SINGAPORE - Defining the success of an education system goes beyond looking at rankings, said Education Minister Chan Chun Sing on June 25. Such success should instead be defined by individuals’ desire for continuous learning, and whether society can tap diverse strengths to build resilience, he added. “Many rankings have ranked our education system very highly, and I’m very proud of our accomplishments,” Mr Chan said, but it is not just things that are measurable that are important.   He added that all metrics should be taken “with a pinch of salt”. Mr Chan was responding to a question from former diplomat Bilahari Kausikan, who is the chairman of the National University of Singapore’s Middle East Institute, on the Republic’s performance in a global test of creative thinking that was reported recently. Singapore’s 15-year-olds had ranked first out of 64 education systems in the test, which was part of the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) 2022, conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.     Mr Kausikan was moderating the closing session of the Middle East Institute’s annual conference with Mr Chan.   ons and affiliates as well as their agents and authorised service providers. marketing and promotions. The definition of creativity looks different when applied to various contexts, Mr Chan said, and is but one dimension of achievements.  “Creativity is not just about waking up with the lightbulb coming on,” he said. “Creativity is a disciplined pursuit or disciplined inquiry into issues, problems, and trying to find new and innovative solutions that add value.” It requires a deep understanding of the surrounding context – cultures, systems, fears and aspirations – along with the ability to create new value propositions, said Mr Chan.   He added that he is not fixated on how people define creativity – whether it is the creativity associated with art and breakthrough inventions, or creativity measured by the Pisa creative test, involving everyday problem-solving at home or work. Instead, he is “more interested in whether our people have that gumption for disciplined pursuit of ways to overcome challenges”.  Creativity was one of multiple topics covered by Mr Chan and Mr Kausikan during their closing session, which came after three panel discussions on Gulf education systems and changes necessary to address challenges like unemployment. Held both in person at Orchard Hotel and online, the conference had about 170 attendees in its 10th edition. The first conference was held in 2015. Education Minister Chan Chun Sing taking a wefie with university students at the Middle East Institute’s annual conference on June 25.  ST PHOTO: SHINTARO TAY Mr Chan also spoke about changing the public perception of vocational training, in response to a question by Mr Kausikan about how the preference towards academic studies that exists in many systems globally can be overcome.  It is not about the bias, but whether economic value can be derived from a new skill set obtained, said Mr Chan, adding that this is a practical concern that many individuals have.  “People resort to degrees, diplomas, as a signal of their ability and skills,” he said. “But today, many enlightened companies look at their employees not based on their credentials, but based on their skill sets.”  Close partnerships with companies are key to give people confidence that there is an end goal in obtaining a new skill set, he added. Mr Chan also noted a need to change the mindset of Singaporeans regarding vocational training.    He gave the example of how the Institute of Technical Education had intentionally upgraded its campus into a well-furnished one with good facilities, to foster respect for its students and help them feel a sense of self-respect. “There is no one single way to overcome this bias against vocational training,” he said. “But there are very practical things that we can do in terms of shaping the environment and culture of how people who go into vocational training are treated and respected.”  He also talked about maintaining a quality teaching force, using technology for personalised learning, and how Singapore’s education system had developed over the years.  Members of the audience asked Mr Chan questions about social mobility and inequality in Singapore, challenges faced by civil servants without scholarships, and the value of education in navigating diversity and conflict.  In response to a question about the Singapore education system’s impact on the country’s regional standing in South-east Asia and whether more could be done to help other Asean nations develop their education systems, Mr Chan said: “I am not in the school of thought that I think Singapore should go around and teach other people.” He said: “Every society has their own needs and their own context. We don’t just pick and choose certain ideas.”  Singapore’s education system is also not perfect, and even with the rankings it has attained, Mr Chan said he will continue to push for students to be exposed to different perspectives in a global context.  “If every Singaporean student that goes overseas brings back one fresh perspective and new insight from where they have been, we will be much better,” he said.

SINGAPORE: A woman who underwent surgery to remove her womb and related parts in her reproductive system at Singapore General Hospital (SGH) is suing the hospital and a surgeon who performed the procedure, alleging negligence. Madam Faith Gao, who is also known as Faith Ang, alleges that the surgery obstructed a tube that connects her kidneys to the bladder and left one of her kidneys functioning at only 6 per cent. However, lawyers for the hospital and the surgeon, Professor Tan Hak Koon, called the suit "entirely ill-conceived and fuelled by sub-standard advice", maintaining that the surgery was performed appropriately and the obstruction was not caused by Prof Tan. The trial opened in the High Court on Tuesday (Jun 25), with Mr David Gan from DG Law representing Mdm Gao and a team of lawyers from Legal Clinic, led by Senior Counsel Kuah Boon Theng, defending SGH and Prof Tan. WHAT HAPPENED According to opening statements from both Mdm Gao and the defendants' lawyers, the 54-year-old woman had been considering going under the knife for some time. The operation involved the removal of her uterus, ovaries and fallopian tubes.  This was because she had severe endometriosis, a disease where tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, and her condition did not respond to conservative treatment. Mdm Gao was infertile and underwent two prior surgeries in 2000 and 2011, her lawyer, Mr Gan, said in his opening statement. She consulted Prof Tan around November 2018 for a second opinion while receiving treatment at the National University Hospital. She decided to go to SGH for the procedure - known as a total abdominal hysterectomy, bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and adhesiolysis. It took place at SGH on Jan 4, 2019, under three surgeons. Prof Tan, a senior consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist, was the first surgeon. Both sides agreed in their opening statements that the surgery was uneventful and successful. Mdm Gao was discharged three days later, and the defendants' lawyers claim that Mdm Gao told Prof Tan in her final consultation that she was happy with the surgery. However, Mdm Gao developed intermittent abdominal pain around June 2019. She sought medical attention in December 2019 at another hospital, the defendants' lawyers said. A computed tomography (CT) scan purportedly showed swelling of the left kidney and left ureter, which is a tube connecting the kidney to the bladder. This was likely due to an obstruction of the left ureter, with urine build-up. Senior Counsel Kuah said that not relieving the obstruction promptly would have allowed the pressure to continue building up, with adverse consequences to kidney function. "However, for reasons that are unclear to the defendants, it was not until February 2020 that the plaintiff finally underwent surgery to excise the left ureteric obstruction or stricture," said Ms Kuah and her team. Mdm Gao has two witnesses for her case - Dr Lewis Liew, who performed general surgery on Mdm Gao, and Dr Gong Ing San, an "expert on surgery". According to Mdm Gao's lawyer Mr Gan, the two witnesses think Mdm Gao's claim "has merit". Dr Liew, a urologist, concluded that the ureal impairment was due to the surgery with Prof Tan, said Mr Gan.  Mr Gan said his client would argue that the duty of care provided to her was "inadequate", and that reasonable care was not exercised, leading to her injury. HOSPITAL, SURGEON'S RESPONSE; COUNTERCLAIM Lawyers for the defendants said in their opening statement the defendants were not only not negligent, but that the delay in appropriate treatment for the ureter was "something that needs to be answered by Dr Liew as it was the cause of the damage to the plaintiff's left kidney". They added that Dr Liew had "made no effort to find out details of how the surgery was actually performed" before making his "baseless and irresponsible statement" that the surgery had likely caused her injury. "Had he done so, he would have discovered that the surgery was uneventful and there were no operative procedures carried out in the vicinity of the ureters," said the lawyers. They alleged that while Dr Liew later "backtracked" and issued a clarification report saying he had been only "speculating", the damage had been done. "The plaintiff had been misled into thinking that she was a victim of negligence, and would go on to commence this action against the defendants," said the lawyers for SGH and Prof Tan. They said Mdm Gao treated Dr Liew as an expert, and that Dr Gong was trained as a general surgeon but it is unclear if he still actively performs surgeries today. "He is certainly not an O&G specialist, and is not qualified to offer an expert opinion on a total abdominal hysterectomy bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy and adhesiolysis," said the defendants' lawyers. SGH had filed a counterclaim against Mdm Gao for S$9,449 (US$6,986) in hospital bills that were left outstanding. Mdm Gao's defence was that the bills should be claimed from her medical insurers, but her insurer has rejected the claim, with the hospital's lawyers saying Mdm Gao remains liable for her own medical bills. The trial continues before Justice Choo Han Teck. Source: CNA/ll(sn)

Dreams of a new home have apparently turned into a living nightmare for a group of residents of Punggol Point Cove, as they grapple with a litany of defects in their recently-completed BTO flats. From uneven walls and hollow structures to water ponding and missing belongings, the homeowners told TNP they were caught in a frustrating battle with shoddy workmanship and unresponsive authorities. One resident, who wanted to be known as Mr Iman,  said his flat had defects. "My unit has uneven and hollow walls," he told TNP on June 20. The 34-year-old administrator received keys to his five-room flat in March. Mr Iman checked in with Building Services Centre (BSC) and was apparently told that the walls are hollow because "youngsters nowadays like to hack the wall”.   He lamented that his flat had holes, the windows bore dents and scratches, and his master bathroom sustained water ponding.     Ideas on what you can fit into a 'White Flat' New HDB pilot offers open floor plan concept Resident points out 'unacceptable' workmanship and defects in new Sengkang BTO flat   Mr Iman noticed that a beam in his unit was noticeably slanted (left). Another residents has uneven walls (right).PHOTOS: IMAN Another resident, who had picked the full range of optional components, shared in the neighbourhood Telegram group that he discovered the cement screed beneath his chosen vinyl flooring was poorly done. "He had to spend a bit of money to remove the vinyl that he already paid for using his CPF money," shared Mr Iman. "The cement screed was not levelled properly – it had holes and boot marks." Mr Iman's neighbour had to pay for the cement screed under his vinyl tiles to be redone.PHOTO: IMAN Mr Iman showed TNP scores of photographs shared by the residents in the chat group. The homeowners said their attempts to seek redress have been met with roadblocks and frustration. Mr Iman reached out to Dr Janil Puthucheary, MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, on April 28, providing photographic and video evidence of the defects. However, the initial positive response in the correspondence tapered off and he received a message stating that the evidence he sent to the MP via WhatsApp had been deleted “to protect (Mr Iman's) privacy and confidential information”. Screengrabs of Mr Iman's chats with Dr Janil Puthucheary.PHOTO: IMAN After subsequent attempts to schedule a meeting with Dr Janil or his office, Mr Iman was told the MP would meet him at his Meet-the-People Session, which most of the new Punggol Point Cove homeowners were unable to attend. “Most of us have not moved in yet,” explained Mr Iman, adding that he could not get satisfying rectifications by BSC. "If a window grill was scratched or dented, they would just sand and spray-paint it." In an e-mail to TNP on June 23, Dr Janil said: "I have been in regular contact with the residents of Punggol Point Cove, the Resident’s Network and the staff involved at HDB and the BSC. The work is ongoing to ensure that the homes are ready and the defects and concerns properly addressed. A meeting has already been arranged." Dispirited by the ongoing issues, Mr Iman has decided to engage his own renovation contractor to work on the defects in his his flat. Some residents also claimed they were advised by BSC to “slam it hard” to close poorly-fitted bomb shelter and bedroom doors. Others found holes in their walls taped up and painted over after BSC rectification. Some of the bomb shelter and bedroom doors were poorly fitted and residents claimed they were advised by BSC to “slam it hard” to close the doors.PHOTOS: IMAN Another resident, who wanted to be known only as Diana, told TNP on June 21: “When we went over, it felt like the estate was not at all ready to be handed over. When we entered our flat for the first time, there were cigarette butts littered in every room.” There were also expletives etched on one of her walls. “There was a ‘f*** you’ scraped into the paint,” she said, showing TNP photos of the cigarette butts and defaced wall. When she engaged BSC contractors, "they simply painted over it". Ms Diana found cigarette butts in her new flat and a wall defaced with expletives.PHOTO: DIANA Ms Diana claimed she was put through multiple rounds of inadequate rectification work by BSC. “We had three rounds of rectification as, after the first round, many of the things we had flagged were not rectified at all,” she said, citing wires sticking out of walls, and misaligned windows and pipes as some of the issues left unaddressed. She also highlighted a pattern of delays and incomplete repairs: “They would address things like the alignment of the switches and the paint job but ignore the misaligned and scratched windows, and the electrical distribution board." The misaligned water pipes and damaged door frames were not rectified. “I doubt any cleaning was done – the bathroom tiles were so dirty the inspector we engaged could not check the water ponding properly," said Ms Diana. “By the time they finished the second and third rounds of work on the windows, more than two months had passed since we collected our keys." The 30-year-old mother of one said the project did not complete as promised: “It was estimated to be ready early-2023 but it was delayed to the end of the year. The completion was further delayed to the first-quarter of this year. We received our keys in the last week of March and there was no compensation for any of the delays." In a reply to TNP on June 24, a spokeperson for HDB said: "Keys handover at Punggol Point Cove, which is a 1178-unit BTO development, started in mid-February 2024. Based on data received at the BSC so far, the defects reported at Punggol Point Cove are within the range of what we have seen at other new BTO projects.  "Most of the defects reported are surface imperfections such as uneven/chipped wall surface and scratched/chipped tiles, which can be rectified without extensive works and fairly quickly.  All of them do not affect the structural integrity of the flat." The spokesperson added: "Since the start of BSC operations at Punggol Point Cove, more than 90 per cent of the defects reported were rectified within 14 working days. This is in-line with the overall rectification rate for new BTO projects. "In addition, over 9 in 10 cases were rectified and closed within the first round of feedback. Repeat feedback make up less than 8 per cent of the total cases received, and most of them submitted feedback to BSC twice. Majority of the subsequent feedback were on new defects, with some highlighting previous defects rectification that they were not satisfied with." On the conduct of workers performing the repairs and touch-up works, prior to the commencement of the operation of the BSC operation, contractors and their workers are briefed on the protocols in carrying out repair works in the flat, said the HDB spokesperson. "Should the contractors or workers be found to have committed any misdemeanours (for example, unauthorised use of electricity, water or the WC), HDB will issue them stern warnings and/or impose demerit points. Demerit points can impact a contractor’s application when he tenders for another HDB project. Additionally, errant workers can also be disallowed from working at the project site," the spokesperson added. "Flat owners at Punggol Point Cove are advised to report any feedback or concerns directly to the BSC so that our contractor can follow up closely on the rectification works. HDB will also investigate any misdemeanours surfaced in residents’ feedback and take appropriate action against the contractor if necessary." Meanwhile, TNP understands that a walkabout at Punggol Point Cove has been scheduled to take place on June 29. In the e-mail from the People's Association on June 22 seen by TNP, it stated Dr Janil, HDB officials and Town Council officers will be involved in the walkabout that aims to address residents’ concerns and potentially form a new Residents’ Network for the precinct. HDB clarifies In a June 26 e-mail, the Housing Board explained that the "hollow walls" mentioned by Mr Iman are drywalls filled with sound-insulation materials and can support common fixtures. Since November 2014, under the Building and Construction Authority's requirement, all residential non-landed developments (private and public development) have to use non-concrete drywalls for internal partitions, except for wet areas such as the bathroom and kitchen areas. The HDB statement also pointed out that Mr Iman collected his keys on March 27, conducted a joint inspection with BSC on April 8 and signed the completion of rectification works form on May 7. "He has not indicated to BSC any outstanding items for rectification since then," it added.   HDB also explained that although Punggol Point Cove was originally expected to be completed in early-2023, the Delivery Possession Date (DPD) was early-2024. The completion of Punggol Point Cove was delayed due to the pandemic but the flats were delivered to buyers before the DPD. Hence in Ms Diana's case, the issue of compensation does not arise.

Earlier this year, the regulation of caffeinated energy drinks was proposed in Parliament, which is an issue that hits close to home for many Singaporeans like me. I can’t deny that watching my friend Joe chug energy drinks in quick succession worries me. Joe works as a delivery man, and his job requires him to drive his van across Singapore for over 15 hours a day. Besides keeping him alert, Joe also needs the boost from these sugary drinks to carry heavy parcels up flights of stairs. On some weekends, Joe and I moonlight as producers of live sports events. During which, Joe’s calling card—cans of Red Bull—unsurprisingly pop up across our AV control booth. “Hydrate with water lah. You don’t need the Red Bull, this event is going to be smooth sailing,” I’d gently tell Joe while trying to mask my concern. Joe, who is in his 30s, has made the informed decision to down energy drinks so that he can work, despite being cognizant of the abundant medical evidence condemning sugary caffeinated drinks. Unfortunately, minors too have the same unbridled access to energy drinks, which are being promoted to them as drinks that all the cool kids are drinking. Energy drinks are a hit with students in Singapore too, especially when they’ve got loads of studying to do and not much time. In a society that constantly reminds students about the importance of ‘good schools’ or even risk burnout before graduating, it’s no surprise that the pressure drives youth to quick-fix chemicals. Image: Stephanie Lee / RICE file photo Electric Youth Energy drinks are prominently advertised to young people—Monster Energy is the official sponsor of the X Games and Red Bull sponsors competitions involving youths like esports and breakdancing tournaments. And with the advent of Logan Paul and KSI’s Prime, energy drinks have now been elevated to the tier of must-have hype accessories. There has previously never been an age limit imposed on the purchase of energy drinks in Singapore. However, influencers marketing energy drinks like Prime to their followers—many of whom are impressionable pre-teens—have drawn new attention to the dangers of not regulating these beverages. Most of us are aware of the physiological effects of ingesting too much caffeine: heart palpitations, headaches, seizures, stomachaches, hypertension, organ inflammation, neurological diseases and more. In recent years, new research has linked them to tumour growth and cancer-causing bacteria. Cases of overconsumption leading to cardiac arrest and death continue to be reported around the world. The physiological effects of high-caffeine sugary drinks, as you might imagine, have far more devastating consequences for young people whose bodies are still developing. Medical reports have noted that minors have been developing irregular heartbeats, gastrointestinal issues,and experiencing long-term effects on brain and emotional development, because of their consumption of energy drinks. Prime has already been sued in US states like New York, over “misleading and deceptive practices”, because some of Prime’s 12-ounce energy drinks have been found to contain between 215mg to 225mg of caffeine, and not the advertised 200mg. Nonetheless, energy drinks like Monster are attractively displayed in convenience stores like Cheers and supermarkets like NTUC FairPrice. Image: Elliot Lee for RICE Media More Alert (to the Danger) During the first Parliamentary seating of 2024, Nominated MP See Jinli Jean highlighted the health risks of high caffeine consumption on young people, and asked if the Ministry of Health will consider introducing measures to restrict the sales of energy drinks with high caffeine content. This notion can lead to the passing of new regulatory laws, and make Singapore not the first, but the latest country to implement drastic measures to curb the energy drink crisis. You might have heard that the UK’s Labour Party has also vowed to ban Under-16s from buying high-caffeine drinks if they win the election on July 4. Canada has an 18+ recommendation for caffeinated energy drinks. Youths are carded when buying drinks in several European countries too—buyers need to prove that they are above 14 in Norway and above 18 in Romania, Lithuania and Latvia. France used to ban Red Bull and the maximum caffeine level for drinks allowed to be sold in New Zealand is 32mg per 100ml. The hesitance of some countries to regulate sugar and caffeine is somewhat reminiscent of a time when alcohol and cigarettes weren’t regulated because medical evidence of their harmful effects was still preliminary. By emphasising the positives of ‘energy’, brands distract us from the many physiological conditions that recent scientific research has linked these drinks to, such as the disruption of sleep cycles, lethargy and the exacerbation of ADHD. Lack of sleep and short attention spans are prevailing problems among Singapore’s youths. Is that enough to push back against the normalisation of these drinks? Image: Andre Frois for RICE Media Organic Alternatives Cherie Lui, Co-Founder of the alternative energy drink brand Flojo, has observed local students relying on sugary caffeinated drinks to get through their studies. Marketed as a neuroscience-driven alternative to the usual energy drink staples, Flojo uses natural herbs like ginseng and reishi to heighten alertness and focus. Cherie will be one of four guest speakers sharing holistic health trends at a panel discussion entitled Alt Ctrl Health: Repackaging the Wellness Renaissance. “When we spoke with local university students, some told us that when they face a time crunch, they drink Red Bull,” recounts Cherie. “When the time crunch is really bad, they drink Monster.” A tall can of Monster Energy has about 160mg of caffeine. In comparison, a cup of coffee only contains 80mg to 100mg of caffeine.  Modern society has an insatiable thirst for more energy, which motivated Cherie and her co-founders (one of them is a neuroscientist) to research and create a healthier alternative based on neuroscience. “This huge demand for more energy cannot be denied. People want to stay alert, but they want mental clarity without the heart palpitations.” Cherie was inspired to concoct not only a healthier option, but also an organic pick-me-up that people of various ages can consume daily without fear of physiological repercussions. This unquenchable ‘energy market’ has nurtured a hotbed of beverages and supplements that contain less caffeine, taurine, sugar, and artificial sweeteners, or none at all. Flojo, for example, uses organic and sustainably sourced herbs like reishi, echinacea, rhodiola and cacao to heighten alertness. A can of Flojo contains 4.3g of sugar and 18mg of caffeine, with no synthetic compounds, compared to Red Bull’s 26g of sugar and 80mg of caffeine per can. When students are pressed for time and consider energy drinks, organic alternatives like Flojo are a healthier option. They contain herbs like calendula and schisandra that are proven to alleviate stress. Image: Marc Clarence / RICE file photo Schooling Our Kids However, you might agree that getting young people to reach for healthier alternatives is an uphill struggle. Despite being sued, energy drink companies like Prime have deep pockets for fighting their battles—way deeper than those of startups that produce herbal alternatives. This has also enabled Prime to engage world-famous idols like Erling Haaland, Israel Adesanya and Central Cee as ambassadors. Even if an age limit is imposed on the purchase of energy drinks, what’s stopping a primary school student from buying a litre of coffee? As authorities struggle to keep up with the regulation of newfangled beverages, perhaps protecting young people from damaging their own health starts with further education and a serious look at regulation.