NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WORK

GEK 1012 Contemporary Social Issues in Singapore
Semester 2, AY2014-2015
Topics for the module & preliminary readings
Basic text: Mehta, K. K. & Wee, A. (Eds.). (2011). Social Work in the Singapore
context (2nd ed.). Singapore: Pearson Publishing. (CL RBR HV435.2 Soc 2011. Text
is available at NUS Co-op)
Website references:

The Ministry of Family and Social Development (MSF) (formerly known as

the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS)) has
many publications on its website which are relevant for the different topics in
the module. See the Publications folder for the list.

Similarly, some other Ministries websites also contain information of interest

for the module, for example, the Ministry of Health (MOH), the Ministry of
Home Affairs (MHA), the Ministry of Education (MOE) and the Ministry of
Culture, Community and Youth (MCCY). In addition, you should also refer
to the websites of statutory boards such as the Central Provident FUND
Board (CPFB), Health Promotion Board (HPB), Housing and Development
Board (HDB) and Peoples Association (PA). Apart from the statutory boards,
there are autonomous corporate entities under the respective Ministries, such
as the Agency for Integrated Care (AIC) and the Early Childhood
Development Agency (ECDA) whose websites contain information of use in
the module. The website of the Parliament of Singapore is definitely worth
viewing as many of the module topics are often discussed and debated in
Parliament. These websites can be accessed either directly from their
respective homepages or via the Singapore Government portal: www.gov.sg.

National Council of Social Service www.ncss.gov.sg

Relevant websites of voluntary welfare organisations and other non-profit

organisations in Singapore.

Additional readings will be given during Lectures and Discussion Groups where
necessary.
1. Introductory roadmap - making sense of the module
Wee, A. (2011). Concepts in context: Concepts are there to make learning easier. In
K. K. Mehta, & A. Wee (Eds.), Social work in the Singapore context (2nd ed.). (pp.
73-104). Singapore: Pearson Publishing.

Zastrow, C. (2008). Introduction to social work and social welfare: Empowering

people. Belmont, CA: Thomson Brooks/Cole. (Sections of Chap 1: pp. 1-11 and
sections of Chap 2: pp. 44-56. (CL RBR HV91 Zas 2007)
1

Singapore society TRENDS

in the making

Prime Minister's Office, National Population Secretariat (et al). (2013). Population in
brief 2013. Retrieved 13 January, 2015,
from http://www.nptd.gov.sg/portals/0/news/population-in-brief-2013.pdf
Singapore Department of Statistics. (2014). Population TRENDS 2014. Retrieved
13 January, 2015, from http://www.singstat.gov.sg/publications/publications-andpapers/population-and-population-structure/population-trends
Ministry of Social and Family Development. (2014). Singapore social statistics in
brief 2014. Retrieved 13 January, 2015,
fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Files/SPRD/MSF%20Singapore%20Social
%20Statistics%20in%20%20Brief%202014.pdf
1

The Singaporean family an endangered species?

Saw, S. H. (2007). The Population of Singapore. (2nd ed.). Singapore:

Institute of South East Asian Studies. Chap. 10: Fertility Policies and Programmes
(pp. 209-252). (CL HB 3660.2 Saw 2007)
National Family Council and Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports
(2009). Family first: State of the Family Report 2009. Singapore: The Ministry.
Retrieved, 13 January 2015
fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/portals/0/summary/publication/NFCStateoftheFamilyReport2009.pdf
Chan, D. (2002). Attitudes on Family SURVEY on social attitudes of
Singaporeans (SAS) 2001. Singapore: Ministry of Community Development and
Sports. Retrieved on 13 January 2015, from
http://app.msf.gov.sg/portals/0/Summary/publication/publications-surveysas2001.pdf
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (2009). Protecting families
from violence: the Singapore experience (CL RBR HV6626.23 Sin Pr 2009)
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (2008). Report of the InterMinistry Committee on Dysfunctional Families. Singapore: The Ministry. (CL RBR
HQ690.2 Sim 2008).
1

The hand that rocks the cradle child development and welfare

Goh, E., & Ow, R. (2011). Not-so-equal childhoods. In K. K. Mehta, & A. Wee
(Eds.), Social Work in the Singapore context (2nd ed.). pp. 173-196. Singapore:

Pearson Publishing.
Child Protection & Welfare Services (2002). National standards for protection of
children. Singapore: Ministry of Community Development and Sports. Retrieved on
13 January, 2015,
fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/portals/0/Summary/publication/Resource_Materials_Stand
ards_Protection_Children.pdf
1

Is there a youth problem?

Nair, S. (2011). Youth issues. In K. K. Mehta, & A. Wee (Eds.), Social work in the
Singapore context (2nd ed.). pp. 197-240. Singapore: Pearson Publishing.
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (n. y.). Management of
juvenile deliquency in Singapore. Singapore: The Ministry. Retrieved, 13 January
2015 fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Management%20of%20Juvenile
%20Delinquencyv3.pdf
Ministry of Community Development (1995). Report of the Inter-Ministry
Committee on Dysfunctional Families, Juvenile Delinquency and Drug Abuse.
Singapore: The Ministry. (CL RBR HQ690.2 Sim)
1

Age is a matter of mind; if you dont mind, it doesnt matter ageing

population

Mehta, K.K., & Lee, A. (2011). Older persons: Issues and social policies. In K. K.
Mehta, & A. Wee (Eds.), Social Work in the Singapore context (2nd ed.). pp. 319-350.
Singapore: Pearson Publishing.
Kang, S. H.; Tan, E. S.; & Yap, M. T. National SURVEY of senior citizens 2011.
(2013). Singapore: Institute of Policy Studies. (Report commissioned by Elderly and
Disability Group, Ministry of Family and Social Development.) Retrieved on 13
January, 2015 from http://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/National%20Survey%20of
%20Senior%20Citizens%202011_Complete_amended_use%20this%20CH.pdf
Chan, A.; Ostbye, Truls; Malhotra, Rahul; & Hu, A. J. (n.y.?). The survey on informal
caregiving: Summary report (for MCYS). Singapore: The Ministry. Retrieved on 13
January 2015 fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Informal%20Caregiver%20Survey
%20Summary%20Report%20(upload).pdf (Also see the full report (3 Parts) available
online from MSF website)
Committee on Ageing Issues (2006). Report on the ageing population. Singapore:
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Retrieved on 13 January
2015 fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/research/CAI_report.pdf
Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (n. y.). Understanding elder
abuse and neglect Detecting and Helping. Singapore: Ministry of Community
Development, Youth and Sports. Retrieved on 13 January 2015
from http://app.msf.gov.sg/portals/0/Summary/publication/Resource_Materials_Elder

AbuseBooklet.pdf
1

The poor you shall have with you poverty and the income divide

Ngiam, T., & Ng, I. Y. H. (2011). Contemporary welfare policies and social
wellbeing. In K. K. Mehta, & A. Wee (Eds.), Social work in the Singapore
context (2nd ed.). pp. 105-148. Singapore: Pearson Publishing.
Ministry of Family and Social Development (2014). ComCare Annual Report
for FINANCIAL Year 2013. Singapore: The Ministry. Retrieved on 13 January 2015
fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/publication/CSSD/ComCare%20AR
%20FY13%20-%20Final.pdf
Ministry of Family and Social Development. (2013). Study on the experiences of
lower-income households in Singapore, 2011. Retrieved 13 January, 2015
fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Study%20on%20experiences%20of%20the
%20lower%20income.pdf
1

Disabled or enabled? disability in an inclusive society

Ow, R., & Rothwell, D. (2011). Needs and issues of persons with disabilities. In K. K.
Mehta, & A. Wee (Eds.), Social work in the Singapore context (2nd ed.). pp. 241-270.
Singapore: Pearson Publishing.
Steering Committee for the Enabling Masterplan (2011). Enabling Masterplan 20122016. Singapore: Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports. Retrieved
on 13 January 2015
fromhttp://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Topic/Issues/EDGD/Enabling%20Masterplan
%202012-2016%20Report%20(8%20Mar).pdf
1

Old wine in new bottle sex and the new media

Sex education: Let's educate the parents first. (2010, August 27). Straits Times, p. A2.
1

Is gambling in our blood? Gambling and other addictions

Ng, V., & Low, M. H. (2011). Addictions: Substance abuse and problem gambling. In
K. K. Mehta, & A. Wee (Eds.), Social work in the Singapore context (2nd ed.). pp.
271-318. Singapore: Pearson Publishing.
National Council on Problem Gambling (2012). Report of survey on participation in
gambling ACTIVITIES among Singapore residents, 2011. Singapore: The National
Council. Retrieved on 13 January, 2015
from http://app.msf.gov.sg/Portals/0/Summary/publication/Gambling
%20participation%20survey%202011.pdf
National Council on Problem Gambling: http://www.ncpg.org.sg/

Can water and OIL

mix? new comers, citizens and social cohesion

Vasoo, S. (2002). New Directions of Community Development in Singapore. In Tan,

N.T. & Mehta, K.K. (eds.) Extending Frontiers: Social issues and Social Work
in Singapore. Singapore: Eastern University Press. Pp.20-36. (CL RBR HV435.2 Ext
2002)
1

Summary and round-up

Supplementary Readings
Singapore A Pro-Family Society (1996) Ministry of Community Development. (CL
RBR HQ690.2 Sig)
Helping Low Income Families The Singapore Way. (1997) Ministry of Community
Development. (CL RBR I-4453)
Please read current newspaper articles on relevant topics. Older newspaper articles
(more than one month old) can be sourced through FACTIVA, a digital database
accessible through LINC.