zss ss s3 2024

NAME : ______________________________ INDEX NO : ______ CLASS ___________ 1 hour 45 minutes 30 September 2024 2260/012261/012262/01Additional materials:Writing papers and thread_____________________________________________________________________________________ ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOLZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOLZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOLZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOLZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOL ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOLREAD THESE INSTRUCTIONS FIRSTWrite your Name, Class and Register 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.Section AAnswer all questions.Section BAnswer both questions.Write all answers on the writing papers provided.At the end of the examination, fasten all work securely together.INFORMATION FOR CANDIDATESThis Social Studies component is worth 50% of the Humanities subject. The number of marks is given in brackets [ ] at the end of each question or part question.The total marks for this paper is 50.____________________________________________________________________________Setter: Ms Jency GraciaThis document consists of 7 printed pages including this cover page. ZHENGHUA SECONDARY SCHOOLSECONDARY THREEG3 SOCIAL STUDIESEND-OF-YEAR EXAMINATION 50 [Turn over

2SECTION A (Source-Based Case Study)Answer all questions.1Exploring Citizenship and GovernanceStudy 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 which you are told to use. In answering the questions, you should use your knowledge of the issue to help you interpret and evaluate the sources.1Study Source A.What is the cartoonist’s message? Explain your answer, using details of the source. [5]2Study Source B and C.How different are these two sources? Explain your answer. [7]3Study Source D. Why do you think the Minister of State for Social and Family Development made this speech? Explain your answer. [6]4Study Source E. How reliable is Source E in showing the government's efforts to increase birth rates in Singapore? Explain your answer.[7]5‘The government’s efforts to increase birth rates in Singapore are enough’.Using sources in this case study, explain how far you would agree with this statement. [10][Turn over

3How effective are the Singapore government’s policies in increasing birth rates? BACKGROUND INFORMATIONRead this carefully. It may help you answer some of the questions.Singapore's resident total fertility rate has fallen to a historic low of 0.97 (below 1.0) in 2023. Singapore has grappled with persistently low birth rates and declining fertility rates in recent years, posing significant demographic challenges. The government has implemented and revised policies aimed at encouraging parenthood and supporting families to achieve sustainable population growth. Some efforts include policies such as the Baby Bonus Scheme and enhanced parental leave benefits, which were introduced in 2001 and 2013 respectively. Despite these policies to encourage childbirth, the birth rates have continued to decline over the years. Singapore's high cost of living, housing policies, and the rapid modernisation of society have resulted in significant shifts in the mindsets of young people and their views towards having children. Over the years, young people in Singapore have expressed mixed feelings about whether the government is doing enough to address the concerns that they have. Study the following sources to assess how effective the Singapore government’s policies are in increasing birth rates.Source AA local cartoonist’s view on the Baby Bonus Scheme, The Straits Times, 26 September 2018.

4Source BFrom an article published by Today, a Singapore newspaper, about young people’s opinions towards having children, February 2024. The undergraduate Ms Kaur said she would like to “provide the best” for her future child and fears not being able to compete with other, wealthier parents. A major deterrent to having kids is the financial burden of raising a child in Singapore today. Dr Tan Poh Lin, a senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies (IPS), said: “If we have a pyramid-shaped social hierarchy, with a small class of individuals at the top who go through a selective process for scarce elite positions in which they are heavily rewarded, and a large bottom class of individuals who are socially and economically less well-off and secure, then no matter what birth incentives you put in place, parents will always have a strong reason to choose quality over quantity. They may choose to have just one child but ensure that he or she is given all the advantages of life.”Source CFrom an article published by Consumer News and Business Channel (CNBC) about the falling birth rates in Singapore, September 2023. “Throwing money at the problem will not solve it. Tackling the fertility rate will require us to confront the weaknesses of the current policies put in place," said Wen Wei Tan, analyst at the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU)."Once women have children, they’re going to see a slowdown in their career progression, and many decide to wait until they are stable in their jobs so there won’t be a serious threat to their careers when they take time away from work," said Tan Poh Lin, senior research fellow at the Institute of Policy Studies, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy.Source DAn extract from the speech by Ms Sun Xueling, Minister of State for Social and Family Development, at the second reading of the Child Development Co-Savings (Amendment) Bill, September 2023.The latest enhancements to parental leave schemes include the doubling of government-paid paternity leave to four weeks and unpaid infant care leave to 12 days from Jan 1, 2024. Ms Sun Xueling said that the increase in paternity benefits is “(one of the) critical steps that the Government is making towards normalising paternal involvement in our society.”"This Bill will strengthen our support for parents in managing their work and family commitments, as well as to encourage greater shared parental responsibility in caregiving. The Government is committed to this cause, and will continue to review our measures to provide greater assurance to young couples as they think about starting and growing their families," she added.[Turn over

5Source EFrom a blog written by a Singaporean father of three children, commenting on the Baby Bonus benefits given by the government, June 2010.Times have changed and with a pro-child policy in Singapore, it is a win-win situation to have children! One of the benefits of living in Singapore is that the government is willing to help lighten the financial costs of bringing up a child. The total Baby Bonus benefits can go up to $10,000 for the first and second child and further increase up to $18,000 for the third and fourth child. After the fifth child, you may receive up to $18,000 of total Baby Bonus benefits for each child. You can use the cash to manage the new expenses once your babies are born. Therefore, to maximise your benefits, do not stop at having one child. Have a second child and more, like me!Source FFrom an article published by Channel NewsAsia (CNA) about the increased paternity leave, February 2023.Fathers of Singaporean children will from next year be able to take four weeks of government-paid paternity leave, doubled from the existing two weeks. Former Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong announced in his Budget 2023 speech that this will begin with employers having the option to