Pre-school years crucial in dealing with inequality

Challenges of dealing with INEQUALITY:

As our country matures and the economy develops, it will be increasingly challenging to deal with inequality.

Inequality, if allowed to grow, will destroy our social cohesion in the long run.

We have never shied away from what needs to be done, to help the disadvantaged progress upwards in society.

Transfers to lower-income groups, Workfare Income Supplement, healthcare subsidies, education bursaries, Skills Future.

But we have to do more.

We have announced that in the coming years, we will go upstream in providing assistance in the preschool years.

Government will double its annual spending on the preschool sector to $1.7 billion by 2022.

Why are we focusing upstream?

Progress has to be based on ability and talent, rather than class, privilege, or wealth. This approach has worked for us; the principle of meritocracy remains relevant.

But increasingly, the starting points are different for those born into families of different backgrounds.

At the point of birth, there is already a gap.

That gap widens, because of the differences in the families.

And inequality will manifest itself in many intangible ways: In the networks and influence, in the extra-developmental opportunities, the more time spent by poorer families in meeting basic needs. There is an opportunity cost to this.

Therefore, the preschool years are crucial.

The best chance that the Government has to give our children is a good start and a decent chance for the children to succeed, and help close the inequality gap.

The philosophy has got to be: give a helping hand to those who need it, while preserving the ingredients of Singapore’s success – education, hard work, discipline, integrity.

Never take away, take from Singaporeans the motivation to do better for themselves, to succeed. Focus should be on lifting up others, not penalising those who have done well.