GE2025
Chan acknowledged that the pressure on the younger generations is much tougher than it was on his generation.
Hannah Martens
April 27, 2025, 09:56 PM
Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing shared that for young Singaporeans, his greatest fear is that they are made to feel inadequate because their generation is constantly being compared to others.
Speaking at the Mothership Nightcap Conversation with young Singaporeans on Apr. 27 at New Bahru, Chan acknowledged that the pressure on the younger generations is much tougher than it was on his generation.
"We are blissfully blur. At most, in my generation, I compare with my classmates, I compare with my neighbours down the corridor. But your generation, you compare with the world, and it's quite scary."
While he added that he was sure the younger generation would be better off than their parents, he expressed concern about whether the younger generation actually feels that they are better off.
"Objectively, I think today, we can afford many more things that our parents' generation didn't have. But I think if we touch our heart, we can also say that not many of us feel like that. Then the question is, why?"
About 100 young Singaporeans attended the conversation. They range from entrepreneurs, business owners and Singaporeans working in the non-profit sectors and creative sectors. Several were first-time voters.
Every generation has its challenges
One question posed to Chan was Singapore's total fertility rate, which the leader of the People's Alliance for Reform, Lim Tean, called "disastrous".
He was asked what the government was doing to encourage more young couples to have children and how, in good conscience, the younger generations could be expected to bring children into the world.
The question was then expanded to note worries about affording a house to raise children and having sufficient funds to provide the best life possible for them.
In response, Chan joked that if his mother had started calculating the cost of raising a child the same way youths do today, he might not be around.
He also acknowledged that youths are facing stresses and strains; however, he is confident that they would have the capabilities and their own solutions.
"Don't shortchange yourself by thinking that your generation cannot overcome. Every generation will have their own challenges, and every generation will find their own solutions.
You talents, your abilities, are different from ours. Your solutions will also be different from ours."
Having been through a similar journey, Chan advised the youths to give themselves credit to overcome the challenges and try not to overthink things.
"I think we all want to give the best to our kids, but it doesn't mean that we must give them everything. And whatever that we give them, the most important is the love and also the confidence for them to find their own way.
I don't think we will ever be able to give them, no matter how rich we are, we will ever be able to give them everything that we think we need or want... So just take it one step at a time."
Listen and engage
At the end of the session, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong dropped by to thank the guests for attending and engaging with them.
PM Wong emphasised that they want to listen to the youths and hear their concerns.
"Whatever happens as an election outcome, we certainly as a party would like to continue this journey with all of you, to hear from you, work with you to see how together, we can advance the issues that you are interested in, or have concerns about."
Top photos via Mothership
