"Ensure next generation is better than us: Minister - CNA 06 Mar 2016
Singaporeans should pass on their knowledge "to make sure that the next generation is always better than us".
This was the call from Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister, Prime Minister's Office and deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA), at an SGfuture engagement session yesterday.
It focused on lifelong learning for senior citizens and how the community can support them - which the PA hopes to do by linking them up with like-minded people and providing venues.
"If we as individuals keep learning but never pass on the experiences, then we'll be back to 1965," said Mr Chan.
Brainstorming ideas at the Future of Us exhibition venue at Marina Bay were about 80 participants aged 23 to 78.
Retired electrical engineer Ho Hew Lee, 73, gives free IT talks and hands-on sessions to those over 50 years of age once a month at Bukit Merah Public Library. "It is a challenge to get the seniors to come out of their comfort zone," he said.
Nanyang Technological University undergraduate Sai Fengjia, 24, teamed up with three friends on a final-year project, named Savvy Silvers, to help seniors get to grips with smartphones.
"We created a curriculum to teach them basic functions of the phone, and then we advanced to specific apps on the phone," she said.
Retiree Fong Kwok Onn, 65, stressed the importance of seniors knowing how to use technology like Skype and WhatsApp, instead of traditional phones, to communicate with friends and relatives overseas. "It's free of charge," he said.
Mr Chan said the PA is working with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and other agencies to create more courses tailored for seniors where they can use their $500 SkillsFuture credit."
A laudable cause for sure to get senior citizens and residents to learn from fellow senior citizens and residents.
1. it is important to know that: to move from 'I don't know' to 'I Know' is good. At the same time, to know is not the same as to do; and to do is what ultimately decide if one is successful or otherwise. So passing experiences to the next generation is good but they may be deemed as irrelevant by the younger generation due to the changed circumstances and values system adopted!;
2. to know for sure if the 'next generation' is better and that they are better due to the 'knowledge and experiences passed down by the older generation to the young generation', then we have something concrete and measurable to base the conversation on. This means we need to define: What is BETTER? More money? more consumptions? more vocal in demanding government's subsidies and incentives? more civil minded and able to clean after oneself after a meal in the hawkers center and/or food courts?;
3. one of the senior volunteers mentioned about: very hard to get the seniors out of their comfort zone. This behaviour will need to be dealt with from the mind-set and not just explaining more about the many benefits the seniors can get from being active learners. It has to be SOMETHING they REALLY care about and WANT to do! Of course, skillful design of the learning program, expert and caring delivery of the programs, respectful two-way communication and adopting a problems solving approach to unexpected issues that arise would be critical. In this regards, it has ultimately be self-motivation that drive these senior people before our dinner!
Singaporeans should pass on their knowledge "to make sure that the next generation is always better than us".
This was the call from Mr Chan Chun Sing, Minister, Prime Minister's Office and deputy chairman of the People's Association (PA), at an SGfuture engagement session yesterday.
It focused on lifelong learning for senior citizens and how the community can support them - which the PA hopes to do by linking them up with like-minded people and providing venues.
"If we as individuals keep learning but never pass on the experiences, then we'll be back to 1965," said Mr Chan.
Brainstorming ideas at the Future of Us exhibition venue at Marina Bay were about 80 participants aged 23 to 78.
Nanyang Technological University undergraduate Sai Fengjia, 24, teamed up with three friends on a final-year project, named Savvy Silvers, to help seniors get to grips with smartphones.
"We created a curriculum to teach them basic functions of the phone, and then we advanced to specific apps on the phone," she said.
Retiree Fong Kwok Onn, 65, stressed the importance of seniors knowing how to use technology like Skype and WhatsApp, instead of traditional phones, to communicate with friends and relatives overseas. "It's free of charge," he said.
Mr Chan said the PA is working with the Singapore Workforce Development Agency and other agencies to create more courses tailored for seniors where they can use their $500 SkillsFuture credit."
A laudable cause for sure to get senior citizens and residents to learn from fellow senior citizens and residents.
1. it is important to know that: to move from 'I don't know' to 'I Know' is good. At the same time, to know is not the same as to do; and to do is what ultimately decide if one is successful or otherwise. So passing experiences to the next generation is good but they may be deemed as irrelevant by the younger generation due to the changed circumstances and values system adopted!;
2. to know for sure if the 'next generation' is better and that they are better due to the 'knowledge and experiences passed down by the older generation to the young generation', then we have something concrete and measurable to base the conversation on. This means we need to define: What is BETTER? More money? more consumptions? more vocal in demanding government's subsidies and incentives? more civil minded and able to clean after oneself after a meal in the hawkers center and/or food courts?;
3. one of the senior volunteers mentioned about: very hard to get the seniors out of their comfort zone. This behaviour will need to be dealt with from the mind-set and not just explaining more about the many benefits the seniors can get from being active learners. It has to be SOMETHING they REALLY care about and WANT to do! Of course, skillful design of the learning program, expert and caring delivery of the programs, respectful two-way communication and adopting a problems solving approach to unexpected issues that arise would be critical. In this regards, it has ultimately be self-motivation that drive these senior people before our dinner!
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