We seem to start all kinds of major changes out of the blue; as if someone has had one too many and then "Poof!" the next day, a nation-wrenching change of policy is proclaimed.

Just consider the following:

The switch to English in the teaching Science and Mathematics in all schools and national service for our youths are to be made compulsory.

No one doubts that we have major problems in these two areas:

Our education system has been deteriorating since English was dropped as the medium of instruction. We have made millions of job seekers who are basically illiterate in English, the lingua franca of the business world. The question that should be asked is "How did the authorities allow such a situation to develop?"

My point is that since the authorities have mismanaged the education system so badly, we should be allowed to have more private control of schools; especially schools that are doing well and with good discipline records. The authorities can perform accreditation functions and administer the public examinations for which all students must sit. This also allows the Chinese schools to carry on without the present arm-twisting tactics and even the threat of sedition for those who want to have a public discourse.

As for the national service, the attempt to instil discipline within six months in 18-year-old youths is a major catastrophe in the making. If parents support this idea to correct their restless children, I suspect it is the parents who should attend boot camp instead of depending on the authorities to solve all their personal problems. Lack of parental care, family break-ups and high divorce rates definitely contribute to wayward children.

I suggest a more effective solution would be to encourage all students above 12 years to join one uniformed activity in school such as the scouts, guides, military band, Cadet Corps or the Red Crescent Society. All these have healthy activities that can encourage national integration.

One other area that should be studied is that the exclusive residential schools could take a higher intake of other students so that more tolerance can be developed.

Means should be found so that even those attending religious schools are not excluded from mixing with other races for prolonged periods.

We have gone way past 1984 but it appears that many are still too afraid to point out that the emperor really has no clothes. It is time to demand a return to local elections so that we can start the journey to a truly responsive and responsible government "of the people, by the people and for the people."