Chapter 7 (Management of socio-cultural diversity )

Question 1

Naturalisation initiatives
(Define and Describe)

Answer 1

• Naturalisation initiatives refer to programmes that help immigrants develop basic knowledge about life in the host country
• It can involve the local language and civic education of the host country

Question 2

Naturalisation initiatives
(Named Example)

Answer 2

• The Singapore citizenship e-journey
• It is an online course that allows new citizens to learn about Singapore at their own pace and convenience
• It includes information on our history and development as a country, key national policies, Total Defence, as well as our efforts in building a cohesive and harmonious society

Question 3

Naturalisation initiatives
(How will this lead to integration in Singapore?)

Answer 3

• This plays a key part in helping the new Singapore citizens learn about their new home as they explore the key historical, cultural and relational experiences in Singapore
• Integration is an ongoing process that takes place in many areas of living in society
• Besides the Singapore Citizenship Journey the NIC also drives integration efforts in a comprehensive, sustainable and ground-up manner so that emotional attachment and a sense of belonging can be fostered and deepened among new immigrants

Question 4

Common experiences
(Define and Describe)

Answer 4

• Opportunities to interact with locals will help immigrants adapt to being part of Singapore society
• Common experiences build ties between immigrants and the larger Singapore society to encourage immigrants to develop better understanding and to interact outside of their own communities

Question 5

Common experiences (Named Example)

Answer 5

• National Service (NS)
• All male Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents are required to serve NS for two years, to ensure Singapore’s security and sovereignty

Question 6

Common experiences
(How will this lead to integration in Singapore?)

Answer 6

Serving NS helps to develop sense of collective interest above the self and have common life sharing experiences, which contribute to creating a strong national identity

Question 7

Community support (Define and Describe)

Answer 7

• These ground-up initiatives serve to address specific target audiences of needs
• Organizations support integration by focusing on different and important aspects of adapting to the Singapore way of life

Question 8

Community support (Named Example)

Answer 8

• The NIC launched the Community Integration Fund (CIF) in September 2009 to support organizations interested in implementing ground-up integration activities
• The One Community Fiesta is one of the Integration Programmes organised by the PA Integration Council
• It provides opportunities for Singaporeans, new SCs and PRs to better appreciate Singapore’s rich and diverse cultures and customs to build friendships

Question 9

Community support
(How will this lead to integration in Singapore?)

Answer 9

Through community support, immigrants get to mingle with Singaporeans, and will better relate with locals and settle down in Singapore

Question 10

Market-based approach
(Define and Describe)

Answer 10

• In the market-based approach, the government gives citizens the freedom to decide how much they wish to pay for healthcare and allows the market to determine the provision of services to meet healthcare needs
• The USA
• Under the US healthcare system, both public and private hospitals provide healthcare services to American citizens
• The difference is in the types of healthcare that each type of hospital provides
• The US government neither intervenes in the setting of prices by healthcare services providers nor intervenes with the choice of healthcare service options by citizens

Question 11

Market-based approach
(Named Example)

Answer 11

• As healthcare provision is based on the market-based approach, prices can vary significantly due to the freedom of the healthcare provider to set the prices they want
• A mammogram in New york may be less than US$100 or more than US$1700

Question 12

Market-based approach
(How effective is this in enabling the different socio-economic groups receive healthcare?)

Answer 12

• Ineffective because Americans of lower socioeconomic status are more likely to not visit a doctor when sick, worsening their health
• On the other hand, the high socioeconomic status can afford better quality healthcare services that they need

Question 13

Shared responsibility approach
(Define and Describe)

Answer 13

• The government intervenes through the provision of basic healthcare services and shares the cost of some aspects of healthcare
• There is a balance between personal responsibility and the role that the government plays in providing healthcare

Question 14

Shared responsibility approach
(Named Example)

Answer 14

• Primary care services are provided by the government in polyclinics and in the private sector by general practitioners
• The Singapore government provides heavy subsidies of up to 80% of the total bill in public hospital wards, with Singaporeans paying the remaining 20%, from their Medisave or in cash

Question 15

Shared responsibility approach
(How effective is this in enabling the different socio-economic groups receive healthcare?)

Answer 15

• It is effective because it has multiple tiers of protection to ensure that healthcare costs is affordable for different socioeconomic groups
• The higher socio-economic status can also seek better treatment at higher costs in the private sector

Question 16

Government-financed approach
(Define and Describe)

Answer 16

• The government provides substantial subsidies and services for most of the healthcare needs of its citizens
• This sometimes means that some of the healthcare services could be free
• Universal access to healthcare
• Sweden provides universal access to healthcare for its people
• This means that every Swede has equal access to healthcare services regardless of social class, income or place of residence

Question 17

Government-financed approach
(Named Example)

Answer 17

• Patients above 20 years of age are charged about €9 per day for hospitalisation
• Patients pay full cost of prescribed drugs up to €122, after which subsidies becomes 100%

Question 18

Government-financed approach
(How effective is this in enabling the different socio-economic groups receive healthcare?)

Answer 18

• The cost of providing this comprehensive and subsidised approach is sustained through heavy personal taxes on the people
• For the higher socio-economic groups, the government implements a higher tax to bear a greater responsibility for providing universal healthcare to everyone