Great headline, too little for effect
Tuesday, September 7, 2010 at 4:52PM Sometimes we have a tendency to consider things in a vacuum. Take for example a photography newbie looking to buy a camera; instead of asking "What fits my needs better than what I have now?", they will ask "What is the best camera out there that I can afford?". The same goes for anyone who wants to make a buying decision, or making any decision, really. We tend to isolate it into a simple, black-or-white, yes-or-no dichotomy that we forget that decisions should not be made without considering the scale of the solution.
Questions considering the scale of the issue and solution should always be considered for public policy, unless the goal is so politically myopic that it is mere zero-sum (politics) instead of positive-sum (policy). Something like this story clearly illustrates:
SINGAPORE - The PAP Community Foundation (PCF) has set up a new financial aid scheme for post-secondary students from low-income families.
Over $1.1 million is expected to be given out to at least 1,000 students.
The scheme is open to Singaporeans studying at the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics or junior colleges.
They have to be residing in a four-room HDB flat or smaller and the per capita household income must not exceed $450 per month.
While I applaud the PCF's efforts, what I do not understand is the absurdly stringent requirements to qualify for this aid. A per capita household income of not more than $450 a month in order to qualify for financial help to the tune of a whopping $90 a month? Even considering the overall numbers, it works out to a nut-busting $1,100 per student. Does this strike anyone as being particularly effective or generous?
Sure, the total sum makes for great headline. But it does so only because no one has considered the scale of the issue or the implementation. A PAP arm "giving out" $1.1 million is a great headline. Too bad the kids wouldn't be benefitting as much as the PAP would from this political exercise.
PAP, PAP Community Foundation, Today Online in Education, Fail, Policy, Politics, Singapore
Reader Comments (3)
its per capita household income rite? so $450 in a household of father mother + kid is actually 450x3 = 1350
>>A household income of not more than $450 a month in order to qualify for financial help to the tune of a whopping $90 a month?
What's so shocking??? Transport rebate of $50...household income of not more than $1500 a month!!!
It's characteristic of them....
@anon: Yes, good catch, I have amended the article. However, my point still stands: that this measure is good headline PR, but ineffective on the ground. The mileage in this exercise benefits the PAP more than the students.
@Mee: Nope, not shocking. Just pointing out the purpose of this piece of news, ie this is a marketing act by the PAP, and they're using the poor and disadvantaged to benefit themselves politically.