finding out how class differences cause education inequality in Singapore.[G3] [G4] [G5]
Methods
The research adopted both qualitative and quantitative methodologies in a bid to[G6] unpack the problem of the study. In the former method, questioners were issued to students where they were expected to fill in the questions to the best of their ability. The study aimed at getting an in-depth understanding of how citizens see inequality and its outcome on education in Singapore. First, they were made to sign an agreement form to confirm their consent in providing answers for the study. In quantitative research, the study gathered more information from Singapore government statistic database (Sing stat statistics) to get the bigger picture of inequality from a wider perspective. The most recent data from the website was used to maintain the relevance of the same. [G7]
Results
From the questioners, the majority of the respondents agreed that they are in [G8] the bottom social class. Additionally, they stated that they were unhappy about their current financial situation and their present academic education qualification.
The results of the finding also indicated that where both parents have not gone [G9] beyond secondary lever, the monthly gross income of the household was below $5000.
Most of the respondent ranked education as one of their most important aspects.
From Singapore statistics, the average level of attainment with and beyond post-secondary[G10] education was relatively higher in males compared to females. However, the proportion of women who have attained less than tertiary education outnumbers the proportion of men. This can be elaborated by the graph below;
Education Attainment between Male and Female in Singapore in 2012
From Singapore government data compiled in the year 2016, the level of labour[G11] force participation rate was higher in male compared to that of their counterparts. The bar chart below gives clear visual information for the same.
The employment rate in Singapore between resident men and women [G12] in 2018[G13]
The quantitative data from Sing Stat website 2014 showed that the level of those who attained high in education was most preferred [G14] in employment compared to those who did not. The data indicated that those with more than post-secondary education secured better jobs compared to those with who had secondary and below in education.[G15] University graduated secured more opportunities compared to the rest population. The bar graph is a representative of the same. [G16] [G17]
Education and employment rate in Singapore in 2014
Discussion
Education inequality is one of the most devastating issues in any given nation. Although all governments want avail equal opportunity to all its citizens, class inequality makes it difficult for students to have equal chances. Jarman (2016, p.5) mentioned that social inequality hinders effective learning amongst students. Majority of the respondents agreed that education is expensive far beyond their means. Though education is considered a basic and a vital tool, most people in Singapore cannot afford it. [G18]
Class inequality causes differences in the education sector. [G19]
A household with higher economic income is willing to devote more funds to enrichment and nourishment of their kids.[G20] [G21] Also, students from these families have a higher aspiration for themselves and also to their parents.[G22] [G23] Studies show that high-income earner also has the high qualification compared to low class[G24] (Talib, and Fitzgerald, 2015, p.445). The fact that Singapore has a high population [G25] of low-income [G26] earners means that educational attainment in the same range between secondary and diploma level.[G27] [G28] [G29]
Further studies show that more and more organization prefers flexible and highly empowered employees (Harvey, 2000, p.8). Consequently, employment level is directly connected to the level of education one has attained. The higher the qualification of an individual, the better the job one secures. The analyzed statistics from Singapore statistics shows that university graduates have more opportunities to secure better jobs compared to other qualifications (Brown, 2003,p.156). Given the current social inequality level in Singapore, only a majority of students from well-off families make it to university level, where their counterparts from poorer families struggle to raise fees. With good qualification, students from top class occupy better positions and continue earning better salaries. This further deepens the gaps between the poor and rich in both education and economic income.[G30]
Statistics also showed that the percentage of workforce participation was higher in resident citizens compared to that of non-residents. Jason, (2014, p.259) mentioned that the gap between the poor and the rich is widening each new down. While the cost of living is increasing day by day, finding a good sustainable job to cater for expenses is very difficult. [G31] With no better-paying jobs, people will not have adequate means of to pay for necessities. [G32] Consequently, non- residents have fewer chances to earn good salaries and as a result, the[G33] y are confined to the bottom class in the economy.
The statistics further revealed that the rate of employment was higher in men than that in women. Male employee participation in employment is undeniably higher compared to that of female employees. Though this situation could be a question of gender, it also has a lot to do with the fact that more males attained higher in education. It becomes a question of gender inequality as more men tend to occupy more position. The gap between men and women in both education and employment continues to widen every new down.
The cost of education is higher than ever before in Singapore. In this case, only students from rich famil[G34] ies, have the required resources to secure places in better schools. The qualitative data shows that most respondents are unhappy about their current financial positions. In addition, most people earn less than average income. In this regard, most people do not have funds at their disposal to pay for expensive schools. the inequality in household income, coupled with the fact that majority of the population earn less than average, makes it difficult for all to have equal chances to education.
The data also depicted that male residents attained higher in education compared to female counterparts. For example, the male proportion[G35] was higher at university, diploma & professional and at tertiary level. The figures have indicated that there is a huge gap of inequality in education between men and woman.
Reference
Brown, P., 2003. The opportunity trap: Education and employment in a global economy. European Educational Research Journal, 2(1), pp.141-179.
Brown, R., 2017. Higher Education and Inequality. Perspectives: Policy and Practice in Higher
Education [Online], 0 (0), pp.1-7
Ee, Miriam. Prosperous State, Prosperous Old?: Growing Social Stratification Among Elderly Singaporeans. Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 2012
Harvey, L., 2000. New realities: The relationship between higher education and employment. Tertiary Education & Management, 6(1), pp.3-17.
Jarman, J., 2016. Social inequality and its consequences in the twenty-first century. Contemporary Social Science, 11(2-3), pp.103-112.
Moore, R.Q., 2000. Multiracialism and meritocracy: Singapore's approach to race and inequality. Review of Social Economy, 58(3), pp.339-360.
Tan, J., 2010. Compulsory education in Singapore–who benefits?. Asia Pacific Journal of Education, 30(4), pp.401-418.
Jason, T.A.N., 2014. Closing the achievement gap in Singapore. In Closing the achievement gap from an international perspective (pp. 251-262). Springer, Dordrecht.
Tamura, K.T., 2003. The emergence and political consciousness of the middle class in Singapore. The Developing Economies, 41(2), pp.184-200.
Talib, N. and Fitzgerald, R., 2015. INEQUALITY AS MERITOCRACY: The use of the metaphor of diversity and the value of inequality within Singapore's meritocratic education system. Critical Discourse Studies, 12(4), pp.445-462.
Inserted: e
Inserted: by
Deleted:e
Deleted:with
Deleted:wards
Inserted: a
Deleted:,
Inserted: the
Inserted: s
Inserted: -
Inserted: u
Inserted: The e
Deleted:E
Inserted: as
Inserted: -
Deleted:ere
Deleted:ly
Deleted:ed
Inserted: the
Inserted: is
Inserted: A h
Inserted: a
Inserted: ,
Inserted: -
Inserted: a
Inserted: -
Inserted: al
Deleted:H
Deleted:are
Deleted:s
Inserted: a
Inserted: -
Inserted: ,
Inserted: ,
Inserted: the
