How ethnic diversity is managed

Can ethnic diversity be managed?

-Building a national identity
-Safeguard the interests of the minority groups.
-Developing common space



BUILDING A NATIONAL IDENTITY


MULTI-RACIALISM

The policy of multi-racialism promotes equality among the races, with no special rights granted to any particular racial or religious group. Everyone has equal opportunities to succeed, regardless of their background. Favouring a certain group of people because of their race or religion is seen as a valued member of the Singapore society, a sense of national identity of Singaporeans is created.

*COMMON PRACTICES

Common practices are actions that Singaporeans carry out together. Singing the national anthem, taking the pledge and attending the flag raising ceremony are examples of the common practices carried out in schools. These common practices help to foster national identity. Inculcating loyalty and national pride towards Singapore is one way to get Singaporeans to see themselves as one people.

*BILINGUALISM

The policy of bilingualism was introduced in schools in 1966. Students were expected to learn English and their own Mother Tongue. With bilingualism, English is used as the language linking the different ethnic groups. Mother Tongue language is used to impart moral values and cultural traditions of each race. As English is a non-native language for all the ethnic groups, no one has an advantage over others. The use of English has helped improve communication among Singaporeans.




SAFEGUARDING THE INTERESTS OF THE MINORITY GROUPS

*MINORITY REPRESENTATION

The policy of minority representation gives minority groups a say in governance. It is also a way to safeguard the interests of the minority groups. The Presidential Council of Minority Rights(PCMR) and the Group Representation Constituency(GRC) are two examples of how representation of the minority groups is achieved.
The PCMR consists of members from minority racial and religious groups. It ensures that no racial or religious group is disadvantaged as a result of a law that is passed in Parliament.
The GRC ensures that at least one of the candidates in the team contesting in the General Election is from the minority racial communities such as Malay, Indian, Eurasian. The GRC system ensures that the minority racial groups are represented in the Parliament. In this way, the concerns and needs of the minority groups are made known to the government.

*SELF-HELP GROUPS

Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA), Mendaki and the Eurasian Association play an important role in helping members of their community who are less fortunate to get aid in their studies and training for their jobs. Self-help groups also give moral support to members of their own community. This helps Singaporeans to cope and compete with one another on an equal footing. By doing so, people from the minority groups will be able to improve their social and economic positions in the society. Joint efforts in self-help groups have allowed students from different ethnic groups to attend the same tuition classes in tuition centres run by CDAC, Mendaki & SINDA. This provides opportunity for youths from different ethnic groups to interact and get along with one another.




DEVELOPING COMMON SPACE

*EVENTS AND PROGRAMMES ORGANISED BY GRASSROOTS ORGANISATIONS

Grassroots organisations such as People's Association (PA) create common space through their wide range of programmes and acivities developed to cater the needs and interests of every Singaporean.
One of the programmes conducted for students is a home visit or home stay opportunity with host family from another ethnic group. This allows participants to gain a better understanding of the cultures and customs of other races. With mutual respect, strong friendship can be built over time.

*OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Educational institutions such as schools and tertiary institutes are open to every Singaporean, regardless of race, language or religion. Students from different races and religions study together. The daily interaction that takes place among stuednts during lessons and school activities provides an opportunity for friendships to be cultivated and strengthned.
Implementation of Co-Curricular Activities (CCAs) in schools helps to promote closer bonds among youths from all races. The variety of activities conducted during CCAs provides opportunities for students to work closely with and understand one another. Students from different races come together to play games and work on a task. This helps o build teamwork among them.
Students also learn to appreciate one another's talent and respect one another as individuals. Social bonds among students from the various ethnic groups are fostered through school-based activities. The more they communicate, the less the chance of fights breaking out between people.


*COMMON LIVING SPACE PROVIDED BY PUBLIC HOUSING

In the 1980s, it was observed that there were too many people from the same racial group living the same housing estate. This situation could hinder the social bonding among the people from the different races.
In 1989, the ethnic integration policy was introduced. It puts a limit on the proportion of races in every neighbourhood and block. This ensures that there is an even distribution of the different races in all the housing estates. Living together in the same neighbourhood provides opportunities for people from the different ethnic groups to interact.

*ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED BY INTER-RACIAL CONFIDENCE CIRCLES (IRCCs) AND HARMONY CIRCLES (HCs)

The IRCCs were introduced in January 2002 to provide the common space to foster greater inter-racial understanding. The activities carried out by the IRCCs such as visits to places of worship, create opportunities for Singaporeans to appreciate their differences and develop strong bonds among different ethnic and religious communities. At the workplace, these iner-racial and inter-religious activities are carried out by the HCs. All these activities help to build confidence and friendship among people.

*SHARED EXPERIENCE THROUGH NATIONAL SERVICE
Another area where common space is created for the various races to interact is National Service (NS). NS was introduced in 1967 which required all able-bodied men to serve in the defence of the coutnry. The shared experiences like going through military training help to strengthen the bond among the men.