Brain drain in Singapore?

2. Loh explores several suggestions on how to deal with the outflow of talent from Singapore. Evaluate his suggestions.

An estimated 10,000 Singaporeans leave the country each year to pursue their studies and many eventually face a dilemma as they become torn between returning to their motherland or settling down in a “better” place for them. There is an estimated 150,000 Singaporeans or 3.3% of the entire population working or living abroad. Though 3.3% seems a pretty insignificant value, 150,000 tells you much that Singapore is losing its core talent. People who leave Singapore for other countries are mostly talents who can find better job opportunities elsewhere in the world. With such a phenomena happening, there were some articles that had suggested solutions to this occurrence.

I read an article in ‘Today’ newspaper, a free newspaper that is available at public places such as mrt stations which had mentioned about the losing of local talent in Singapore. One of the suggestions found in the article that I strongly agree with is that to ensure that your people do not give up their citizenship, the government should bring about family togetherness by keeping a family rooted. I too, believe families are very significant and they are probably one of the most important sentimental feelings that one is unable to leave behind for better job prospects. What good is it if you can be rich but not happy? Hence, I feel that a pro-family centered policy would help to keep local talents.

Another suggestion made in the article was that people should be given a say in how things are and if one’s content or discontent is responded in some way. By giving people a say in the management of the country, people will feel more patriotic to their country as they are able to give ideas to improve the country. This makes the person proud of hi stand in the country as he or she feels that they are essential to the country and therefore feel rooted towards Singapore.

By preserving old buildings and heritage areas, it will also help to keep Singaporeans rooted to their country. These places are sentimental for people as it brings them back to the past and demolishing will only make one lose their sense of belongings. If such places were to be replaced by skyscrapers, what more is there for Singaporeans to feel that there is something in Singapore that contains memories of the past which cannot be found elsewhere? Yes, the economy requires constant changes in landscape, but surely something can be done to keep these heritage ares untouched right? With these significant feelings that cannot be bought no matter how rich one is, surely one would feel sentimental towards his motherland and choose to stay at home.