Outline Draft

 Essay Outline

What are the social consequences of income inequality on education in Singapore?

Introduction: Background             - Briefly state the problem: Singapore is an open and small economy with a Gini coefficient higher than neighboring countries (0.478 as of 2012)*. Due to its openness to international free trade, smaller countries are often linked to greater income inequality.* Income inequality indirectly affects a child’s chances of being accepted into a school and the child’s performance based on their parents’ social-economic status.* The rich has more advantage to get their children into better schools giving them a better head-start into their education journey. Then, these children would grow up and attain higher levels of education qualifications and earn higher incomes and the cycle continues.             - Briefly state one solution:  Helping them financially is insufficient but a social policy is required to give everyone an equal chance of entering into schools of their choice. Currently; there are many advantages given to those who stay near the better school with higher chances during balloting. (Phase 2C)* Would suggest improving the system by changing the criteria for a reserved percentage of phase 2C: Instead of home distance, a lottery system* should be used with the initial priority of SC over PR.    Thesis statement: With an increasing income gap between the top income earners and low income earners, social impacts on educational opportunities and social mobility within the society is greater than ever before. The government should not only focus solely on financial aid, more attention should be given to equalizing educational opportunities to keep social mobility up. Body: BRIEFLY describe problem [why is it a problem?]: Talk about the primary school admission scene here and its criteria with the balloting requirement, and elaborate on how this is more advantageous to the rich as compared to the poor. Rich – Higher income per capital, does not require two full time working parent to cope with the cost of living for eg. Able to devote more time as alumni member or as a parent volunteer. Poor – low income earners, unable to change housing location in order to have a more favorable chance to enter the desired primary school. Assuming both parents are working would have no time to offer their time as a parent volunteer as they need to work to support their family. As we are moving towards what the government is trying to build a mindset that all schools are good schools, we need to improve on certain measures taken in order for all schools to intake different portfolio of students from different background. Also, to give all students a more equal chance of entering a school of their choice regardless of their social-economic status. C. Explain and support one solution. 1st Describe ONE existing solution: As of 2014, all primary school would reserve 40 places for students without prior connections.* 2nd EVALUATE its effectiveness (evidence) Explain the benefits of this policy. This is good and beneficial as this would make the system more just and unbiased towards the rich or those that have prior connections. This also makes sure that the places reserved for students 3rd Explain what evidence shows: why effective/not effective in fixing the problem? Think about why the solution may still be a problem. Even though the 40 places may be reserved and prove to be good in assuring a more just way of selection, the rich would still be able to use the balloting criteria to get their children through the system. Especially when the rich can afford to move house in order to have more advantages over the poor. 4th If you can improve on existing solution(s), propose your OWN solution. Think about the context in which your proposed solution can be possible. What steps need to be taken to make the solution(s) work?                          In the US, lottery system has been put in place in order to help reduce the unfairness of the admission of schools.*Improving the system by setting aside a certain percentage for the lottery system would give a more equal chance to everyone. 5th Concluding sentence.