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Is your society effective in dealing with discrimination?, Evaluation,…

- - - - Claim
        
        In Singapore, there is a clear line drawn between the elite and non-elite secondary schools, as a result of the grade-based stratification from each respective Primary School Leaving Examination result. The secondary schools that local students attend greatly influences which social groups they get to interact with in the present and future. Students from non-elite schools may find it more challenging in terms of access to opportunities and interactions, due to the questionable notion that they are ‘less capable or intelligent’ as compared to those from elite schools.
        
        Example
        
        Example: For example, In a Channel News Asia local documentary, according to an interviewee who was a Normal (Academic) student, there is a prevailing attitude among most Express stream students that looks down upon students like her, perceiving them as unintelligent. As a result, interactions between the two groups are rare. With Singapore’s pervasive kiasu culture firmly engraved in Singapore’s education and meritocracy system, students are trained to be ‘academic weapons' . As a result, express stream students tend to stick to and interact with students of the same academic background with the notion that Normal academic students are less intelligent and less beneficial for their future successes, resulting in segregation, which is especially true in pre-university programmes, where students from diverse academic backgrounds come together. Therefore, Singapore is not effective in dealing with discrimination as discrimination in the form of active segregation is likely to persist, with meritocracy forming the foundation of the education system.
        
        Mixed ability classes actually widen the divide if students feel overwhelmed to cope and give up entirely, especially when there is a drastic change in the learning environment that they were initially accustomed to. This can compromise the overall learning efficiency in such classes, as the teaching approaches may end up catering only to a subset of students based on their learning capabilities. For instance, for a mixed-ability class with a fast learning pace, the ‘more capable’ elite students would benefit more from such lessons as compared to the unaccustomed non-elite students. Consequently, the grades in examinations will be used as determinants of one’s academic background that lead to further segregation between elite and non-elite students, this time within the class. Thus, grade-based stratification may be the suggested approach such that the learning processes are tailored to different groups of students, but it comes at the expense of discrimination in the form of active segregation among students.
      - Counter-claim
        
        However, some naysayers may claim that discrimination has been eliminated by allocating students of mixed abilities to learn together. MOE policy is shifting away from streaming and grade-based stratification in schools. By having mixed-ability classes, students with different academic abilities will have to work together and interact more, which will level the playing field for all students regardless of their school.
        
        Example
        
        For example, recent changes to PSLE & subject banding encourage social mixing between students from different backgrounds & academic abilities. This creates more opportunities for non-elite students to participate & benefit from an environment with elite students. This also stops signaling to elite students that they are inherently superior to others, effectively reducing discrimination among students.
- - - - CLAIM
        
        For example, the racial quota in each Housing and Development Board (HDB) block and estate has been controlled to broadly reflect Singapore’s racial proportion . The objective is twofold: To prevent any particular race from congregating in a location; and to give residents more opportunities to interact with those from other races as they go about their daily lives. The policy has largely met its aim, with every neighbourhood here a microcosm of society at large. Not only have residents of all races formed strong neighbourly cohesive ties, they have largely accommodated each other’s practices and customs, such as the burning of incense or the holding of wedding celebrations at void decks. Through the many policies implemented to promote racial harmony in society, they have effectively reduced prejudices and discrimination as a result of culture clashes, with the majority of Singaporeans comprehending the gravity of racial harmony among races.
        
        However, concealing such cases of racism would only allow history to repeat itself. If anything, such cases of racism displayed on social media only spotlights the dire repercussions that are accompanied by such obnoxious behaviour. As such, exposure to such cases of racism would help instil the notion that interracial relationships are overwhelmingly welcomed, which ultimately strengthens racial harmony among Singaporeans. Overall, the measures put in place are effective in combating discrimination among Singaporeans, and serves as a constant reminder for Singaporeans to uphold racial harmony in society.
      - However, naysayers may claim that the lack of restrictions on social media in Singapore’s society has allowed negative racial stereotypes to be engraved among netizens, especially maturing youths, which may result in a higher prevalence of discrimination. For example, former Ngee Ann Poly lecturer Tan Boon Lee berated an interracial couple and stated that “ There is something wrong with the race, there is something wrong with the colour.” when referring to Indians. With the whole ordeal posted on social media and exposed to Singaporeans of all ages, discrimination from such viral cases may enforce the notion that interracial relationships are "taboo" and "predatory". Without clarification, the lack of effective measures to conceal racism on social media may give rise to discrimination and normalise such unpleasant behaviour.
        
        Evaluation