Prime Minister Lawrence Wong pledged that his government would never let the younger generation down, setting out a comprehensive vision for a fairer, more inclusive Singapore during his speech at the Debate on the President’s Address.
Wong declared that the government will strive to keep social mobility alive, strengthen safety nets, and deepen solidarity, with a special focus on giving youths confidence in their future. “We will build Singapore with you in mind, we will strive to create more fulfilling lives for you. And not just for a few among you – but for all of you,” he said.
Confronting youth anxieties
The Prime Minister acknowledged that Singapore’s maturing economy and ageing population mean that growth will inevitably slow, fuelling anxiety among younger Singaporeans that they may not do better than their parents. This, he said, risks entrenching a culture of hyper-competition.
“Young people sometimes feel like they are trapped in a relentless rat race – from classroom to the workplace,” Wong observed.
He noted that this phenomenon is not unique to Singapore. Around the world, youth are expressing their unease in diverse ways: the tang ping or “lying flat” movement in China, hikikomori in Japan, and the “quiet quitting” or “great resignation” trends in Europe and America.
“Here in Singapore, we must do everything we can to defy this global trend. We cannot let our young people down. They are our future,” Wong stressed.
Keeping the escalator moving
Central to his address was the metaphor of “keeping the escalator moving” – a call to maintain social mobility by ensuring every generation can climb higher than the one before.
Citing other societies where caste systems and entrenched privilege determine life chances, Wong emphasised that Singapore must continuously tilt the balance towards opportunity. “Singapore starts from a stronger position, but we cannot stand still. We have to tilt the balance continually, and keep opportunities open at every stage of life.”
He pledged greater investment in early childhood support, including expanding the KidStart programme and enhancing the ComLink+ scheme run by the Ministry of Social and Family Development. These initiatives, he explained, would close opportunity gaps quickly by working with parents, preschools, and social agencies, particularly to address issues like irregular school attendance.
Education as a springboard
Wong also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to education reform, aimed at reducing pressure on parents and children while broadening definitions of success.
The revised PSLE grading system and the roll-out of Full Subject-Based Banding in secondary schools were cited as examples of reforms that value students’ strengths beyond examination results. “I want every parent and child to feel the same – that education is not a burden, but a springboard,” Wong said.
But education reforms alone are insufficient. “I am glad you are trying to make every school a good school, but you cannot succeed unless every job is a good job,” he recalled a remark once made to him, underscoring the need for workplace transformation.
Workplace reforms to complement schools
Wong urged employers to broaden their hiring and promotion practices, moving beyond narrow academic criteria.
If grades remain the sole measure of talent, he warned, the competition will simply shift from classrooms to workplaces. “Parents will continue to feel that grades are the only ticket to success,” he said.
He pointed to encouraging progress in both the public and private sectors, where attitude and aptitude tests are increasingly supplementing academic credentials.
At the same time, the government is raising the status of undervalued professions. Salaries for pre-school teachers and allied health professionals have been increased, while skilled trades and so-called “blue-collar” jobs are being professionalised.
“Society must also move towards becoming more inclusive, by encouraging and valuing different talents and being respectful to all forms of work,” Wong added.
Strengthening safety nets
Beyond education and employment, Wong said the government will continue expanding safety nets for those facing challenges. This includes more support for children with special needs, persons with disabilities, and Singaporeans experiencing setbacks.
“We will help them get back on their feet because setbacks are part of life. And in Singapore, everyone is due second and third chances,” he affirmed.
He highlighted programmes such as the SkillsFuture Jobseeker Support Scheme, designed to help unemployed Singaporeans re-enter the workforce. Wong argued that this scheme would be more effective than conventional unemployment insurance used in other countries.
Tackling inequality
On income inequality, Wong highlighted that Singapore’s Gini coefficient – a key measure of inequality – is at its lowest level in more than two decades.
The Department of Statistics has updated the metric to include rental and investment income alongside wages. While this revision shows a higher overall Gini, Wong stressed that inequality is still narrowing.
“Taken together, our measures are helping to narrow both income and wealth inequality.
We will press on and continue to innovate in our social policies so that at every stage of life, Singaporeans feel assured, supported and confident about the future,” he said.
Noting that not every individual’s journey will reach the same destination, Wong underscored the importance of those who succeed contributing more – through taxes, compassion, and care.
“That must come from within each of us, it must come from the heart and it must be nurtured by a culture that puts ‘We’ before ‘Me’.”
Expanding on his National Day Rally message of cultivating a “We First” spirit, Wong called for more spaces and opportunities where Singaporeans from all backgrounds can mix and interact.
This, he argued, would ensure that diversity strengthens society rather than divides it.
He cautioned against external forces that may seek to fracture the nation along racial or religious lines. National resilience, he said, depends on a shared sense of solidarity and trust.
A call to the youth
Wong concluded his speech with a direct appeal to young Singaporeans, assuring them that the government is committed to building Singapore for and with them.
“So to all young Singaporeans I say: we will not let you down. We are building Singapore for you, and with you,” he declared.
But he also reminded them that the future is a joint endeavour: “The future is not cast in stone. It is something you create.”
He encouraged youths to embrace boldness, pursue their dreams, and accept that setbacks are an inevitable part of growth.
“There will be setbacks along the way, but you will never face them alone. Embrace the failures as well as the successes. For it’s often at the edge of our comfort zones that we learn, grow and become the best versions of ourselves.”
Ultimately, Wong stressed that fulfilment lies not in individual achievement but in collective progress.
“True fulfilment comes from creating a society where every Singaporean can stand tall, and we can all move forward as one people.”
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