Will this work group change anything?

Jasmin on the education arms race

Preschool: the “honeymoon” years

Stressful system or anxious parents?

“This isn’t something to look forward to.”

PSLE impacts kids, parents, teachers

What’s the point of PSLE today?

PSLE parents: why some mums quit jobs

Jasmin would quit if kids don’t do well

Are we raising kids for the future?

Will changes encourage couples to have kids?

What’s stopping couples from having kids?

Would changes to Singapore’s education system fix our low fertility rate?

A new work group, comprising political office holders from various ministries, has been set up to encourage Singaporeans to marry and have children, with broader support from society.

In this podcast episode, I chat with Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau and stay-at-home mother Vivien Lim, who has three children.

We discuss the “education arms race” and whether the Primary School Leaving Examination really needs to be a such high-stakes exam for 12-year-olds.

With the big question looming - whether we can get the total fertility rate back up - Jasmin and Vivien talk about steering children on the best pathways, the pressures of juggling careers and motherhood, and finding joy in parenting.

Highlights (click/tap above):

1:53 Will this new work group change anything?

5:45 Jasmin on the education arms race

9:04 Preschool: the “honeymoon’ years

14:33 Stressful education system or anxious parents?

17:53 “This is not something to look forward to.”

23:12 PSLE reflects on everyone from children to teachers

27:02 What’s the point of the PSLE if it doesn’t test real-world skills?

34:05 The PSLE parent: why some women leave their jobs

36:10 Jasmin would leave her role if her kids aren’t doing well

43:07 Are we raising kids for the future?

47:40 Will changing the education system encourage couples to have kids?

50:46 What’s stopping couples from having kids?

Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (natashaz@sph.com.sg)

Read Natasha’s articles: https://str.sg/iSXm

Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: https://str.sg/8KNT

Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: https://str.sg/v6DN

Filmed by: Studio+65

Edited by: Eden Soh

Executive producer: Danson Cheong

Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah and Elizabeth Law

Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:

Channel: https://str.sg/5nfm

Apple Podcasts: https://str.sg/9ijX

Spotify: https://str.sg/cd2P

YouTube: https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast

Feedback to: podcast@sph.com.sg

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All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: https://str.sg/wvz7

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#tup #tuptrf

Would changes to Singapore&rsquo;s education system fix our low fertility rate?
A new work group, comprising political office holders from various ministries, has been set up to encourage Singaporeans to marry and have children, with broader support from society.
In this podcast episode, I chat with Minister of State for Education Jasmin Lau and stay-at-home mother Vivien Lim, who has three children.
We discuss the &ldquo;education arms race&rdquo; and whether the Primary School Leaving Examination really needs to be a such high-stakes exam for 12-year-olds.
With the big question looming - whether we can get the total fertility rate back up - Jasmin and Vivien talk about steering children on the best pathways, the pressures of juggling careers and motherhood, and finding joy in parenting.
Highlights (click/tap above):
1:53 Will this new work group change anything?
5:45 Jasmin on the education arms race
9:04 Preschool: the &ldquo;honeymoon&rsquo; years
14:33 Stressful education system or anxious parents?
17:53 &ldquo;This is not something to look forward to.&rdquo;
23:12 PSLE reflects on everyone from children to teachers
27:02 What&rsquo;s the point of the PSLE if it doesn&rsquo;t test real-world skills?
34:05 The PSLE parent: why some women leave their jobs
36:10 Jasmin would leave her role if her kids aren&rsquo;t doing well
43:07 Are we raising kids for the future?
47:40 Will changing the education system encourage couples to have kids?
50:46 What&rsquo;s stopping couples from having kids?
Host: Natasha Ann Zachariah (<a href="mailto:natashaz@sph.com.sg">natashaz@sph.com.sg</a>)
Read Natasha&rsquo;s articles:<a href="https://str.sg/iSXm"> https://str.sg/iSXm</a>
Follow The Usual Place podcast on IG: <a href="https://str.sg/8KNT">https://str.sg/8KNT</a>
Follow Natasha on LinkedIn: <a href="https://str.sg/v6DN">https://str.sg/v6DN</a>
Filmed by: Studio+65
Edited by: Eden Soh
Executive producer: Danson Cheong
Producers: Natasha Ann Zachariah and Elizabeth Law
Follow The Usual Place Podcast and get notified for new episode drops every Thursday:
Channel: <a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/5nfm?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/5nfm</a>
Apple Podcasts: <a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/9ijX?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/9ijX</a>
Spotify: <a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/cd2P?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/cd2P</a>
YouTube: <a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/theusualplacepodcast</a>
Feedback to: <a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="mailto:podcast@sph.com.sg?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">podcast@sph.com.sg</a>
---
Follow more ST podcast channels:
All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: <a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/wvz7?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/wvz7</a>
Get more updates: <a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="http://str.sg/stpodcasts?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">http://str.sg/stpodcasts</a>
---
Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section:
The App Store: <a href="https://str.sg/icyB?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link"></a><a href="https://str.sg/icyB?ref=inline-article" aria-label="link" data-testid="custom-link">https://str.sg/icyB</a>
Google Play: <a href="https://str.sg/icyX">https://str.sg/icyX</a>
--
#tup #tuptrf

Natasha and her guests unpack the latest current affairs, every Thursday.

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests. 

Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah

Executive producers: Danson Cheong

Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law

A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media

Synopsis: Join host and correspondent Natasha Ann Zachariah every Thursday live at noon, as she unpacks the latest current affairs with guests.&nbsp;
Podcaster: Natasha Ann Zachariah
Executive producers: Danson Cheong
Editorial producer: Elizabeth Law
A podcast by The Straits Times, SPH Media