Our PM just delivered his National Day Rally Speech on 21 Aug 05. For myself, it is most heartening to know that our leaders are looking into the service sector and the education of our people. It is time for us to focus and remake Singapore.
Service Culture
Being in the service sector myself before, I know exactly how it was to be at the other end. It is so tiring to be rushing here and there and to stand ard (I was a waitress in a restuarant) and the least that you hope is a customer throwing abuses at you!
Actually the root problem for good customer service is the attitude. Like what PM has said, not only the employees must change, the employers and customers must also be prepared to have new perception of the service industry. The whole concept of service industry is of lower level should be corrected. Parents should stop discouraging their young abt how low level the service industry can be. And most importantly, to be courteous to anyone including those serving you. Though good customer service is important, the customers themselves will have to reflect on themselves too. Do they also view those serving them as 2nd class and throw their weight ard? It won't be so hard to show your appreciation by saying "thank you", "please" to those serving you rite? Good customer gets good service. Do what you expect of ppl by starting it yourself.
Education
I am also very glad that the leaders are looking into this problem after so long with so many children being the victims of this education system. Myself included. All along, those late developers are always looked down upon, many times not by themselves, but the people ard them. Children are susceptible to how people view them it is uptmost important to get acceptance from those ard them. I was lucky to be with the mass during my schooling time being in normal stream (note there was only normal, extended and 1 I couldn't remember in my time) in Pri school, Express stream in Sec school and I choose to go Poly after my 'O' levels. Luckily by the time I went poly, the peception that it is only for those who couldn't get into Junior Colleges has changed. Poly graduates are are much valued in the workforce. But my sister was not so lucky.
She is a late developer and in terms of academic, not as good as me or my bro, but.. she is very good with her hands. Being sent to Normal Technical stream after her PSLE further dampen her spirit in her studies. The teachers in her school were not helpful either, infact they pushed her further away from the main stream. Maybe the attitude of my sister played a part, but the fact that the teachers constantly speaking down to them, comparing them with the Express and Normal Academic stream is not helping in their self-esteem. As what my sis compliant to me before, the teachers just leave it to them to study, they are not even willing to put extra effort to explain the lessons to them at a slower pace and show more concern for them. Although there are teacher out there who will go all out for this group of children, just 1 insensitive soul is enough to send them into despair and cause them to discount their worth. This is in fact like the Yellow Ribbon movement for the ex-convicts. If people want to improve, shouldn't we encourage them, give them a chance rather than sending them down into the spiral of vicious cycle?
Not everyone has a strong might and determination to overcome adversities especially so without the support and encouragment from those ard them. By at least creating an environment and hope for them to find their worth, not necessary in terms of just studying is already a very good step towards increasing their self-esteem.
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