The Star Online: Metro: Central
The Star Online: Metro: Central |
| Posted: You have heard of dashboard cameras in cars. Now, it is the turn of the bicycle-cam. Bikes fitted with video-recording devices are becoming an increasingly common sight on Singapore's roads. Riders use them to gather evidence if they get into an accident – amid an apparent rise in the number of bicycle-related insurance claims. Research fellow Dennis Cheong commutes by bike every day from his Toa Payoh home to his office in Buona Vista. He started using an old smartphone to record his journeys about six months ago. The 44-year-old fixes it to the rear of his bicycle and plans to put another handset on the front. "This is to collect evidence, in case I need to show proof," he said. "If a car honks at me, I can play back the recording to find out why." However, he said the most important thing was for cyclists to ride defensively, anticipate potential dangers and avoid them. First Principal Financial chief executive Mohamed Salim has also mounted a portable camera on his bicycle. He said he started doing so for "security, in case something happens". Several of his cyclist friends have bought cameras for their bikes as well. Mohamed – who manages BikInsurance, an insurance scheme for cyclists – started using a camera after his son was sideswiped by a car while riding on Nicoll Highway. The 18-year-old suffered bruises, but the culprit was arrested after a bus driver who saw the accident offered to provide video footage from his vehicle. Over the past few years, cycling has grown in popularity as a sport and a mode of transport. At the same time, the number of accident claims involving bicycles appears to be rising. Insurer AIG handled 156 cases last year, more than double the 77 it dealt with in 2010. Fatalities are also up slightly. Sixteen cyclists were killed on the road last year, compared with 15 in 2011. Simon Wong, director of international sales for GoPro distributor Streamcast Asia, said the number of cameras sold had risen by 300% a year since 2011. GoPro cameras are used by riders and these can be mounted on the helmet, body or bicycle. Retiree George Wong, 58, who uses a GoPro occasionally, said: "It's a bit like a black box. "If you get out of an accident alive, it corroborates what you say." — The Straits Times / Asia News Network |
| NIE studying impact of private tution Posted: The National Institute of Education (NIE) has launched three studies to answer key questions about the impact of private tuition here. At the top of the list is whether tuition really improves students' grades or if it creates an unhealthy reliance which may make them worse. The studies, which are expected to be completed by the end of next year, will also question if tutors help students understand content or if they merely drill children to be exam-smart. Dr Shaljan Areepattamannil, who is heading the project, said he and his team will try to measure whether tuition does indeed raise scores in maths and English through the course of a year. They will also look at tuition's effect on a pupil's motivation and interest in maths and English. "Even if the study shows that tuition doesn't result in significant gains, parents and students may not be dissuaded. But for policymakers and educators, it may still be good to understand the impact and trends," he said. At the same time, Dr Woo Huay Lit is heading a study on who the tutors are, and the types and quality of teaching in tuition centres. Dr Trivina Kang's study, meanwhile, is looking at what parents expect from tuition, and the experiences of students here. Research dean Lee Wing On said NIE embarked on the studies due to the high prevalence of tuition in Singapore. He pointed to a study showing that between 1998 and 2008, tuition spending here doubled from S$410mil (RM1.05bil) to more than S$800mil (RM2.05bil). "Besides the huge amount of money spent by parents, the tuition phenomenon is worth studying because it has repercussions at both the individual and national levels," he said. "At the individual level, students can develop a strong reliance on their tutors and may pay less attention in class, knowing that their tutors will help them afterwards. "At the national level, it has a bearing on our attempts to move away from the focus on exams towards a more holistic education. "Extensive tuition also exacerbates social inequalities, which has become a pressing concern." Lee, however, noted that tuition is hard to examine. There are many factors affecting academic achievement, and tutors vary in their methods and quality. "From a research perspective, populations of students who do and do not receive tutoring cannot easily be compared because they are rarely uniform in other characteristics." The debate on tuition gained national prominence recently after Senior Minister of State for Education Indranee Rajah said in Parliament that "our education system is run on the basis that tuition is not necessary". Many parents and students, however, insist that tuition is needed to maintain an edge. — The Straits Times / Asia News Network |
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