According to a REACH survey published today (3 Sep), more than 7 in 10 people felt that this year’s National Day Rally (NDR) 2013 announcements boosted their confidence in Singapore’s future.
The policy shifts for healthcare, housing and education announced at the Rally were warmly welcomed, with the majority agreeing that the measures will ensure that healthcare and housing remain affordable, and that our children can develop to their maximum potential.
These were the responses in a REACH telephone poll carried out from 20 to 29 August 2013 to gauge Singaporeans’ sentiments towards the Rally. 853 respondents aged 20 and above, who had heard or read PM Lee’s NDR speech and have some knowledge of the issues raised, were randomly selected and polled. The sample size is largely representative of the Singapore population, and the margin of error is 3.36% at a 95% confidence level.
Overall, 73% of poll respondents felt that the Rally announcements boosted their confidence in Singapore’s future, while 75% believed that together, Singaporeans will be able to deal with the challenges ahead.
On healthcare:
- Overall, 81% agreed that the new healthcare measures will ensure the affordability of public healthcare, especially for older and lower income Singaporeans.
- 86% supported the introduction of MediShield Life, which will cover all Singaporeans, including those with pre-existing conditions.
- The removal of the age limit for the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) received the strongest support, with 90% supporting the measure.
On housing:
- Overall, 76% agreed that the new housing measures will better ensure that public housing is affordable for those in the lower- and middle-income groups.
- 84% supported the move to keep the prices of Build-To-Order flats stable to ensure that public housing is more affordable for first time home buyers.
- Significantly, more than 8 in 10 (81%) supported the extension of the Special CPF Housing Grant to include middle-income first-time home buyers.
On education:
- On the whole, 65% felt that the new education-related measures will better help children develop their potential to the maximum.
- 76% supported the move to set aside 40 Primary 1 places in each school for students without any connections to that school.
- Almost 60% supported the move to change the current PSLE grading system to one that is more similar to that of the “O” and “A” Levels.
REACH Chairman Dr Amy Khor said, “The findings of the National Day Rally 2013 telephone poll is heartening, as it reflects Singaporeans’ broad agreement with what the Government is doing to boost confidence in Singapore’s future and ensure that it continues to thrive without compromising core values such as effort and meritocracy.”
“These sentiments correspond with the feedback that REACH has received so far, with many voicing their strong support especially for the healthcare and housing initiatives. On education, while there is support and consensus on the need to keep our system open and rigorous, it is understandable that Singaporeans have expressed some uncertainties about how the policy changes will be implemented and how these will impact their children.”
“As more details are announced, I hope that Singaporeans will continue to be assured that the Government, together with the community, will support individuals who may be more vulnerable and ensure that they have every opportunity to improve their lives.”
TR Emeritus
*Article first appeared on www.TREmeritus.com