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With more Chinese children coming to study in Singapore, a unique community of women known as “pei du ma ma”, which, loosely translated, means “study mamas”, has emerged here. They are here to keep their children company. Singaporeans have responded to their presence with mixed reactions. They have been commended by some and condemned by others. What is more important, however, is what their experiences say about the education industry here. Singapore no dobut presents unique advantages as a choice for Chinese students keen to study overseas. It is a Garden City with an efficient judicial system and an orderly society. It has a bilingual policy and Chinese are the majority. Life here is easy to get used to and, what's more, their mothers are allowed to come here to be with them. Most Chinese students who wish to come to Singapore rely on recruitment agencies in China set up by Singapore companies to make the arrangements. The agencies will invariably make all kinds of promises. They claim they would find the right school for the kids and that it would be easy too for the mothers to find jobs here. Not only would they earn enough to pay for the school fees of their children, but they would probably also be able to afford some savings. Once they arrive in Singapore, the “study mamas” quickly find out that life is not a bed of roses. When the agencies fail to keep the promises, they end up looking for the schools themselves, not to mention having to pay additional fees. Besides, it is difficult for them to look for employment due to the government's strict work permit policy. They soon run out of money and find themselves in a fix - they have neither the means to return to China nor the funds to continue living in Singapore. As a result, some “study mamas” are driven by circumstances to become masseuses. Even though they are a minority, people have begun to look down on the entire community, making life even more difficult for these women. The root of the problem lies with the agencies which provide misleading information. Since the Singapore government hopes to attract more overseas students here, especially those from China, it should start regulating the industry and live up to its reputation of being a society governed by fair and strict laws. The agencies should provide accurate information on the school system and life here, or just raise the requirements. This will help many less well-off families make informed and probably the correct decision after careful consideration. This may lead to a loss of revenue for Singapore but it will also mean fewer social problems. And isn't it a much more responsible way of doing things? Visitors to Singapore should be made to feel welcome. But most “study mamas” do not feel at home here. They find it hard to make friends as people are often aloof and life is thus boring. Singaporeans also seem to be on guard against them. They feel lonely and helpless and unable to become part of the local community. These feelings probably stem from the prejudices Singaporeans have against “study mamas”. Why can't society treat them fairly? Since the government allows them to come here, why not allow them a chance to take up employment as well? Indeed, many of them who have left their careers behind are competent in their own fields of training. Given the green light, they will be most willing to prove their competence to gain the recognition of society. Education is a long-term process. Short-term measures will not be able to keep foreigners here, let alone foreign talent. It is no wonder that many “study mamas” have changed their minds about staying here. Is there not a lesson that we can learn from? ·The writer is a translator of Lianhe Zaobao's Foreign Desk. Translated by Yap Gee Poh.
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随着越来越多的中国孩子来新加坡求学，“陪读妈妈”已逐渐成为新加坡社会的一个特殊群体。尽管社会对她们的褒贬不一，但由她们的经历引申出的对新加坡教育的思考却更发人深省。 的确，作为中国学生出国留学的选择地，新加坡有其独特的优势：法律健全，环境优美，社会治安良好，双语社会，华人居多，生活容易适应，又允许妈妈陪读。但实际情况如何，新加坡真的是教育天堂吗？ 中国学生大多是通过新加坡设在中国的中介公司介绍来新。来新前，中介公司的宣传天花乱坠：负责为孩子安排学校，妈妈很容易找到工作，足够支付孩子的学费，而且还会有剩余。 可来新后的实际情况如何？中介不仅迟迟不介绍学校，多数妈妈只得自己找学校，还要支付额外的费用，而且政府对陪读妈妈的工作准证控制严格，她们从国内带来的生活费花完了，想回国，回不去；留下来，生计问题迫在眉睫。真是欲哭无泪！ 于是，出现了被逼无奈从事按摩业的陪读妈妈。尽管这部分人只是少数，而且绝大多数都是实出无奈而为之，但陪读妈妈却因此被另眼相看，从而使她们在新加坡的生活更加艰辛。 追根朔源，这些问题的产生在很大程度上与中介的误导有关。既然新加坡政府希望开放留学市场，尤其是希望吸引更多的中国学生前来，就应当首先规范这一市场，使之不枉“法律健全”社会之美名。 试想，如果中介公司能够公正、客观地介绍新加坡的求学和生活情况，或者干脆把门槛设得高一些，让希望来新求学的孩子和妈妈们根据自己的实际情况做出选择，有些经济条件不富裕的家庭可能就会在权衡利弊之后，作出明智的选择。 虽然这样做可能会使新加坡损失一些经济上的收入，但由此而产生的社会问题却会减少许多。这难道不是一种对己对人负责任的做法吗？ 再者，友善的态度是迎客的先决条件。对于多数陪读妈妈来说，这里没有家的感觉，缺乏人情味，很难交到朋友，生活平淡。新加坡人好像总是对她们有所防范，新加坡社会不能带给她们温暖，她们感觉孤立、无助，很难融入当地人的生活圈子。 之所以会产生这些感觉，与许多新加坡人对陪读妈妈抱有的偏见不无关系。为什么新加坡社会不能给这个群体以公正的评价？新加坡政府既然让这些人进来，为什么不给她们提供一个公平竞争的工作机会？其实，她们中的许多人在国内有自己的事业，而且有一定的能力和学术训练，只要新加坡政府开绿灯，她们是非常愿意以己之所长，换取社会对她们的认可。 “十年树木、百年树人”。教育本身就是一项长期的工程，短期行为根本无法留住人，更无法留住人才。难怪许多陪读妈妈刚来新加坡时，还有留下来的想法，但一段时间之后却改变初衷，不选择留在这里。这样的转变难道不发人深省吗？ ·作者是本报国际新闻组翻译员
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