SINGAPORE: To shape the values of Singaporean students, the Education Ministry could consider sending them on mandatory overseas community service trips to rural villages in neighbouring countries.
Member of Parliament for Jurong GRC Mr Ang Wei Neng said in Parliament today (May 29) that such field trips will help youths here better appreciate Singapore’s success, combat the sense of entitlement and inculcate the value of service to others.
My kids have been to Lower Mustang in Nepal. My 9-year-old has climbed Gunung Lambak in Malaysia and my elder one will be trekking in the Annapurna region of Nepal with me this December. I strongly encourage both Singaporean adults and children to visit what seems like “poorer” countries but I have a totally different lesson in mind. I want them to see how happy other people are and how they achieved happiness without all the fluff we have here. Who is happier? Who is more successful? I want them to think long and hard instead of just accepting the “fact” that we are Number One in the region.
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