2019 ANDERSON SEC 4E SS Prelims

This document consists of 7 printed pages. Setter: Mr. Yong Eng Kiat O ANDERSON SECONDARY SCHOOL Preliminary Examination 2019 Secondary Four Express / Secondary Five Normal Academic CANDIDATE NAME: CLASS: / INDEX NUMBER: HUMANITIES Paper 1 Social Studies 2272/01, 2273/01 2274/1, 2276/1 23 August 2019 1 hour 45 minutes 0800 - 0945h Additional Materials: Writing paper READ THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRST Write your name, class and index number on all the work you hand in. Write in dark blue or black pen on both sides of the paper. Do not use staples, paper clips, highlighters, glue or correction fluid/tape. Answer all the questions. Write your answers on the writing paper provided. At the end of the examination, fasten all your work securely together. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question. For examiner’s use only: Section A / 35 m Section B / 15 m Total / 50 marks

2 Prelim 4E 5N SS P1 2019 Section A (Source-based Case Study) Question 1 is compulsory for all candidates. 1 Being Part of a Globalised World Study the Background Information and the sources carefully, and then answer all the questions. You may use any of the sources to help you answer the questions, in addition to those sources you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the topic to help you interpret and evaluate the sources. 1 (a) Study Sources A and B. How far does Source A agree with Source B? Explain your answer, using details from the source. [5] (b) Study Source C. How useful is this source as evidence about the SkillsFuture Scheme? Explain your answer. [6] (c) Study Source D. Why did the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC) issued this advertisement? Explain your answer, using details from the source. [7] (d) Study Sources E and F. Does Source E make you surprised with Source F? Explain your answer. [7] (e) ‘The SkillsFuture movement benefits Singaporeans.’ Using the sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [10]

3 Prelim 4E 5N SS P1 2019 How does the SkillsFuture Movement affect Singaporeans? BACKGROUND INFORMATION Read this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions. Globalisation has an economic impact on individuals. In response, SkillsFuture is a national movement started in 2015 to provide Singaporeans with opportunities to develop their fullest potential throughout life, regardless of their starting points. The objectives are to promote employer recognition and career development based on skills and mastery, and to foster a culture that supports and celebrating lifelong learning. Under this moveme nt, every Singaporean aged 25 will receive $500 of SkillsFuture Credit. The credit can be used on a range of government supported courses. Support is also given to help middle aged PMETs. For Singaporeans aged 40 and above, a minimum of 90% of training cos ts for Government approved courses will be subsidised. This is because PMET courses tend to cost more. The SkillsFuture movement will cost the government $1 billion dollars from 2015 to 2020. As of 2018, 285,000 Singaporeans have started using their SkillsFuture Credit. However, there are criticism that while SkillsFuture might give Singaporeans certification and some new knowledge, it might not help Singaporeans get a new job. Study the following sources to find out how the SkillsFuture movement affect Singaporeans. Source A: From a government write-up on the SkillsFuture website, 2018. No matter where you are in life – schooling years, early career, mid-career or silver years – you will find a variety of resources to help you attain mastery of skills. Skills mastery is more than having the right paper qualifications and being good at wha t you do currently; it is a mindset of continually striving towards greater excellence through knowledge, application and experience. With the help of the Future Economy Council, education and training providers, employers, unions – you can own a better future with skills mastery and lifelong learning. Your skills. Your asset. Your future. Source B: From an article written on the Commonwealth website on SkillsFuture, 1 June 2016. In my opinion, what is interesting about SkillsFuture is how it is refreshingly honest and innovative. This can be seen from how its attempts to tackle problems such as productivity growth, structural unemployment due to emerging industries and sunset industries and economic stagnation. SkillsFuture recognises that no solution to these problems can rely on government spending alone. It is important that Singaporeans welcome SkillsFuture. Lifelong learning may not guarantee definite rewards in terms of enhanced employment prospects and monetary returns. Such incentives are contr olled by various factors such as the economic climate and industry performance. Nonetheless, SkillsFuture is an earnest attempt to tap on the hidden potential of Singaporeans to expand their individual productive capacities. It is our best chance at introducing dynamism and progress to our economy.

4 Prelim 4E 5N SS P1 2019 Source C: An account of a Singaporean published in an independent local website, 1 November 2016. Mr Zulkipli, 51 was at the roadshow browsing for courses that would prepare him for a second career. He has always wanted to be a web designer and plans to start his second career as one. So he goes to take one of the SkillsFuture course. Armed with this k nowledge, he goes to apply for a web designer job. Indeed, there are many web designer jobs offering a monthly salary between $2000 and $4000. How likely do you think he will be able to get this job with a good pay after finishing his SkillsFuture course? Do note that he has to compete with foreigners. So, after 6 months of non-success in trying to find his dream web designer job, Mr Zulkipli simply gives up. The next thing he may be asking himself is, what is the use of this SkillsFuture Credit Scheme? Source D: An advertisement for SkillsFuture, released by the National Trade Union Congress (NTUC), 2 January 2016. Source E: From a letter published in the Straits Times, 20 March 2018. I was puzzled by the way financial resources are being used in SkillsFuture Credit. The funding support costs $1 billion a year and go into paying for training providers, manpower resources to run the scheme and publicity. The result is a number which says 285,000 people benefited, but it does not tell if the funding support is showing results. It may be true that numbers tell part of the story. But mindset change is more effective in the long run. There is no straightforward answer as to whether the money is well spent. Trial and error are inevitable. It may be years before changes show results and there is also a possibility that the programme may fail. But ultimately, we need to be honest with ourselves about how we are doing.

5 Prelim 4E 5N SS P1 2019 Source F: A statement made in Parliament on 7 March 2017 by Singapore’s Education Minister. What is good about SkillsFuture is that it is very visible, and people do get excited. When SkillsFuture Credit was introduced, people started to discuss and reflect on what they should learn next. There was a certain excitement in the air. The downside is that it can be expensive. This is why we limit it to $500 per Singaporean. Another downside is that we have little control on how people will spend the grant on the ground. And finally, what people spend on may not be entirely alig