By Jeremy Au Yong POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT

THE two-year national service period can be a window of opportunity for those without adequate education and skills to pick up on what they need for the future, Mr Hri Kumar Nair (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC) suggested yesterday.
His was one of a number ideas that four MPs pitched as they underlined the importance of continuing to invest in education, so that Singaporeans could reach their full potential.

Mr Nair suggested squeezing classes in during national service to give job skills to those who had fallen through the net.

'I am not for a moment suggesting that we compromise our training or do anything to adversely affect our national security,' he said.

'However, we have a valuable, two-

year window which we should capitalise on to teach and train those with low education and little skills, which they can use to get a job and manage their lives after they leave national service.'

Enlistees will become older and more sober about the future they face, he said, adding that army discipline will also mean fewer distractions for them.

Incentives may be given to those willing to apply themselves. This way, 'we can continue working towards the promise of not leaving anyone behind'.

He also asked the Government to offer a comprehensive programme of student loans.

Many did not pursue further education because they were unable to secure spots in universities in Singapore and could not afford to attend a private institution.

'This will be a real investment in Singaporeans, on which we will receive an immeasurable and meaningful return,' he said.

Madam Cynthia Phua (Aljunied GRC) focused, among other things, on streaming which she said 'separates the child from the people he or she mixes with' and affects self-confidence.

With schools having more resources, she suggested adopting a modular system in secondary schools instead.

Students could be banded according to their abilities in subjects, meaning they could be taking mathematics at a particular level and English at a higher level.

This way, they get to interact with their peers and 'learn and recognise the strength and weaknesses of their peers and learn to interact and respect each other for their individual capabilities'.

Messrs Lim Biow Chuan (Marine Parade GRC) and Wee Siew Kim (Ang Mo Kio GRC) floated ideas on more intangible matters, like values and cultural identity.

Mr Lim urged the Education Ministry to make teaching basic character values a part of the curriculum from primary school right up to university. He worried that students were becoming self-centred.

As for Mr Wee, one of the things he called for was more immersion programmes, similar to what some schools were doing to encourage students to learn Mandarin. More should also be done to teach children about their cultural heritage, he added

This article was first published in The Straits Times.