From Penalties to Rewards: One Family's View of Singapore's Changing Policies
Published
A recent article published by Rice Media on November 6, 2026, offers a personal look at how government policies in Singapore have changed over time. The piece, written by Imran Johri, describes how his parents were penalised for having a third child. It contrasts this with a newer system that now rewards children for reading.
In the past, Singapore's government encouraged families to have fewer children. The country's population policies at that time included measures that made larger families more expensive. The author's story shows how these rules affected his own family and how the government's approach has since shifted.
The article also focuses on the present. According to the author, children today can receive rewards for reading. This shows that the government now uses incentives to encourage different kinds of behaviour, especially those linked to learning and education. The author presents this change through his own experience as a parent and as a member of a family that lived under the earlier rules.
The article is a personal essay, so it reflects the author's own views and experiences. Readers who want to understand the wider policy background may need to look at official government sources. Still, the story gives a clear example of how Singapore's family and education policies have developed across generations.
Sources: Rice Media
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