The relevance of our shared values

Response to parliamentary question on the relevance of our shared values

Question

Response

1. Acting Minister Lawrence Wong: The concept of a set of Shared Values, which Singaporeans of all races and faiths could subscribe to and live by, was first mooted in 1988 and subsequently passed in Parliament in January 1991. The aim was to anchor an evolving Singaporean identity on common threads in our varied cultural heritage, as well as the attitudes and values which have helped us to survive and succeed as a nation. The Shared Values are:
   
   • Nation before community and society above self 
   • Family as the basic unit of society 
   • Community support and respect for the individual 
   • Consensus, not conflict 
   • Racial and religious harmony
   
2. The Shared Values have served as an important point of reference for the Ministry of Education (MOE)’s Civics and Moral Education Curriculum from 1992. The school curriculum today is anchored on six core values (respect, resilience, responsibility, integrity, care and harmony) which are based on the original Shared Values. They provide a framework for students to discuss issues, and they continue to underpin MOE’s Character and Citizenship Education curriculum.
3. Each of the Shared Values is championed by organisations in the public, people and private sectors. For example, the family as the basic unit of society is upheld not just by the Ministry of Social and Family Development but also by many civic groups in Singapore such as the Centre for Fathering and Family Life Society. Likewise, racial and religious harmony is strengthened through the work of the People’s Association and its grassroots leaders, the network of Inter-Racial and Religious Confidence Circles (IRCCs) as well as societies like OnePeople.sg.
4. As society evolves, our attitudes, values and aspirations will change over time. This is why we are now having a national conversation to ask ourselves what matters to us as individuals and as a society, and what we aspire to as a nation. Through the “Our Singapore Conversation” dialogues so far, we can see that Singaporeans care deeply about their families and about values such as graciousness, kindness and harmony. These are broadly consistent with our Shared Values.
5. I encourage all Singaporeans to participate actively in the many dialogue sessions that are being held in the coming weeks and months, and to continue sharing their views and perspectives, so that, as a society, we can forge a shared understanding of the common values that should underpin our nation’s future.