Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Introduction
Hello, we are Robert, Christopher, Muhammad and Hassan. We are from Peicai Secondary School. We are here to know more about the recent headlines of the cause of Low Birth Rate In Singapore. We have interviewed 7 people between the age of 30 and 70 years old to investigate the impacts of Low Birth Rate In Singapore. We asked the people of the public about their opinions on how Singapore can improve on the Low Birth Rate situation. The rest of the blog will show how we done our survey and our findings.
Background Informations
It has been observed that Singapore experiences a low rate of population growth mainly the cause of low birth rate, people tend to have fewer babies.
Factors that lead to a low birth rate:
Later Marriages:
More poeple are marrying later and having children later in their lives. This could be due to the fact that more women now receiving degrees than in the past and hence would choose to pursue a career before retiring and having plans to have children. Since most of the ladies cannot conceive babies after they reach the age of 50, those who marry later or delay having children are left with lesser years to have childrens.
Fewer Marriages:
As more singaporeans choose to remain single, there will be fewer families and birth rates will fall. With fewer births, the number of young people in the population decreases.
Preference for smaller families:
Increasingly, people in Singapore prefer to have smaller families. This is partly due to the increasing number of working women who find it difficult to balance work and family and hence choose to have fewer children. More singaporeans today also feel that the cost of raising children has increased. Such changing trends and values have led to some couples not having any children at all!
Effect on low birth rate in Singapore:
Fertility figures:
Singapore's TFR(Total Fertility Rate) of 1.16 for last year places in lower thn Japan and South Korea, which have TFRs of 1.2 and 1.22 respectively. Taiwan now has the lowest TFR in the world at 0.91. But some population experts think that last year's drop in birthrate might be because of other reasons and could be reversed this year. It is believed by some to be an unlucky year last year for having children as the Chinese zodiac year of the Tiger. With the economy growing strongly and the good years of the Rabbit and Dragon coming up, the TFR is likely to stabilise - or rise this year.
Consequence of a low rate of population growth in Singapore:
Higher Taxes:
Public projects such as the building of hospitals and community centres are funded by taxes collected from the working population. With a shrinking population, fewer people will be in the workforce. This will mean that each working person will have to pay more taxes to fund public projects, such as building more public facilities such as swimming pools and libraries.
Action to manage a low rate of population growth in Singapore:
Encouraging marriage and childbearing:
One solution to the problems of a low rate of population growth is to increase birth rates. The government can encourage married couples to have more children. In Singapore, couples are now encourage to have three or more children. For example, women who have children younger are given more tax rebates, that is, the amount of taxes that they have to pay is reduced. The government has also encouraged the setting up of more child care centres to look after children while their parents are at work.
Sources: The Straits Times Jan 18, 2011. Earth our home Textbook.
Factors that lead to a low birth rate:
Later Marriages:
More poeple are marrying later and having children later in their lives. This could be due to the fact that more women now receiving degrees than in the past and hence would choose to pursue a career before retiring and having plans to have children. Since most of the ladies cannot conceive babies after they reach the age of 50, those who marry later or delay having children are left with lesser years to have childrens.
Fewer Marriages:
As more singaporeans choose to remain single, there will be fewer families and birth rates will fall. With fewer births, the number of young people in the population decreases.
Preference for smaller families:
Increasingly, people in Singapore prefer to have smaller families. This is partly due to the increasing number of working women who find it difficult to balance work and family and hence choose to have fewer children. More singaporeans today also feel that the cost of raising children has increased. Such changing trends and values have led to some couples not having any children at all!
Effect on low birth rate in Singapore:
Fertility figures:
Singapore's TFR(Total Fertility Rate) of 1.16 for last year places in lower thn Japan and South Korea, which have TFRs of 1.2 and 1.22 respectively. Taiwan now has the lowest TFR in the world at 0.91. But some population experts think that last year's drop in birthrate might be because of other reasons and could be reversed this year. It is believed by some to be an unlucky year last year for having children as the Chinese zodiac year of the Tiger. With the economy growing strongly and the good years of the Rabbit and Dragon coming up, the TFR is likely to stabilise - or rise this year.
Consequence of a low rate of population growth in Singapore:
Higher Taxes:
Public projects such as the building of hospitals and community centres are funded by taxes collected from the working population. With a shrinking population, fewer people will be in the workforce. This will mean that each working person will have to pay more taxes to fund public projects, such as building more public facilities such as swimming pools and libraries.
Action to manage a low rate of population growth in Singapore:
Encouraging marriage and childbearing:
One solution to the problems of a low rate of population growth is to increase birth rates. The government can encourage married couples to have more children. In Singapore, couples are now encourage to have three or more children. For example, women who have children younger are given more tax rebates, that is, the amount of taxes that they have to pay is reduced. The government has also encouraged the setting up of more child care centres to look after children while their parents are at work.
Sources: The Straits Times Jan 18, 2011. Earth our home Textbook.
Methodology
We interviewed a total of 7 people. We asked people whose ages ranged from 32-65. We asked them at AMK Hub and told them our purpose of asking them a few questions.
We asked them the following questions:
1. Are you married?/ Yes, How many children do you have? or How many children are you planning to have?/ No, How many children do you intend to have after getting married?
2.Why do you want to have children? or Why you do not want to have any children?
3.Are you planing to have more children?
4. What is stopping you from having more than 1-2 children?
5.What are the other reasons why singaporeans do not want to have children?
6.What do you think can happen if Singapore continues to have a low birth rate?
7.What can the government do to encourage you to have more children?
We asked them the following questions:
1. Are you married?/ Yes, How many children do you have? or How many children are you planning to have?/ No, How many children do you intend to have after getting married?
2.Why do you want to have children? or Why you do not want to have any children?
3.Are you planing to have more children?
4. What is stopping you from having more than 1-2 children?
5.What are the other reasons why singaporeans do not want to have children?
6.What do you think can happen if Singapore continues to have a low birth rate?
7.What can the government do to encourage you to have more children?
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Survey Results
Mrs Miranda, 65
Working partime
Are you married?
"Yes."
How many children do you have?
"2."
"There was no choice, I'm married. However as a catholic, I believe children are gifts from God. If he gives them to you there must be some reason why. After all, many people around the world actually want to have their own children but cannot. So its really up to God to decide."
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"Having children is actually not easy at all for me. It requires a lot of commitment and sacrifices. You must find the time to spend with them despite having a busy and tiring day at work. And you also have to work very hard to support them. I think these are the reasons why most people do not wan to have children now.''
Lets say if you could have children again will you? And if, how many?
"Let's say if I could have children again, I will think twice again. Maybe just 1."
Ms Pauline, 58
Traveling agent
Are you married?
"No I'm not."
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"I think its because Singaporeans are very hardworking. They are looking out for new jobs and also want to focus on their jobs and career. Therefore, when they get old and have not found their companion yet and start thinking about having children, it is too late."
Was that what happened to you?
''Yes.''
Lets say if you could have children, will you? And if, how many?
''Yes I would. 1.''
Mrs Fernandez, 47
Housewife
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''3.''
Why did you want to have children?
''To start a family because having a family makes me happy.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
''Oh because you must spent time time with them and must work very hard earn money to support them.''
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
''Yes having a family brings me happiness. I would want to have either 4 or 5.''
Mr Tan, 43
Real estate agent
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''2.''
Why did you want to have children?
''I wanted to start a family and having children to me is having a complete family. I also wanted to teach and raise them up myself as they are from my own flesh and blood.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
''I know that raising up children is not easy for me as you need to spend time with them and earning more money to feed them. You know that could be the reason why people decide to have less or not to have any at all. However, I am aware of the sacrifices.''
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
''Um...No, I think I will stop at 2.''
Mrs Lim, 48
Clinic assistant
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''2.''
What is stopping you from having more than 1-2 children?
"Very stressful, because when they misbehave, you have to scold them.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"It is very stressful for Singaporeans as the cost of living has gone up and they do not have time for their children. More women are now busy working too."
What can the government do to encourage more singaporeans to have or have more children?
"They should give more incentives."
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
"If the cost of living is not high and medical and health care is cheaper, I think I would like to have 4 or 5."
Mrs Khoo, 41
Teacher
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''2.''
What is stopping you from having more than 1-2 children?
"Hehe... I think I am too old to have children already."
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
''The cost of living has really increased and couples also find it very hard to spend time with their family as they are very busy.''
What can the government do to encourage more Singaporeans to have or have more children?
"As read in the news papers, the government is now deciding whether to extent paternally leave to the same amount of time as the maternally leave.''
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
''I think 3.''
Mr Seah, 32
Teacher
Are you married?
"No, I am single."
Are you planning to get married and have children in the future?
"Erm...No.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"Personally for me, I do not really want to have children because I think it is a small burden as it requires alot more time and money and they are also not as obedient as pets. Thats why I only have a dog . I think other people also share the same views as me.Therefore, I will advise you to think again about having children next time."
What can the government do to encourage Singaporeans to have or have more children?
"Maybe give more tax rebates.''
Working partime
Are you married?
"Yes."
How many children do you have?
"2."
"There was no choice, I'm married. However as a catholic, I believe children are gifts from God. If he gives them to you there must be some reason why. After all, many people around the world actually want to have their own children but cannot. So its really up to God to decide."
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"Having children is actually not easy at all for me. It requires a lot of commitment and sacrifices. You must find the time to spend with them despite having a busy and tiring day at work. And you also have to work very hard to support them. I think these are the reasons why most people do not wan to have children now.''
Lets say if you could have children again will you? And if, how many?
"Let's say if I could have children again, I will think twice again. Maybe just 1."
Ms Pauline, 58
Traveling agent
Are you married?
"No I'm not."
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"I think its because Singaporeans are very hardworking. They are looking out for new jobs and also want to focus on their jobs and career. Therefore, when they get old and have not found their companion yet and start thinking about having children, it is too late."
Was that what happened to you?
''Yes.''
Lets say if you could have children, will you? And if, how many?
''Yes I would. 1.''
Mrs Fernandez, 47
Housewife
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''3.''
Why did you want to have children?
''To start a family because having a family makes me happy.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
''Oh because you must spent time time with them and must work very hard earn money to support them.''
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
''Yes having a family brings me happiness. I would want to have either 4 or 5.''
Mr Tan, 43
Real estate agent
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''2.''
Why did you want to have children?
''I wanted to start a family and having children to me is having a complete family. I also wanted to teach and raise them up myself as they are from my own flesh and blood.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
''I know that raising up children is not easy for me as you need to spend time with them and earning more money to feed them. You know that could be the reason why people decide to have less or not to have any at all. However, I am aware of the sacrifices.''
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
''Um...No, I think I will stop at 2.''
Mrs Lim, 48
Clinic assistant
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''2.''
What is stopping you from having more than 1-2 children?
"Very stressful, because when they misbehave, you have to scold them.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"It is very stressful for Singaporeans as the cost of living has gone up and they do not have time for their children. More women are now busy working too."
What can the government do to encourage more singaporeans to have or have more children?
"They should give more incentives."
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
"If the cost of living is not high and medical and health care is cheaper, I think I would like to have 4 or 5."
Mrs Khoo, 41
Teacher
Are you married?
''Yes.''
How many children do you have?
''2.''
What is stopping you from having more than 1-2 children?
"Hehe... I think I am too old to have children already."
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
''The cost of living has really increased and couples also find it very hard to spend time with their family as they are very busy.''
What can the government do to encourage more Singaporeans to have or have more children?
"As read in the news papers, the government is now deciding whether to extent paternally leave to the same amount of time as the maternally leave.''
Lets say if you had the opportunity now to have children again will you? And if , how many?
''I think 3.''
Mr Seah, 32
Teacher
Are you married?
"No, I am single."
Are you planning to get married and have children in the future?
"Erm...No.''
Why do you think some Singaporeans are not having children nowadays?
"Personally for me, I do not really want to have children because I think it is a small burden as it requires alot more time and money and they are also not as obedient as pets. Thats why I only have a dog . I think other people also share the same views as me.Therefore, I will advise you to think again about having children next time."
What can the government do to encourage Singaporeans to have or have more children?
"Maybe give more tax rebates.''
Conclusions
Of the 7 people we interviewed, 5 were married while 2 were single with no intention of ever marrying and having children. Rise in the cost of living and difficulty finding time spend with their children were the most common reasons why Singaporeans decide to have a 1-2 or not to have any children at all. Some said the government should give more incentives and tax rebates to encourage childbearing.
Christopher: I benefited from this project as I learnt how to make a blog and I also got to know the problems the government is facing about low population growth from the public's perspective. I contributed by conducting the survey.
Robert John: I am the leader of this group. I benefited from this project as I now I know the causes and problems of Singapore due to the low birth rate. I contributed by typing out most of the words in our blog. Christopher helped the group out by typing the survey results here in our blog. Hassan did the research using the textbook, the news paper articles and the internet. Most of all, I came out with the word COLBRIS which stands for Cause Of Low Birth Rate In Singapore.
Muhammad: I have learned many intresting facts and skills from this project. Not only did I get the chance to learn about low population growth in a fun and creative way, I also got to interview other people and I got to know the cause of low population growth. I'm very fortunate to have been working with my other groupmates, and I must thank Robert for being a very good leader.
Hassan:I have learnt many things about the main causes of low birth rate.I contributed by doing the research bu surfing the net and using the textbook as a source of information.I also undertand what the goverment is facing now regarding to the low birth rate.This project makes us undeerstand more about this particular topic.I hope we will have more of this.
Christopher: I benefited from this project as I learnt how to make a blog and I also got to know the problems the government is facing about low population growth from the public's perspective. I contributed by conducting the survey.
Robert John: I am the leader of this group. I benefited from this project as I now I know the causes and problems of Singapore due to the low birth rate. I contributed by typing out most of the words in our blog. Christopher helped the group out by typing the survey results here in our blog. Hassan did the research using the textbook, the news paper articles and the internet. Most of all, I came out with the word COLBRIS which stands for Cause Of Low Birth Rate In Singapore.
Muhammad: I have learned many intresting facts and skills from this project. Not only did I get the chance to learn about low population growth in a fun and creative way, I also got to interview other people and I got to know the cause of low population growth. I'm very fortunate to have been working with my other groupmates, and I must thank Robert for being a very good leader.
Hassan:I have learnt many things about the main causes of low birth rate.I contributed by doing the research bu surfing the net and using the textbook as a source of information.I also undertand what the goverment is facing now regarding to the low birth rate.This project makes us undeerstand more about this particular topic.I hope we will have more of this.
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