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Singapore
The fledgling nation had to become self-sufficient, and faced
problems including mass unemployment, housing shortages and lack
of land and natural resources such as petroleum. During Lee Kuan
Yew's term as prime minister from 1959 to 1990, his administration
immediately curbed unemployment, raised the standard of living and
implemented a large-scale public housing programme. The country's
economic infrastructure was developed, the threat of racial
tension was eliminated and an independent national defence system
was created. Singapore evolved from a developing nation to a
global city with first world status towards the end of the 20th
century.
The name Singapore is derived from the Malay words singa (lion)
and pura (city), which were themselves derived from the Sanskrit
words सिंह siṃha and पुर pura.[4] In Tamil, one of the official
languages of Singapore, Singam means Lion and Puram means City.
Hence, Singapore is also known as the Lion City. The naming is
attributed to a prince named Sang Nila Utama, who according to
folklore, was caught in a terrible storm that did not cease until
he had thrown his crown into the water. The waters calmed
immediately after that, and he sailed to the closest island he
could see. The first animal he saw after he had set foot on the
island was supposedly a lion. Therefore, he decided to name the
island Singapura.
The hot and humid lowlands of Singapore are brimming with diverse
cultures, languages and religions. The country is host to numerous
attractions that reflect the many interests of its people. Some of
these attractions include Colonial Singapore, with its beautiful
churches and cathedrals; Chinatown, presenting the Thian Hock Keng
Temple; Arab St., boasting unique spices and goods, and Little
India, saturated by fascinating shops.
Festivals also display the cultural diversity of Singapore. The
Chinese New Year is celebrated with dancing and parades while Hari
Raya Puasa is held during the last three days of Ramadan.
Education is among the top priorities for the people of Singapore
and is the government's second largest expense. Mandatory
schooling is enforced for 6 years of primary school and 4 years of
secondary school. From secondary school, students can apply for
junior college and eventually move on to one Singapore's three
universities: the National University of Singapore, the Nanyang
Technological University, or the Singapore Management University.
In recent years Kenya has poured considerable resources in its
education system and boasts a number of public and private
universities, national polytechnics, and colleges. The University
of Nairobi is the country's largest institution. Other well known
schools include Kenyatta University, Jomo Kenyatta University of
Agriculture and Technology, Egerton University, and Moi
University.
A visit to Singapore guarantees to be a memorable experience for
anyone interested in learning more about a truly diverse culture
and rich history. |
