How did the British Government improve social services for the people? How did the British Government improve social services for the people?

Recall… What is the role of the government? What is the government expected to do? What is the role of the government? What is the government expected to do?

Recall… What is a Crown Colony? What are the implications? Whose interests will take priority? What were the British interests? What is a Crown Colony? What are the implications? Whose interests will take priority? What were the British interests?

Hrm… What are social services? Examples? What are social services? Examples? Education Health

However, were the British truly humanitarian? However, were the British truly humanitarian?

Education Yes the British were humanitarian! No, the British were concerned with their own interests! Set up English and Malay schools, provided grants – Raffles Institution Set up Queen’s Scholarship  Schools were only set up in the 20 th century as there was a demand for people trained in English to fill up posts in the British government offices and trading companies in the late 19 th century.  Chinese schools were not provided grants because they were believed to be breeding anti-British feelings.  Higher education was only available later when merchants put pressure on the government do so.

Health Yes the British were humanitarian! No, the British were concerned with their own interests!  Public Health Department set up to improve public health in the town.  A General Hospital, a leper camp and a lunatic asylum were set up to provide health care to the public.  Outpatient clinics were set up in  Introduced Quarantine Law  Prosperity of Singapore depended upon its use as a commercial emporium – dangerous infectious diseases decreased Singapore’s attractiveness to traders and decrease the British government’s profits.

How did the British Government view the people in Singapore? / The British saw themselves as superior to the Asians. / Senior and important positions in the Government were reserved only for the British. / Railway department discouraged Asians from travelling in first-class carriages. / Hotels reserved the dance floor or the bar only for Europeans. / The British saw themselves as superior to the Asians. / Senior and important positions in the Government were reserved only for the British. / Railway department discouraged Asians from travelling in first-class carriages. / Hotels reserved the dance floor or the bar only for Europeans.

What have you learnt? British priorities in Singapore How the British government improved social services for the people in the early 20 th century How the British government viewed the people in Singapore – do keep this in mind and compare with the British attitudes towards Singapore after World War II. British priorities in Singapore How the British government improved social services for the people in the early 20 th century How the British government viewed the people in Singapore – do keep this in mind and compare with the British attitudes towards Singapore after World War II.