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Syllabus to teach kids to handle money better
Malaysian convicted of murder the first to be jailed for life
Model cop charged with murders

Syllabus to teach kids to handle money better

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CHILDREN are to spend more time learning about money during home economics classes as Singapore grapples with rising costs and household debt.

A new syllabus to be rolled out by the Education Ministry next year will place greater emphasis on teaching secondary school students how to manage their finances.

It will also introduce three elective modules for project work: food science, food entrepreneurship and consumerism.

The change was revealed yesterday by Dr Joyce Mok, a senior lecturer in natural sciences at the National Institute of Education.

"The difference is that we're giving more curriculum time to financial education, and we've introduced elective modules for project work," she said, adding that the new syllabus – titled Food and Consumer Education – comes in the wake of increasing credit problems and rising costs.

Dr Mok, who is part of the syllabus committee, said learning about money management must start at a young age.

She was speaking on the sidelines of the 17th Biennial International Asian Regional Association for Home Economics Congress.

The five-day event at the Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel brings together about 200 academics, educational leaders and policy makers from 13 countries.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education and Manpower Hawazi Daipi said the design of the syllabus "takes into account the demographic changes in society".

Home economics is compulsory for lower secondary students.

Temasek Secondary student Jaren Pang, 13, said the extra focus on money management would be useful for some of his friends.

"When they see something attractive, like game cards, they don't think before buying," he said. "Shortly after, they will run out of money and ask if they can borrow from me and my friends." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Malaysian convicted of murder the first to be jailed for life

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A 23-year-old Malaysian man has become the first convicted murderer in Singapore to be sentenced to life imprisonment.

This follows changes made to the law last year giving judges the discretion to impose either the death penalty or life imprisonment for certain categories of murder.

The case of Fabian Adiu Edwin, a construction worker from Sabah who killed a security guard in 2008 during a robbery, is the first time a sentencing judge has a choice in deciding the sentence for murder.

Before the changes to the law, the death penalty was mandatory for all categories of murder.

Fabian was convicted of murder in September 2011 and given the then-mandatory death penalty.

However, he was among the condemned prisoners given a lifeline as hangings had been put on hold pending a review of the mandatory death penalty.

In May this year, his case was sent back to the High Court for re-sentencing.

On Tuesday, in imposing life imprisonment and 24 strokes of the cane, Justice Chan Seng Onn considered Fabian's young age and sub-normal IQ. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network

Model cop charged with murders

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A Singapore policeman once portrayed as a model officer was charged with the gruesome double murder of a businessman and his son in a case that has shocked the city-state.

Senior Staff Sergeant Iskandar Rahmat, 34, could face hanging if convicted of murdering car workshop owner Tan Boon Sin, 67, and his son Tan Chee Heong, 42, last Wednesday.

The older man was fatally slashed in his home while his son's body was found a kilometre away after being dragged under one of their cars, leaving a trail of blood on a busy road as other motorists watched in horror.

Iskandar appeared dressed in a black T-shirt and jeans with his hands shackled behind his back, as prosecutors read the murder charges in court.

His right hand had a deep gash closed with stitches between the thumb and forefinger.

No plea was taken and he was taken away in a police car within minutes of his appearance.

Prosecutors said investigations were continuing. Iskandar will reappear in court next Monday.

Iskandar, once portrayed as a model officer on the Singapore Police Force website, abandoned the older victim's car and fled to Malaysia by scooter. He was arrested within two days in neighbouring Johor state and repatriated on Saturday.

Singapore media said the suspect, a married 14-year veteran of the force, was bankrupt and under an official investigation for failing to report his personal financial problems to his superiors. He was banned from carrying firearms at the time of the killings.

There was no immediate indication of a motive for the murders. But a police spokesman confirmed reports that Iskandar had attended to a theft complaint filed by the elder Tan in November last year, after which the sergeant was reassigned to another position.

In a weekend statement, Police Commissioner Ng Joo Hee said: "Our police force and every police officer is tarred by the actions of this single officer." — AFP

Kredit: www.thestar.com.my

Rabu, 17 Julai 2013