What this lesson teaches
I can explain how citizens and the government each bring something different when they work for the good of society.
Syllabus K336, Issue 1, Key Understandings. Both citizens and government can play complementary roles in working for the good of society.
Make a guess
Lower-income families need help with jobs, school and money. Who do you think is best placed to give it?
- Individuals, groups and government, each doing the part it does best.
- Mainly volunteers, because people trust them more than officials.
- Mainly government, because helping families is its job and it has the money.
Show the answer
Individuals, groups and government, each doing the part it does best.
Government brings funding and services, groups bring people and regular help, individuals bring time and experience. Together they reach more.
Individuals, community groups and government each bring different strengths. They work best when their efforts support each other.
Individuals can spot a problem, share their experience, suggest a change or give time and skills.
Community groups can bring people together, share resources and keep work going over time. For example, a rota assigns volunteer shifts so help continues when one person is away. Groups can be informal networks or formal organisations. Useful action is not limited to registered charities.
A public agency is a government organisation responsible for particular services. Government can provide funding, facilities, information and expert help. It is also responsible for public decisions, policies and using legal powers.
A partnership links these contributions, so each part does what it is best placed to do. Working together can reach more people and reduce overlap, but roles must be clear. Community effort can add to public services, but it does not replace the government's responsibility for them.
Singapore's self-help groups show this partnership. Each group serves one community. Mendaki serves Malay/Muslims and the Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC) serves Chinese. The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) serves Indians, and the Eurasian Association serves Eurasians. Working people in each community give a small monthly sum, collected by the CPF Board from their pay. The government adds matching grants. The groups then run tuition, bursaries and family support, using their knowledge of their own communities.
- Individuals
- Spot problems, share experience, give time and skills.
- Community groups
- Organise people and keep help going.
- Government
- Funding, facilities, experts and legal powers.
Real examples to use
Self-help groups
Mendaki, CDAC, SINDA and the Eurasian Association run tuition, bursaries and family support, funded by members' monthly CPF contributions and government matching grants. Use it for individuals, community groups and government each contributing something different.
ComLink+
Government family coaches and community volunteer befrienders work together with lower-income families with children on each family's own goals. Use it for complementary contributions within one programme.
Worked example: Self-help groups and the government
Mendaki, CDAC, SINDA and the Eurasian Association each help lower-income families in their community with tuition, bursaries and other support. Their funds come from small monthly contributions by working members of each community, collected through CPF. From 2014 the government increased the matching grants it gives CDAC, SINDA and the Eurasian Association.
- Individuals: workers contribute a little each month, so help is shared across the community.
- Community groups: each group knows its community's language, customs and needs, and runs programmes that fit them.
- Government: it collects contributions through CPF and adds grants. Together they reach more families than any one of them alone. Limit: help organised by race must still sit alongside national schemes, so no family is left out.
Watch out for this
Working together means everyone does the same task, or citizens take over the government's job.
Each person or group gives what it is best placed to give. Citizens and groups support public services, but the government remains responsible for them.
Check your understanding
In the footpath example, why is the town council's role essential?
- It has the responsibility and the resources to repair public drains properly.
- It can organise residents better than the residents' group can.
- It means residents no longer need to report problems with the footpath.
Show the answer
It has the responsibility and the resources to repair public drains properly.
Right. Residents can report problems, but the council can fix them.