More grassroots stints for select civil servants
Programme extended to those outside elite service for first time
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent
A NEW group of civil service officers is to be sent out to do stints at grassroots organisations, like the Community Development Councils.
They are the management associates, who are promising young officers being assessed for entry into the elite Administrative Service.
The expansion of this community attachment programme, until now confined to those already in the Administrative Service, was announced yesterday by the head of the Singapore Civil Service, Mr Peter Ong.
It will start this year.
High-potential officers outside the pool of management associates will also be included in this longstanding programme, which aims to make officers understand better the concerns of people on the ground.
Speaking at the annual dinner and promotion ceremony for the Administrative Service, Mr Ong said: 'As public officers, we must always have a sense of reality and have empathy for the issues affecting Singaporeans.
'One way we hope to imbue this appreciation of ground issues and dynamics is through more operational postings and grassroots attachments.'
Last year, 17 Administrative Officers went on six-month stints at grassroots organisations under the programme, which was introduced about 15 years ago.
The civil service has about 277 Administrative Officers, 201 management associates and 42 Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholars, who are part of such talent development programmes.
The possibility of postings to operational departments for a few months before management associates start work in ministries is also being explored. Such departments, which deal directly with the public, could include the Housing Board and the Workforce Development Agency.
The need for Administrative Service Officers to be in touch with the ground was also emphasised by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng in his speech.
'Even as we attune ourselves to sense the global winds of change, we must also listen to the rustling of the grass.
'Locally, we must keep our ears to the ground and engage the public, so that we can develop sound public policies that will better serve the needs of Singaporeans,' he said.
Mr Wong, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, cited how balancing policy trade-offs can be complex when global concerns intersect with local sentiments.
He cited how even as Singapore took in foreigners to stay ahead of the competition, it had to retain what was distinct and unique about it, and 'ensure that Singaporeans will truly feel this is home'.
'This means we must preserve a strong Singaporean core, even as we seek diverse talents to support economic growth. The right balance must be struck,' he added.
Mr Wong also noted that Singapore's political leadership, supported by a top-quality public service, had built a credible track record and reputation for being able to anticipate and plan for the future, beyond immediate issues.
'We also deliver on what we promise,' he added.
Singapore being ranked often as No. 1 in many areas of governance 'reflects sound policy-making and careful implementation', he said.
'That Singapore has been able to achieve so much with so little resources is due to the meticulous and systematic approach to induct the best talent to serve in the political leadership and in the Public Service,' he said.
'We must continue to do this to take Singapore to the next level.'
Mr Wong also offered his thoughts on how the public service can prepare its people and agencies for the future.
Among other things, they must adapt to new media and develop skills to engage the public at home and abroad, he said. They should also form the habit of working across agencies to improve their knowledge and capabilities, he added.
He also said: 'Let me stress that it is equally if not more important to institutionalise a system where we have the right people and the right leaders.'
Mr Wong also took the opportunity to pay tribute to former head of the civil service Peter Ho, who retired last September, and former Central Provident Fund board chief Liew Heng San, who retired in January, for their contributions to Singapore.
Mr Peter Ong was among 63 officers promoted yesterday, including Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Benny Lim and Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong.
The full list of promoted officers was, as in recent years, not made public.
[email protected]
Programme extended to those outside elite service for first time
By Zakir Hussain, Political Correspondent
A NEW group of civil service officers is to be sent out to do stints at grassroots organisations, like the Community Development Councils.
They are the management associates, who are promising young officers being assessed for entry into the elite Administrative Service.
The expansion of this community attachment programme, until now confined to those already in the Administrative Service, was announced yesterday by the head of the Singapore Civil Service, Mr Peter Ong.
It will start this year.
High-potential officers outside the pool of management associates will also be included in this longstanding programme, which aims to make officers understand better the concerns of people on the ground.
Speaking at the annual dinner and promotion ceremony for the Administrative Service, Mr Ong said: 'As public officers, we must always have a sense of reality and have empathy for the issues affecting Singaporeans.
'One way we hope to imbue this appreciation of ground issues and dynamics is through more operational postings and grassroots attachments.'
Last year, 17 Administrative Officers went on six-month stints at grassroots organisations under the programme, which was introduced about 15 years ago.
The civil service has about 277 Administrative Officers, 201 management associates and 42 Singapore Armed Forces Overseas Scholars, who are part of such talent development programmes.
The possibility of postings to operational departments for a few months before management associates start work in ministries is also being explored. Such departments, which deal directly with the public, could include the Housing Board and the Workforce Development Agency.
The need for Administrative Service Officers to be in touch with the ground was also emphasised by Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng in his speech.
'Even as we attune ourselves to sense the global winds of change, we must also listen to the rustling of the grass.
'Locally, we must keep our ears to the ground and engage the public, so that we can develop sound public policies that will better serve the needs of Singaporeans,' he said.
Mr Wong, who is also Coordinating Minister for National Security, cited how balancing policy trade-offs can be complex when global concerns intersect with local sentiments.
He cited how even as Singapore took in foreigners to stay ahead of the competition, it had to retain what was distinct and unique about it, and 'ensure that Singaporeans will truly feel this is home'.
'This means we must preserve a strong Singaporean core, even as we seek diverse talents to support economic growth. The right balance must be struck,' he added.
Mr Wong also noted that Singapore's political leadership, supported by a top-quality public service, had built a credible track record and reputation for being able to anticipate and plan for the future, beyond immediate issues.
'We also deliver on what we promise,' he added.
Singapore being ranked often as No. 1 in many areas of governance 'reflects sound policy-making and careful implementation', he said.
'That Singapore has been able to achieve so much with so little resources is due to the meticulous and systematic approach to induct the best talent to serve in the political leadership and in the Public Service,' he said.
'We must continue to do this to take Singapore to the next level.'
Mr Wong also offered his thoughts on how the public service can prepare its people and agencies for the future.
Among other things, they must adapt to new media and develop skills to engage the public at home and abroad, he said. They should also form the habit of working across agencies to improve their knowledge and capabilities, he added.
He also said: 'Let me stress that it is equally if not more important to institutionalise a system where we have the right people and the right leaders.'
Mr Wong also took the opportunity to pay tribute to former head of the civil service Peter Ho, who retired last September, and former Central Provident Fund board chief Liew Heng San, who retired in January, for their contributions to Singapore.
Mr Peter Ong was among 63 officers promoted yesterday, including Home Affairs Permanent Secretary Benny Lim and Second Permanent Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chee Wee Kiong.
The full list of promoted officers was, as in recent years, not made public.
[email protected]
