With more Chinese children coming to study in Singapore, a unique community of women known as “pei du ma ma”, which, loosely translated, means “study mamas”, has emerged here. They are here to keep their children company.
Singaporeans have responded to their presence with mixed reactions. They have been commended by some and condemned by others. What is more important, however, is what their experiences say about the education industry here.
Singapore no dobut presents unique advantages as a choice for Chinese students keen to study overseas.
It is a Garden City with an efficient judicial system and an orderly society. It has a bilingual policy and Chinese are the majority. Life here is easy to get used to and, what's more, their mothers are allowed to come here to be with them.
Most Chinese students who wish to come to Singapore rely on recruitment agencies in China set up by Singapore companies to make the arrangements.
The agencies will invariably make all kinds of promises. They claim they would find the right school for the kids and that it would be easy too for the mothers to find jobs here. Not only would they earn enough to pay for the school fees of their children, but they would probably also be able to afford some savings.
Once they arrive in Singapore, the “study mamas” quickly find out that life is not a bed of roses.
When the agencies fail to keep the promises, they end up looking for the schools themselves, not to mention having to pay additional fees.
Besides, it is difficult for them to look for employment due to the government's strict work permit policy.
They soon run out of money and find themselves in a fix - they have neither the means to return to China nor the funds to continue living in Singapore.
As a result, some “study mamas” are driven by circumstances to become masseuses. Even though they are a minority, people have begun to look down on the entire community, making life even more difficult for these women.
The root of the problem lies with the agencies which provide misleading information.
Since the Singapore government hopes to attract more overseas students here, especially those from China, it should start regulating the industry and live up to its reputation of being a society governed by fair and strict laws.
The agencies should provide accurate information on the school system and life here, or just raise the requirements. This will help many less well-off families make informed and probably the correct decision after careful consideration.
This may lead to a loss of revenue for Singapore but it will also mean fewer social problems. And isn't it a much more responsible way of doing things？
Visitors to Singapore should be made to feel welcome. But most “study mamas” do not feel at home here. They find it hard to make friends as people are often aloof and life is thus boring. Singaporeans also seem to be on guard against them. They feel lonely and helpless and unable to become part of the local community.
These feelings probably stem from the prejudices Singaporeans have against “study mamas”。 Why can't society treat them fairly？ Since the government allows them to come here, why not allow them a chance to take up employment as well？ Indeed, many of them who have left their careers behind are competent in their own fields of training.
Given the green light, they will be most willing to prove their competence to gain the recognition of society.
Education is a long-term process. Short-term measures will not be able to keep foreigners here, let alone foreign talent.
It is no wonder that many “study mamas” have changed their minds about staying here. Is there not a lesson that we can learn from？
。The writer is a translator of Lianhe Zaobao's Foreign Desk. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.
隨著越來(lái)越多的中國(guó)孩子來(lái)新加坡求學(xué),“陪讀媽媽”已逐漸成為新加坡社會(huì)的一個(gè)特殊群體。盡管社會(huì)對(duì)她們的褒貶不一,但由她們的經(jīng)歷引申出的對(duì)新加坡教育的思考卻更發(fā)人深省。
的確,作為中國(guó)學(xué)生出國(guó)留學(xué)的選擇地,新加坡有其獨(dú)特的優(yōu)勢(shì)：法律健全,環(huán)境優(yōu)美,社會(huì)治安良好,雙語(yǔ)社會(huì),華人居多,生活容易適應(yīng),又允許媽媽陪讀。但實(shí)際情況如何,新加坡真的是教育天堂嗎？
中國(guó)學(xué)生大多是通過(guò)新加坡設(shè)在中國(guó)的中介公司介紹來(lái)新。來(lái)新前,中介公司的宣傳天花亂墜：負(fù)責(zé)為孩子安排學(xué)校,媽媽很容易找到工作,足夠支付孩子的學(xué)費(fèi),而且還會(huì)有剩余。
可來(lái)新后的實(shí)際情況如何？中介不僅遲遲不介紹學(xué)校,多數(shù)媽媽只得自己找學(xué)校,還要支付額外的費(fèi)用,而且政府對(duì)陪讀媽媽的工作準(zhǔn)證控制嚴(yán)格,她們從國(guó)內(nèi)帶來(lái)的生活費(fèi)花完了,想回國(guó),回不去；留下來(lái),生計(jì)問(wèn)題迫在眉睫。真是欲哭無(wú)淚！
于是,出現(xiàn)了被逼無(wú)奈從事按摩業(yè)的陪讀媽媽。盡管這部分人只是少數(shù),而且絕大多數(shù)都是實(shí)出無(wú)奈而為之,但陪讀媽媽卻因此被另眼相看,從而使她們?cè)谛录悠碌纳罡悠D辛。
追根朔源,這些問(wèn)題的產(chǎn)生在很大程度上與中介的誤導(dǎo)有關(guān)。既然新加坡政府希望開(kāi)放留學(xué)市場(chǎng),尤其是希望吸引更多的中國(guó)學(xué)生前來(lái),就應(yīng)當(dāng)首先規(guī)范這一市場(chǎng),使之不枉“法律健全”社會(huì)之美名。
試想,如果中介公司能夠公正、客觀地介紹新加坡的求學(xué)和生活情況,或者干脆把門(mén)檻設(shè)得高一些,讓希望來(lái)新求學(xué)的孩子和媽媽們根據(jù)自己的實(shí)際情況做出選擇,有些經(jīng)濟(jì)條件不富裕的家庭可能就會(huì)在權(quán)衡利弊之后,作出明智的選擇。
雖然這樣做可能會(huì)使新加坡?lián)p失一些經(jīng)濟(jì)上的收入,但由此而產(chǎn)生的社會(huì)問(wèn)題卻會(huì)減少許多。這難道不是一種對(duì)己對(duì)人負(fù)責(zé)任的做法嗎？
再者,友善的態(tài)度是迎客的先決條件。對(duì)于多數(shù)陪讀媽媽來(lái)說(shuō),這里沒(méi)有家的感覺(jué),缺乏人情味,很難交到朋友,生活平淡。新加坡人好像總是對(duì)她們有所防范,新加坡社會(huì)不能帶給她們溫暖,她們感覺(jué)孤立、無(wú)助,很難融入當(dāng)?shù)厝说纳钊ψ印?BR> 之所以會(huì)產(chǎn)生這些感覺(jué),與許多新加坡人對(duì)陪讀媽媽抱有的偏見(jiàn)不無(wú)關(guān)系。為什么新加坡社會(huì)不能給這個(gè)群體以公正的評(píng)價(jià)？新加坡政府既然讓這些人進(jìn)來(lái),為什么不給她們提供一個(gè)公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的工作機(jī)會(huì)？其實(shí),她們中的許多人在國(guó)內(nèi)有自己的事業(yè),而且有一定的能力和學(xué)術(shù)訓(xùn)練,只要新加坡政府開(kāi)綠燈,她們是非常愿意以己之所長(zhǎng),換取社會(huì)對(duì)她們的認(rèn)可。
“十年樹(shù)木、百年樹(shù)人”。教育本身就是一項(xiàng)長(zhǎng)期的工程,短期行為根本無(wú)法留住人,更無(wú)法留住人才。難怪許多陪讀媽媽剛來(lái)新加坡時(shí),還有留下來(lái)的想法,但一段時(shí)間之后卻改變初衷,不選擇留在這里。這樣的轉(zhuǎn)變難道不發(fā)人深省嗎？
Singaporeans have responded to their presence with mixed reactions. They have been commended by some and condemned by others. What is more important, however, is what their experiences say about the education industry here.
Singapore no dobut presents unique advantages as a choice for Chinese students keen to study overseas.
It is a Garden City with an efficient judicial system and an orderly society. It has a bilingual policy and Chinese are the majority. Life here is easy to get used to and, what's more, their mothers are allowed to come here to be with them.
Most Chinese students who wish to come to Singapore rely on recruitment agencies in China set up by Singapore companies to make the arrangements.
The agencies will invariably make all kinds of promises. They claim they would find the right school for the kids and that it would be easy too for the mothers to find jobs here. Not only would they earn enough to pay for the school fees of their children, but they would probably also be able to afford some savings.
Once they arrive in Singapore, the “study mamas” quickly find out that life is not a bed of roses.
When the agencies fail to keep the promises, they end up looking for the schools themselves, not to mention having to pay additional fees.
Besides, it is difficult for them to look for employment due to the government's strict work permit policy.
They soon run out of money and find themselves in a fix - they have neither the means to return to China nor the funds to continue living in Singapore.
As a result, some “study mamas” are driven by circumstances to become masseuses. Even though they are a minority, people have begun to look down on the entire community, making life even more difficult for these women.
The root of the problem lies with the agencies which provide misleading information.
Since the Singapore government hopes to attract more overseas students here, especially those from China, it should start regulating the industry and live up to its reputation of being a society governed by fair and strict laws.
The agencies should provide accurate information on the school system and life here, or just raise the requirements. This will help many less well-off families make informed and probably the correct decision after careful consideration.
This may lead to a loss of revenue for Singapore but it will also mean fewer social problems. And isn't it a much more responsible way of doing things？
Visitors to Singapore should be made to feel welcome. But most “study mamas” do not feel at home here. They find it hard to make friends as people are often aloof and life is thus boring. Singaporeans also seem to be on guard against them. They feel lonely and helpless and unable to become part of the local community.
These feelings probably stem from the prejudices Singaporeans have against “study mamas”。 Why can't society treat them fairly？ Since the government allows them to come here, why not allow them a chance to take up employment as well？ Indeed, many of them who have left their careers behind are competent in their own fields of training.
Given the green light, they will be most willing to prove their competence to gain the recognition of society.
Education is a long-term process. Short-term measures will not be able to keep foreigners here, let alone foreign talent.
It is no wonder that many “study mamas” have changed their minds about staying here. Is there not a lesson that we can learn from？
。The writer is a translator of Lianhe Zaobao's Foreign Desk. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.
隨著越來(lái)越多的中國(guó)孩子來(lái)新加坡求學(xué),“陪讀媽媽”已逐漸成為新加坡社會(huì)的一個(gè)特殊群體。盡管社會(huì)對(duì)她們的褒貶不一,但由她們的經(jīng)歷引申出的對(duì)新加坡教育的思考卻更發(fā)人深省。
的確,作為中國(guó)學(xué)生出國(guó)留學(xué)的選擇地,新加坡有其獨(dú)特的優(yōu)勢(shì)：法律健全,環(huán)境優(yōu)美,社會(huì)治安良好,雙語(yǔ)社會(huì),華人居多,生活容易適應(yīng),又允許媽媽陪讀。但實(shí)際情況如何,新加坡真的是教育天堂嗎？
中國(guó)學(xué)生大多是通過(guò)新加坡設(shè)在中國(guó)的中介公司介紹來(lái)新。來(lái)新前,中介公司的宣傳天花亂墜：負(fù)責(zé)為孩子安排學(xué)校,媽媽很容易找到工作,足夠支付孩子的學(xué)費(fèi),而且還會(huì)有剩余。
可來(lái)新后的實(shí)際情況如何？中介不僅遲遲不介紹學(xué)校,多數(shù)媽媽只得自己找學(xué)校,還要支付額外的費(fèi)用,而且政府對(duì)陪讀媽媽的工作準(zhǔn)證控制嚴(yán)格,她們從國(guó)內(nèi)帶來(lái)的生活費(fèi)花完了,想回國(guó),回不去；留下來(lái),生計(jì)問(wèn)題迫在眉睫。真是欲哭無(wú)淚！
于是,出現(xiàn)了被逼無(wú)奈從事按摩業(yè)的陪讀媽媽。盡管這部分人只是少數(shù),而且絕大多數(shù)都是實(shí)出無(wú)奈而為之,但陪讀媽媽卻因此被另眼相看,從而使她們?cè)谛录悠碌纳罡悠D辛。
追根朔源,這些問(wèn)題的產(chǎn)生在很大程度上與中介的誤導(dǎo)有關(guān)。既然新加坡政府希望開(kāi)放留學(xué)市場(chǎng),尤其是希望吸引更多的中國(guó)學(xué)生前來(lái),就應(yīng)當(dāng)首先規(guī)范這一市場(chǎng),使之不枉“法律健全”社會(huì)之美名。
試想,如果中介公司能夠公正、客觀地介紹新加坡的求學(xué)和生活情況,或者干脆把門(mén)檻設(shè)得高一些,讓希望來(lái)新求學(xué)的孩子和媽媽們根據(jù)自己的實(shí)際情況做出選擇,有些經(jīng)濟(jì)條件不富裕的家庭可能就會(huì)在權(quán)衡利弊之后,作出明智的選擇。
雖然這樣做可能會(huì)使新加坡?lián)p失一些經(jīng)濟(jì)上的收入,但由此而產(chǎn)生的社會(huì)問(wèn)題卻會(huì)減少許多。這難道不是一種對(duì)己對(duì)人負(fù)責(zé)任的做法嗎？
再者,友善的態(tài)度是迎客的先決條件。對(duì)于多數(shù)陪讀媽媽來(lái)說(shuō),這里沒(méi)有家的感覺(jué),缺乏人情味,很難交到朋友,生活平淡。新加坡人好像總是對(duì)她們有所防范,新加坡社會(huì)不能帶給她們溫暖,她們感覺(jué)孤立、無(wú)助,很難融入當(dāng)?shù)厝说纳钊ψ印?BR> 之所以會(huì)產(chǎn)生這些感覺(jué),與許多新加坡人對(duì)陪讀媽媽抱有的偏見(jiàn)不無(wú)關(guān)系。為什么新加坡社會(huì)不能給這個(gè)群體以公正的評(píng)價(jià)？新加坡政府既然讓這些人進(jìn)來(lái),為什么不給她們提供一個(gè)公平競(jìng)爭(zhēng)的工作機(jī)會(huì)？其實(shí),她們中的許多人在國(guó)內(nèi)有自己的事業(yè),而且有一定的能力和學(xué)術(shù)訓(xùn)練,只要新加坡政府開(kāi)綠燈,她們是非常愿意以己之所長(zhǎng),換取社會(huì)對(duì)她們的認(rèn)可。
“十年樹(shù)木、百年樹(shù)人”。教育本身就是一項(xiàng)長(zhǎng)期的工程,短期行為根本無(wú)法留住人,更無(wú)法留住人才。難怪許多陪讀媽媽剛來(lái)新加坡時(shí),還有留下來(lái)的想法,但一段時(shí)間之后卻改變初衷,不選擇留在這里。這樣的轉(zhuǎn)變難道不發(fā)人深省嗎？