Name: Siaw Li (23) Victoria (26)

Read the answer below. What is the question for this answer? Summarize in point form how the answer is developed. Mark how the essay begins in red and then connectors that will connect ideas in blue. Do you like this essay? Why? If you can change some parts of the essay here, what would you change?

The principle of reward for work and work for reward is important for good governance because it allows the government to reward people on hard work and talent regardless of race, religion and socio-economic background, in other words, the government rewards people based on meritocracy. When this principle is put into practice, the people will be motivated to work harder because it gives everyone an equal opportunity to achieve their best and be rewarded for their performance. In this way, the country will benefit because economically, socially and politically. For example, students who do exceptionally well in their studies and co-curricular activities are given Edusave Scholarship and Merit Bursary schemes to further develop their abilities and talent. In this way, the country is assured of a pool of talented people to drive the economy. Moreover under this principle, surplus from the Singapores growth has been shared among all Singaporeans as a form of reward for their hard work. This is most beneficial to the lower-income group. Through the Progress Package, the government has helped the elderly meet retirement healthcare needs and help lower income households with living expenses. By doing so, it reflects that the government is rewarding the people for their hard work and through this the people would be encouraged to work harder for the progress of the country. The principle of a stake for everyone, opportunities for all, aims to give the people a say in decisionmaking so that they have a greater sense of belonging to the country. When the people have a greater sense of belonging to the country, they would work harder for the good of the nation. It also helps the government to make decisions which will benefit both the nation and the people. The Singapore government has applied this principle in many areas and one example when the government planned to have the Intergrated Resort constructed. The government consulted the people on the issue of having a casino as part of the resort and during the feedback sessions, many people voiced their concerns of the impact of the casino on the social and moral values and the image of Singapore. However, the government had to put the needs of the nation before the people because the Intergrated Resort would help Singapore compete successfully with its neighbours for tourism. However, the government put in place a national framework that to deal with gambling problems so that the social ills are minimized. Thus, though the decision made by the government took into consideration the needs of the nation, the peoples views were taken into account when they set up the national framework. In this way, it gave the people a sense of having played a part in the decision-making.

The principle of leadership is key is important for good governance because when leaders have the correct talent, ability and character, they would be able to make sound decisions which will maintain the stability in the country and win the confidence of the people. Leaders must have characteristics like honesty, pragmatism and moral courage so that they can deliver what the government has promised the people. One example would leaders possessing pragmatism. This was seen in Singapores relations with China. In the 1960s, Singapores neighbours did not want to have any ties with China because they were afraid that Chinas political ideology would spread other her people, thus trade with China was banned or disrupted. However, Singapores leaders continued trade ties with China, at the same time, having no formal diplomatic relations. This pragmatic approach has benefited Singapore in the long-run because when China became a world market, Singapore is one of her important trading partners. Moral courage is another quality that leaders should have to help the country to grow. By moral courage it would mean that the leaders have the courage to do something that is right for the nation, although the people may not approve of it. One example would be Singapores measures to control the flow of traffic, for example, Electronic Road Pricing. Known as Area Licensing Scheme before up-to-date technology was used to improve its effectiveness, it was meant to control traffic in the city centre during the peak hours before it became serious. This scheme was not met with much opposition from the people but the government implemented it for the good of the nation because the problem of heavy traffic was controlled. The principle of anticipate change and stay relevant is important because the government needs to be forward-looking so that they can anticipate challenges and come up with solutions before they surface. One example to illustrate this would be the water issue. Although Singapore has water agreements with Malaysia, the agreements end in 2011 and 1061. As water is an important commodity in everyones lives, the government needed to ensure that we are self-sufficient and not dependent on any other country so that there is no disruption to lives and the economy. Thus, the government increased the number of reservoirs and looked for other alternative water supplies like the NEWater and desalinated. By doing so, the government has made Singapore self-sufficient and has a sense of security. In this way, the people and importantly investors have confidence to continue investing in Singapore. Thus, this principle of anticipating changes is important for good governance because they resolved the problem even before it had started. In addition to this, the Singapore government embarked on education policies that encouraged students to stretch their potential through innovation and creativity so that they will remain relevant by being employable and contributing to the nation. Such policies gave rise to competitions like the Tan Kah Kee Young Inventors Competition Project where students are challenged to come up with innovative and creative solutions to problems given to them, thus developing these skills. So the principle of anticipating change and staying relevant is important because it allows the government to be prepared before the challenges become serious and affect the nation and its people.

Question: What are the four principal of governance? Point one: Reward for work and work for Reward Evidence: Edusave Scholarship and Merit Bursary schemes, Progress Package

Point two: A stake for everyone, opportunities for all Evidence: Intergrated Resort Point three: Leadership is key Evidence: Electronic Road Pricing and Singapores relations with China problem Point four: Anticipate change and stay relevant Evidence: NEWater We feel that the essay only have to include one example as in an exam, there would not be enough time for the student to write so much. He should go straight to the point. Short and sweet.