Social Capital can be referred to as those intangible assets that enable the trust factor amongst the individuals and groups and allow them to work together. In Singapore, The Institute of Policy Studies (IPS) of the National Institute of Singapore (NUS) offered an understanding of Social Capital. Through the survey, Social Capital was defined as a means of measuring community, network diversity and social support behaviours, and examining drivers of network diversity and consequences of social diverse ties (Chua, Ser, & Koh, 2017).
There are two important qualifications associated with social capital.
The cultural tradition that is been transferred by one generation to another is of great relevance. This value transmission takes place when parents and grandparents socialize with their children. This transmission is essential and can be best done by families, next comes the schools, mass media or any other options (Quah, 2008).
Theories of Social Capital:
Based on these theories social capital can be understood in a better way.
In Singapore particularly, the diversity of social network has strengthened social capital, trust, national identity and pride. There are division on the basis of social class and hence there is need to promote mixing along the class lines. To match up with their associated class, families try to give more than what they have. When education comes in the picture, it is seen that all the parents want the best for their child. In Singapore, parents extend themselves to the last limit just because they want their children to attend the private tuition classes. It is their belief that children are not able to cope up with what is taught in school and so they need extra classes privately so that all their doubts are clear. Moreover, they want to belong to the up class and hence, they try their best that their children are not left behind when it comes to education (Wong & Pong, 2017).
It is widely affected by the family as the expectations, norms and obligations in relation to education exist within the family or the community. It is a very important social capital that influences the involvement of parents and their investment, affecting the academic success. Moreover, if the social connection between the parents and the child is strong, their cultural and financial capital is readily available for them. (Edwards, Franklin, & Holland, 2003)In Singapore, there is access to basic elementary school but children from wealthy families have access to better resources like private tuition classes and thus, can stand out academically.
Family also had great importance in social capital as families who can afford to live in private properties would have more ties with people living in private properties than those living in public properties. Children of families living in private properties attend elite schools have social interaction with elite family. They can also attend private tuitions and excel in their academics. But, those who do not have strong family background either have to drop out schools or cannot have access to private tuition classes. Families with lower income or single parents have to really struggle hard if they want their children to attend private classes (Chua, Ser, & Koh, 2017).
Class factor in Singapore is of utmost importance and thus, the minority class is always at a disadvantage. The best positions or education system is for those who belong to the upper class. Thus, people strive to make social interactions with the group that belong to high class and they look for private tuitions so that their children can get the same facilities as other children from elite class get. They are willing to compromise on their personal life and living style but not willing to compromise on the tuition classes. They are very much inclined towards giving their children the best of private tuition classes so that they are in equal position to that of their classmates. Thus, family has an important role in the production of social capital (De Carlo & Widmer, 2009).
Private tuitions are a social determinant in the social capital produced by the family as it segregates the class. Families are so conscious about their children grades that they end up sending them to the private tuition classes. They have this trust that only tuitions can help them to achieve good marks. They go for tuitions having brand names which has a history to support its brand. Parents are not willing to send their children to tuitions where fees are low because they do not have a brand name (Yang, 2015). Parents are willing to struggle more and do part time jobs just to make sure that their children can afford the private tuition classes. The schools do have extra classes to clear the doubts but the parents are not satisfied with that and they believe that in schools teachers cannot concentrate on so many students. In Singapore, tuition classes are really expensive but still families are willing to pay the price just to make sure that their children are attending the private tuitions (Chua, 2010).
The study shows that the social capital in Singapore works on Structural- Functional Theory in case of education. People work individually to provide the best education to their children. Parents are willing to work overtime and children provide domestic help so that they can manage the financial part. Mothers, generally leave their full-time jobs and focus on their children education and upbringing (Sen, 2016).
Conclusion
Thus, it can be concluded that social structural factors have a great impact on the development of the social capital in the family. In Singapore, people are willing to have social interaction with people belonging to the same living style and educational status. The social capital is based more on class as people are willing to have network with people belonging either to the same class or to high class and very low when it comes to low class people. Also, there is focus on private tuition classes as it is a more elite thing to do and moreover, people feel that their children will not be looked down and they can score high marks. Families have strong relations which helps in building strong social capital. They understand the need of their children and are willing to do whatever it takes to give them the best educational facilities. The children also have strong relations and also understand the sacrifices made by their parents and thus are willing to provide whatever help is required from their end (Prandini, 2014).
References
Chua, V. K. (2010). Social capital and inequality in singapore. Retrieved from Tspace.library.utoronto.ca: https://tspace.library.utoronto.ca/bitstream/1807/26353/3/Chua_Vincent_KH_201011_PhD_thesis.pdf
Chua, V., Ser, T. E., & Koh, D. G. (2017). A Study on Social Capital in Singapore. Retrieved from Ikyspp.nus.edu.sg: https://lkyspp.nus.edu.sg/docs/default-source/ips/study-of-social-capital-in-singapore_281217-pdf.pdf
De Carlo, I., & Widmer, E. D. (2009). The Fabric of Trust in Families: Inherited or Achieved? In R. Jallinoja, & E. D. Widmer (Eds.), Families and Kinship in Contemporary Europe (pp. 216-233). London: Palgrave Macmillan.
Edwards, R., Franklin, J., & Holland, J. (2003). Families and Social Capital: Exploring the Issues.
Pacheco, P. (2018). Sociology’s Four Theoretical Perspectives: Structural-Functional, Social Conflict, Feminism & Symbolic Interactionism. Retrieved from Quizlet.com: https://quizlet.com/120018984/sociologys-four-theoretical-perspectives-structural-functional-social-conflict-feminism-symbolic-interactionism-flash-cards/
Prandini, R. (2014). Family relations as social capital. Journal of Comparative Family Studies, 221-234.
Quah, S. R. (2008). Families in Asia: Home and Kin. New York: Taylor & Francis.
Sen, N. J. (2016, October 9). Mum spends $2,000 per term on daughter’s tuition. Retrieved from https://www.tnp.sg/news/singapore/mum-spends-2000-term-daughters-tuition
Wong, K., & Pong, C. C. (2017, December 29). First local study on social capital in Singapore shows clear class divide. Retrieved from Mothership.sg: https://mothership.sg/2017/12/singapore-social-class-divide/
Yang, C. (2015, July 4). Family cuts back spending for tuition. Retrieved from Straitstimes.com: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/education/family-cuts-back-spending-for-tuition
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