Singaporeans fare poorly in mock pre-citizenship test by state media
November 29th, 2009 | 
Author: Written by Our Correspondent
Following the raising of the idea of a pre-citizenship test by PAP MP Madam Halimah Yacob in parliament last Monday, the state media has been actively selling the idea to Singaporeans.
The Sunday Times even conducted a mock test for 50 locals and foreigners and it turned out that the former did not fare much better than the latter group.
The test consists of 10 questions ranging from Singapore’s colonial history to its public holidays with the respondent scoring an average score of just five out of 10. None got all 10 answers right.
Overall, the scores of the 36 Singa-poreans aged between 13 and 64 who were polled hovered around the six-point mark.
They fared better than the 14 foreigners, whose length of stay varied between two days and 14 years. These non-Singaporeans scored anywhere between zero and a respectable seven.
While Singaporeans are getting increasingly worried about the rate of inflow of foreigners, the government is more concerned about the rate of integration among new citizens.
According to the National Population Secretariat, there are more than 20,000 new citizens and 70,000 PRs last year. Home Affairs Minister Wong Kan Seng revealed that two out of every three PR applicants are successful.
A $10-million Community Integration Fund, probably the first of its kind in the world, was launched lately to make the newcomers feel welcomed in Singapore.
The fund offers free language courses to prospective migrants who do not have to take a basic English proficiency test before they are allowed to work and live in Singapore unlike in other countries like Australia and Canada.
Due to the rising resentment on the ground at the relentless influx of foreigners, the senior leaders have tried to reassure Singaporeans that their interests will be “protected”. However, they did not promise to reduce the inflow of foreigners other than to “tweak” it.
The pre-citizenship test will have no impact on the current rate of immigration which will see Singaporeans becoming a minority in the next few decades should it continue unabated. Already, foreigners make up 36 per cent of the population, up from 14 per cent in 1990.
The increasing numbers of new citizens will form the next generation of voters many of whom are likely to vote for the ruling party thereby ensuring its political hegemony.
The fact is not lost on the PAP which has been actively courting the new citizens and “recruiting” them into grassroots organizations like RCs.
Minister of Community, Youth and Sports Dr Vivian Balakrishnan quipped lately that he is “happy” that 4,500 new citizens are serving as grassroots leaders in various estates.
Singaporeans may soon become the one to take the pre-citizenship test to “re-integrate” themselves into a new Singapore dominated by foreigners and the newcomers.
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23 Responses to “Singaporeans fare poorly in mock pre-citizenship test by state media”
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“The Sunday Times even conducted a mock test for 50 locals and foreigners and it turned out that the former did not fare much better than the latter group.”
Giving the impression that locals should not complain too much about foreigners as they are no better off than foreigners when it comes to national matters or whatever this mock test is about ?
And why it is so that locals are no better off, apathy or not enough of this public education on national matters ? And come to think of it, is there really an intention to encourage this ?
i think the government has made a singapore that singaporeans find hard to be proud of. we have very little self-respect as a country and as its citizens.
SPH is mocking at NG Ah Hen education system for faring badly to those in many foreign countries. Otherwise why Singaporean are so lousy than foreigners? No wonder we are called a degree mill churning out certificates that are given to morons.
MOE should be held fully encounter for the sunday Times findings. Let’s hope someone can interview MOE to sought their view why Singaporeans are so lousy.
Maybe they will say Singaporeans are so lousy because they are of a “lower stock” and so justifying why they must introduce more “higher stock” gratefools (pun intended).
In the Singapore educational context the learning of history and social studies is not an important component unlike maths and science. Why bother about teaching the younger generation about Singapore when you can import your votes from outside.
If singaporeans in general can be Analytical, Interested and Vocal about political issues, then if PAP continue to win, I would be really impressed. now, i impressed but not too much.
A computer can answer all the questions perfectly, does that make it a citizen. if so, prepare to welcome the 1 billion singapore citizen.
Its all about exams again? About passing tests? Above scoring? Above how we should have scored better ? How is it the government’s fault we didnt know the answers? Then we question and condemn? If we wanted everything yet question everything, just move? Isn’t that easier? Start giving solutions instead of complaining. Life will be easier that way. Otherwise, continue complaining and forever lead a sad life.
If you ran another questionnaire on “Where is the BEST Hokkien Mee”, or “Best Yiew Tiaw”, or “Bak Kut Teh”, then definitely Singaporeans will fare much better. Even before one can finish the sentence, “I’ll take you to this nice place to ea…(t)” The cut-in counter answer will be, “I know a BETTER PLace !!”
Never learn…
It is a political “dog-eat-shit” drama to remind Singaporeans that we DO NOT HAVE AN IDENTITY in knowleldgeable substance to preach or to defend.
The logical extrapolation is that we should not be grieviously complaining of being overwhelmed by another torrent flood of foreign unfamiliar alien cultures to come.
A melting pot hoax to publish of sleek propaganda and paint over a flood of foreign immigrants to come soon.
DON’T BUY THIS SHIT for your next breakfast, lunch or dinner.
I believe that Singaporeans will score poorly on this test even.
http://todayinsingapore.wordpress.com/2009/11/27/citizenship-test-questions/
This is more information on Q9 of that test. Arguably, Singapore is number 1.
http://singaporedonkey.wordpress.com/2007/01/17/political-prisoner-chia-thye-poh-at-odds-with-nelson-mandela-over-world-detention-record/
Anyway, NS for males is a true test for citizenship.
The mock questions are superficial like what is the full name of ERP, MICA, etc? Who the hell cares as long as we know what it is. Even a kid knows how to answer these after some memorizing.
A better set of questions should be something like:
- why is it important to have fair elections in Singapore?
- why is it important to use english?
- what are the social norms?
- why shouldn’t we have enclaves in singapore?
But the government wouldn’t have such questions because all they are interested in are people who can contribute ECONOMICALLY to singapore.
A failure of nation building.
just ignore it!MSM is trying desperately to catch attention like a five year old kid!
why did’t they come test us,we sure to score well leh?
my friends, it’s about jobs,massive unemployment!
pls don’t attempt any lousy diversion!
ST,you better start an employment agency,may be you would get
better attention and the sought-after reaction?!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Is the state media now making fun of the citizens?We the citizens had being labelled as “lazy”, “choosy”, “lack of planning”, “not adaptive to changes”….etc. Now the latest, our intelligence and general knowledge of our island home is being questioned. Is there nothing GOOD to say about the citizens?
why do we have to spend so much money to help foreigners to integrate by taking up English course, or understanding the geography of this country.
Surely they cant be talents or even have sufficient grey matter to be the ones we want into this country if they need such training!
I THINK I WILL BE THE TOP SCORER LIKE THAT PLSE PRC gal.
CPF= Confiscate People’s Finances
CTE= Cumulative Tax Express
ERP= Extra Revenue Points
CBD= Citizen Bullying District
CEO= Chief Execution(retrenchment) Officer
MOM= Misallocation Of Manpower
MOE= Meritocracy Office of Excellence
MOH= More Ostracising of Heartlanders
HDB= Housing Delay Board and last but not least,
cfb= you all know,”Cheaper,Better, Faster!!!!
see? so easy, i score top marks!
ST,yu better faster publish my perfect answers?
Citizenship test should include the understanding of our Constitution, as well as some basic grasp of our National Language – Malay.
Also, a review of the SAF Oath of Allegiance would be helpful.
Heck, they should have been doing this in our government schools. Wonder why they stopped Bahasa Kerbangsaan as a subject?
@i love my country
very simple!
cos the gahmen treat locals as the “citi-germs”(CITIZENS)!
that’s why they wanna to get rid of us faster…out of workplaces,HDB flats ,even hoistpitals… they wAnna us to go to JB?
I have been in the US for 6 years and have always been ashamed that I know so little about SG’s political process. People here have Civics 101 which teaches them what their citizenship entitles them to in the constitution and the different branches of government. They have C-span for concern citizens and a free press for interesting debate on issues. Sure the country is divided between right and left. But each side feels a strong national identity even if they have different ideology. Maybe you just need some sort of political ideology in the first place? Our lack of political discourse and ideology is perhaps causing the lack of citizenry and feeling of belonging.
I couldn’t resist.
Question 1: Who is Singapore’s Founding Father, possibly the Greatest Asian leader in living history?
Question 2: Which Political Party has delivered economic progress to Singapore for the past four decades?
Question 3: Who are you going to vote for in the next Election?
Supplemental Question: 1+1=?
Welcome to Singapore.