Government to involve community more in tackling inequality, unlike old ‘silo’ approach: Desmond Lee
Vulnerable families to get ‘more comprehensive, wraparound support’, including help with housing
[SINGAPORE] The government will increasingly work with community groups in tackling inequality and helping the vulnerable, shifting away from the old approach where both sides “worked in silo”, said Minister-in-charge of Social Services Integration Desmond Lee in Parliament on Thursday (Sep 25).
“Along the way, we will need to develop new structures, policies, SOPs (standard operating procedures), data systems that enable greater collaboration and integration,” he said, without elaborating, in the fourth day of debate on the President’s Address.
One such collaboration is ComLink+, a holistic programme for low-income families with children. Lee called this a “uniquely Singapore way of coordinating support around the family” by involving the community.
The programme involves family coaches, community partners and volunteer befrienders who develop customised road maps for vulnerable families.
“ComLink+ involves many groups collaborating as one, to organise and coordinate help for the families, putting them at the centre of our efforts,” said Lee. “This is a much more intense approach, compared to just providing more resources.”
ComLink+ was piloted in 2019 at four sites before being scaled nationwide. It now supports around 10,000 low-income families and will be expanded progressively.
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Going forward, the government will provide “more comprehensive, wraparound support” to families, said Lee.
This includes partnerships with the Housing & Development Board to help families own homes; support for children across all educational stages; and tailored help with employment and skills.
Education pathways
Apart from this shift in how social issues are addressed, Singapore is also transforming its education system to prepare the next generation for future challenges, said Lee, who is also education minister.
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The education system must ensure all children can flourish regardless of their starting point, pursue their aspirations, and develop strong values to contribute to society, he said.
In the past, success was largely measured in grades and paper qualifications. While earlier policy moves aimed to change this, society has not entirely moved away from “seeing education as an arms race”, said Lee.
The Forward Singapore agenda includes more reforms, such as reducing the stakes in exams, as well as shifting the focus from grades to life skills, character and values.
Other measures include tackling the “opportunity gap” between wealthy and lower-income families; ensuring students from different backgrounds learn together; and preparing students for a world transformed by artificial intelligence (AI).
AI should also be accessible to young and old alike, said Minister of State for Digital Development and Information Rahayu Mahzam. To expose children to technology from a young age, new “AI for Fun” modules were introduced in primary and secondary schools this year, allowing students to gain hands-on experience.
Through these programmes, they can learn to use generative AI for brainstorming and creating content while understanding how to use it safely.
Learning about AI must also extend beyond schools, she said. Public spaces such as libraries can serve as venues where people can acquire new knowledge and exchange ideas.
Supporting the vulnerable
Thursday’s session focused on inequality and vulnerable groups, with MPs addressing issues affecting caregivers, low-income families, children and seniors.
Workers’ Party MP Abdul Muhaimin Abdul Malik called for making rental housing more accessible for the lower-income group – particularly single unwed parents and their children, and those who cannot stay with family members.
Muhaimin noted that each year, only 46 per cent of rental applications from single unwed parents succeed annually. Meanwhile, individuals who cannot stay with their families are often rejected without consideration for strained or abusive relationships.
He proposed greater flexibility in assessing family dynamics before rejections, and expanding public rental housing through experimental models such as a universal buy-back scheme for ageing HDB flats.
For caregivers, Pasir Ris-Changi MP Valerie Lee called for new leave schemes “that reflect modern caregiving realities”, such as a separate “sandwich generation leave” – distinct from childcare leave – for caregivers.
Punggol MP Yeo Wan Ling, who is also a member of the National Trades Union Congress, said flexible work arrangements should be normalised in the workplace.
Workers on such arrangements should be “treated and compensated fairly in performance appraisals and promotions”.
* Amendment note: A previous version of the story incorrectly stated that Yeo suggested that the government introduce statutory caregiver leave.
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