Public officers urged to anticipate & prepare for surprises
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Public officers urged to anticipate the future and to be prepared for surprises
By Hetty Musfirah Abdul Khamid | Posted: 24 July 2010 1635 hrsSINGAPORE: Singapore must continue to have public officers who can anticipate the future and be prepared for surprises.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister-in-Charge of the Civil Service, Teo Chee Hean said, that's because many of today's challenges are now globalised in nature.
Mr Teo was speaking at the Public Service Commission's Scholarships Presentation Ceremony on Saturday.
As 70 Public Service Commission scholars take the vow to serve their fellow Singaporeans, they have already been posed with a challenge.
Mr Teo said: "We need people who are curious and bold to explore new ideas. We must have officers and institutions that are nimble and adaptable to changing circumstances. We require officers who are in touch with what is happening around us, in the capitals of the world, and in the heartlands of Singapore."
Mr Teo added that traditionally, public officers are trained to be great problem solvers. But in future, they must also be able to identify and seize opportunities for the long-term interest of Singapore.
That's because issues to be tackled will no longer just be localised ones, like the recent Icelandic volcanic ash which disrupted air travel worldwide.
Mr Teo said: "For example, the recent Icelandic volcanic ash problem did not just cause chaos in many cities in the path of the ash, but also massive disruption to air travel and air freight worldwide.
“There are many more examples like these, some immediate and dramatic, others longer term but more insidious, be it climate change, global economic meltdown, terrorism and so on."
And although Singapore's Public Service has received accolades, Mr Teo said success and reputation cannot be taken for granted.
A point the scholars agreed with.
Tan Jun Liang, PSC scholar, said: "In order to stay relevant in an ever-changing world, it is very necessary for us as a government to change according to the needs of the people and to the needs of the economy."
Nicholas Tan, PSC scholar, said: "The best policy might not be one which is popular, so for that, you have to be bold to push your idea out and get the superiors to vet it, so that in the end it is the public that benefits the most."
37 of the scholars will pursue studies in the United Kingdom, 22 in the United States, eight in Singapore and three in China.
The PSC received more than 2,000 applications this year with more coming from a wider range of educational backgrounds.
The applicants come from a wider range of junior colleges, schools and polytechnics.
PSC chairman, Eddie Teo said this showed that Singapore's educational system has been evolving to cater to different talents and interests, offering a richer and more diverse pool from which to select our scholarship recipients. - CNA/vm -
See the YOG vehicle lane layout. End up is we gotta anticipate them.
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Originally posted by sbst275:
See the YOG vehicle lane layout. End up is we gotta anticipate them.
Aug is a good time for holidays.
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such a long speech could have summary by saying.....
Work locally Think Globally.
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Originally posted by Clivebenss:
Aug is a good time for holidays.
siam siam siam -
How can you anticipate a surprise?
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Originally posted by sbst275:
siam siam siam -
Originally posted by Clivebenss:
it's going to be a disaster w/ their planning. -
sport v flood
the head never mention, the body and the tail never dare to move
who want to be responsible if anything
anything happen - it is god will
that is how things is done
who want to ans
all want credit
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must always have a contingency/back up plan
must not think anything would not happen
don't wait till it happen and point it is god will
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Originally posted by sbst275:
it's going to be a disaster w/ their planning.better off for holiday, best without CNA...
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i'm sure the MP who kena punched, then kena set on fire never anticipated or prepared for those surprises
