About Me

My photo
Singapore, Singapore
Dr John Yam Poh Nam, Ph.D. (University of South Australia), MBA (University of Strathclyde), B. Eng, Electrical (National University of Singapore) 任保南博士 南澳大利亚大学, 斯特拉思克莱德大学, 新加坡国立大学 Council Member of The Workers' Party, Served as Inspector of Police - Singapore Police Force (1981-83)

Sunday, April 24, 2011

开避政治丝绸之路

借他人之势
紧守北疆,
作攻城之计,
精锐骑兵,以十对百,
快如闪电,
稳如泰山,
破釜沉舟之志。
顺天之命,
马到功城,
战胜在握,
我军必开避政治丝绸之路。
造福民众。
战地黄花分外香!
- 任保南博士

Monday, March 14, 2011

已党为先,效忠祖国新加坡!

献给敬爱的党同志们:
非一般的总动员,是有组织和富有意义,自愿献身的精神,团结在铁锤号令下。
坚定战斗的毅力,已党为先,效忠在鲜明红白新月五星旗帜下,祖国新加坡共和国万岁!
- 任保南博士

远方寄情给敬爱的工人党战友与同志

远方寄情给敬爱的工人党战友与同志,乘风破浪, 同舟共济,我们精卫填海
的精神与努力不会白费的。愿上苍祝福新加坡人民安居乐业,国泰民安,风调雨顺!
- 任保南博士,温哥华/加拿大

Tuesday, February 8, 2011


Today 8th Feb marks 9th anniversary.
Let's dedicate moment of silence in remembrance of
our late HE President ONG Teng Cheong entered into
Glory on February 8, 2002,
at the age of 66 from Lymphoma at home at 8:14 pm.
Forever in our hearts.
Mr Ong, you have done a great deal for Singapore as Cabinet Minister,
Deputy Prime Minister and People Elected President of our Nation!
God bless your children family and their generations to come.
History will remember your achievements and one
with the most empathy and the People's President.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Rising trends teachers getting into troubles?

It really hurts reading news of our educated elites, school teachers getting into troubles. Last nite WanBao (6th Feb) reported NUS lecturer arrested for drug abuse. What's wrong with our society. As role-models, if these educators are getting into moral behavioral issues/troubles , what more down the line will happen to our students!
Is that a rising trend among teachers getting into troubles?

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

Beware of pressure cooker society

I APPRECIATE yesterday's article on the trend in primary schools to offer supplementary lessons ('Too young for extra lessons?').

The introduction of 'near compulsory' supplementary lessons for Primary 3 and 4 children has taken many parents by surprise. I am one of them.

Although a consent form was given for the lessons, which are offered twice a week, I was made to understand that pupils were strongly encouraged to participate. While I decided against it, I found to my horror that the school bus timings had been rearranged to take the children home after supplementary lessons.

That meant those parents who elected out would have to make alternative transport arrangements. A price I have to pay for taking my child out of the supplementary lessons.

I had elected out for reasons similar to what another parent, Mrs Sherley Servos, mentioned in the article. As parents, we feel that at this age, the child should be offered more time for recuperation and play.

Supplementary lessons at this stage - Primary 3 and 4 - should be reserved for weaker pupils. Conducting mass lessons will yield little value for weaker pupils as this group needs focused coaching. And I am doubtful about the value-add to the stronger pupils.

There is also this larger problem of having too many classes from a young age. The related report ('Even preschools have enrichment classes'; yesterday) attests to this fact.

Some schools have suggested that a majority of parents do not mind and some even want it. Most parents would be afraid their children will lose out and only a few like us would take this extraordinary step to elect out.

I fear such classes will have a detrimental effect in the long run. What level of enrichment will be enough? What will be the opportunity cost in piling lessons on a child from a young age? Are we a pressure cooker society in the making?

Schools should be helping parents to ensure children have an all-rounded education, beyond academic excellence. The recent initiatives suggest the contrary.

M.G.R. Maran Paramanathan (2nd Feb 2011)