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Without significant natural resources, Singapore’s rise to become a global economic hub was made possible by deliberately introducing educational policies that produced a skilled labour force. Human resources were the driving force that attracted foreign direct investment from large multi-national corporations, many of which now have their regional headquarters in Singapore.
Having benefitted from knowledge sharing, the Singapore Co-operation Programme reaches out to countries across the world to develop bilateral educational and training-related programmes.
Singapore’s educational model is based on English as the main language of instruction, but a compulsory bilingual education policy ensures that each ethnic community retains its linguistic roots.
In Singapore, education is compulsory from 7 years to 17 years, and effective in the development of maths competency. Singapore consistently tops international maths and science knowledge and skills benchmarking.
Singapore has a linguistically and ethnically diverse population of about five million people: 76.8% are of Chinese heritage, 13.9% Malay, 7.9% Indian and 1.4% are made up of others. Primary education, which usually begins at age seven, is free for all citizens.
Singapore has a history of ethnic violence, with racial riots in 1964 and 1969, but racial harmony has been the basis for much of the social engineering visible in education and housing policies.
Community-based ethnic groups were set up to assist various communities in achieving a level playing field in schools.
Schools in Singapore celebrate Racial Harmony Day to reinforce the value of respecting diversity. But for all the measures taken, racial prejudice still exists at a subtle level.
Surveys conducted by the National Institute of Education (NIE) reveal that 80% of Singaporean children socialize exclusively with their own ethnic group.
Older textbook illustrations reinforce certain stereotypes, with Chinese children depicted as “diligent” while Malay and Indian children are invariably portrayed as being more "playful”.
The Council for the Education of Muslim Children (CEMC) looks into the educational challenges faced by Malays to help them to gain better qualifications. Tuition, subsidies and quotas can be provided to families in need.
Human resources were the driving force that attracted foreign direct investment from large multi-national corporations.
The Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) addresses the issue of Indian learners who are lagging behind their peers.
For the Chinese population, associations such as the Lee Foundation, and the Shaw Foundation, take over and intervene, usually through providing scholarships.
As education materials continue to be refined, it is encouraging that Singapore’s own National Institute of Education monitors teaching materials for bias.
In 1959, when Singapore gained its independence from Britain it was decided to retain English as Singapore’s first language. Lee Kuan Yew, the first prime minister and founding father of modern Singapore, was an Oxford-trained lawyer.
This decision has helped with racial integration within Singapore and economic integration with other Anglophone countries. Language is the key in business communication and with English as a first language, Singapore’s workforce is capable of working with all Anglophone countries.
However, Singaporeans now speak English and an Asian language, usually Mandarin, Bahasa Melayu, or Tamil, and they can act as connectors between English-speaking nations and Asian countries such as China and India.
Maths is a basic skill necessary for all trade and accounting, and forms the foundation for the scientific and financial research and development that has allowed Singapore to move up the value chain. Singapore students consistently outperform their peers from more than 50 countries in tests such as the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS). These tests are used to benchmark the science and maths knowledge and skills of students internationally.
South Africa, Namibia, Nigeria from the Sub-Saharan continent, along with other countries such as Canada, the US and Libya have adopted the Singaporean approach to better their students’ performance.
South African students performed less well than many of their African peers in the TIMMS test of 2007, where South Africa came second last.
South Africa’s Education Minister, Naledi Pandor, responded by imposing a moratorium on Timms testing to avoid further embarrassment!
Fortunately there was another more constructive response. Adapting Singapore Math for South Africa, Jack Garb, an educator and former principal at King David Linksfield Junior, noticed Singapore’s consistent top TIMMS rankings, and started a project to adopt the Singaporean mathematics syllabus for South African pupils. “The teaching approach is embedded in the materials, providing a teacher with clear guidelines every step of the way,” he said.
South Africa could emulate Singapore with more stimulating educational materials and better-trained teachers supervised for effective follow-through.
The project targets pupils from grade one to grade three and has been implemented in 30 schools in Soweto, Orange Farm and Tembisa.
Since then, the moratorium on TIMMS testing of South African students’ math performances has been lifted. In 2011, South Africa improved by 63 points on the TIMMS ranking.
While it is necessary to build up human capital, it is vital not to destroy all that has been established. African countries and Singapore, at independence some 50 years ago, started with similar GDP figures.
Having been able to avoid strife, Singapore has had a comparatively peaceful environment for good educational policies to take root. War, the lack of basic education and health benefits, along with autocratic dictators set many African countries back. That dark time has passed.
The blessing of natural resources, by way of oil, minerals and precious metals, became a curse in African countries, attracting companies that extracted natural resources, without creating jobs for that many Africans.
While Singapore has highly-paid politicians, the lack of corruption means that educational investments are applied effectively. With a foundation of peace in Africa, pragmatic principles of educational policies mean the future is shaped for the next generation.


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Welcome to the Elegant Resorts Destination Guide for Arizona , created to help make your choice of luxury holiday as easy as possible. Here, you will find more detailed factual information about the destination you have selected.
Located in Arizona's Sonoran Desert, adjacent to the state capital of Phoenix, just a short drive away, Scottsdale is an excellent base for a wide range of activities and facilities. Old west meets here; a handful of classic saloons feature live country music and Native American culture is strong, while Fashion Square Mall (Arizona's largest shopping centre) to The Borgata, which is styled on the charming Tuscan town of San Gimignano, offer ample opportunities to satisfy any shopper. There are also art galleries and award-winning museums and eclectic dining choices − including plenty of steakhouses − add the modern touches. Outdoor activities are unrivalled, from Segway tours, the region’s famous golf courses and hot-air balloon rides, to adventures in the Sonoran Desert. There are hiking and biking trails to suit all abilities, including the family-friendly interpretive walk along the Bajada Nature Trail and McDowell Mountain Regional Park. If you prefer equestrian adventures, these include moonlight rides and hay-wagon excursions, or take an off-road Jeep tour with an entertaining cowboy Guide. For a total contrast, try rafting, tubing, fishing or kayaking on the rivers and lakes nearby.
Sedona is brimming with stunning, striking scenery and attracts visitors in search of a true experience with nature, eager to see its unique red rock formations, including the pinnacles, the spires and the domes. There is no walk or drive in Sedona that is not defined by stunning scenery. Sandwiched between Slide Rock State Park and Red Rock State Park, there are plenty of opportunities for creekside rambles, birdwatching, geology talks. Head to Crescent Moon Picnic Area and you’ll see Cathedral Rock which is one of the most famous; its reflections bouncing off Oak Creek. On the bank opposite Cathedral Rock is a series of totem-style stacks of small rocks called Buddha Beach which is considered to be the site of one of Sedona’s sacred 'vortexes' − defined as areas of concentrated spiritual energy, where many people experience effects including intense feelings of joy, peace and healing. Amidst Sedona’s landscape is the skilfully crafted Chapel of The Holy Cross that was designed by Sculptor, Marguerite Brunswig Staude and perches two-hundred feet above the valley floor. Meanwhile, the town of Sedona offers plenty of art galleries and spas, whilst nearby vineyards are open for wine-tastings. If you won't be beased in Sedona itself, day trips can be arranged from Scottsdale.
Arizona's second largest city (after Phoenix) is located in a Sonoran Desert valley surrounded by mountain ranges, forests and national parks. Amongst them are Saguaro National Park (home to the giant Saguaro cacti) and Catalina State Park, which has miles of equestrian, bird watching, hiking and mountain biking trails. The region offers a wide spectrum of outdoor activities, and with Tucson laying claim to being the sunniest city in the USA, there is plenty of good weather to enjoy them. At The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain guests can soak up the sunshine at any of the three pools, whilst horse-riding, star-gazing and horse-riding are amongst the activities available. The region is rich in Native American culture and cowboy heritage, the Tucson rodeo is held annually and its home to one of the most active filming locations for Westerns - Old Tucson - which has been used extensively since 1939 for a host of classic Westerns including Rio Bravo (starring Western film legend John Wayne), The Outlaw Josie Wales, Gunfight at the OK Corral and Tombstone, as well as television series including Little House on the Prairie and Bonanza. Open to the public on selected days, you can enjoy panning for gold and vintage car and train rides as well as gunfight shows.
US Customs and Border Control has introduced an Electronic System for Travel Authorisation (ESTA). The system is web-based only and requires all passengers (including infants) travelling via or to the USA to apply for authority to travel a minimum of 72 hours prior to travel. You may be denied boarding or refused entry to the USA if you have not registered and obtained authorisation. To apply, please visit the official website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov A charge of 14 USD per person (subject to change) will apply.
Summers are extremely hot, while winters are cool. Spring and autumn are the best times to visit. It’s dry most times of the year, though thunderstorms are not uncommon during the summer months.
These figures show monthly average maximum temperatures and monthly average rainfall for Arizona.
Scottsdale is regarded as a top golfing destination and our featured resorts offer access to some fantastic golf experiences: At Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North , golfers enjoy special privileges at both The Pinnacle and The Monument championship golf courses at Troon North Golf Club whilst guests of The Phoenician have a total of twenty-seven holes to play at the resort's award-winning courses.
Take a day trip along the Apache Trail scenic drive for views of forested mountains, canyons and sparkling desert lakes, along with attractions including Goldfield Ghost Town, where you can tour a gold mine, pan for gold, dine at the saloon and witness a thrilling re-enactment of an Old West-style gunfight.
Art and design lovers can visit the Heard Museum, renowned for its collection of Native arts, Scottsdale Museum of Contemporary Art and American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Taliesin West, built as his winter home and studio. For something different, join the Thursday night ArtWalk, when the art galleries of the Scottsdale Gallery Association open their doors to the public -combine with dinner in Downtown or a trip to the theatre for a delightful evening out.
To really understand your desert surroundings, visit this natural history museum, zoo and botanical gardens all rolled into one. See desert animals, including prairie dogs, in the most natural of environments and over 1,200 types of plants, as you enjoy a fascinating and educational day out.
This fine example of mission architecture is one of the region's most iconic historic buildings. As an active Catholic church, visitors can join in mass, if they wish; otherwise the museum offers an insight into the mission's history.
Via Los Angeles or San Francisco with Emirates from Dubai to Phoenix.
Via Los Angeles or San Francisco with Etihad Airways from Abu Dhabi to Phoenix.
Via Los Angeles with Qatar Airways from Doha to Phoenix.
From Dubai to Phoenix: 19 hours, 40 minutes.
Approximately a four-hour drive, north of Scottsdale is the Grand Canyon's South Rim. It is possible to join a Ranger-led walk or a bus excursion tour of the rim, ride a mule down to the bottom, take scenic helicopter flight or go rafting on the Colorado River. The Tusayan Museum offers an insight into Pueblo Indian life at the Grand Canyon eight-hundred years ago. Activities at The Phoenician include day trips to the Grand Canyon and western ghost towns.
Our dedicated Americas Experts are ready to help you design your luxury holiday to Arizona. Furthermore, we have 4 Travel Consultants who have personally visited Arizona and can offer you their first-hand knowledge and experience.

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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We are a small, friendly, self-help club situated adjacent to the Blue Lagoon on the northern shore of Poole Harbour. We have active dinghy and cruiser fleets and a lively social programme.
You will receive a warm welcome whatever your skills or experience. Interested?


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Found 1 blog entry for May 2011.
Tuesday, May 31st, 2011 at 2:08pm.
Yard Sale For The Cure is a one day national event that brings hundreds of neighbourhoods together for a massive one day yard sale in support of breast cancer. Our 2011 Yard Sale For The Cure was was held on a gorgeous, warm day and we were overwhelmed with the support from our community!
Thank you to everyone who came out, had a hot dog and perused the fantastic finds donated by so many generous people! With your help, our office raised $4342.35. Please join us next year. This is a great time for you to unload any of your unwanted items and help us raise money for this good cause. If you do have items to donate, please give us a call!

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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Total Heated Area:2,073 sq. ft.
This simply constructed yet, attractive Craftsman house plan features a clean and fresh exterior consisting of wide board and batten planks, decorative horizontal siding gables and a stone perimeter. There is an extended front covered porch which features an overhead open gable designed with warm woods, columned beams and stone pillars. The interior floor plan offers approximately 2,073 square feet of living space with three bedrooms and two baths. The open floor plan is highlighted with large common rooms and a split bedroom layout. An additional 430 square foot bonus room is situated overhead and could be utilized as a fourth bedroom and bath, an artist’s studio, a home office/study or as a multi-purpose casual family room. The home’s main living space is accessed from the front vaulted porch into the 10’ ceiling height foyer where the open floor plan is revealed. There is a spacious dining room with an adjacent butler’s pantry as well as a large food storage walk-in pantry. The kitchen features a center island with a breakfast bar and assorted other counter space and cabinets and there is a far end casual breakfast room. Sunny and bright, the breakfast room grants access to the rear covered porch and outdoor kitchen and there is an optional patio space which is large and comfortable. The centrally located great room features 10’ ceiling heights and a rear window wall overlooking the rear porch. A two car front entry garage is highlighted with good vehicle space and there is an adjoining storage room at the rear wall. The staircase to the bonus room is located on the interior wall along with locker space and a family laundry room with counter space and a hanging station for drying clothes.
The master suite is situated on this wing of the home and offers a trey ceiling bedroom, an attached master bath with dual vanities, a linen closet, a private toilet room, a garden tub and a separate shower. The walk-in master closet is great space for the homeowner’s clothing and assorted other accessories and there is a private entry into the family laundry room for convenience. The remaining two bedrooms are located across the home and feature good floor space, 9’ ceiling heights, window views and plenty of closet space. There are double linen closets lining the hallway and the shared bath features double sinks, a linen closet, a toilet area and a tub/shower combination. An attractive exterior, a functional family layout and expandable space are found in this Craftsman design.

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


text:
We are looking for a Voice Initiated Calls Customer Support Technician. We serve a key role in providing the essential infrastructure for organizations to build their digital future, transform IT and protect their most important asset, information. But we are more than a technology company — we are a people company. We inspire, challenge and respect every one of our employees. We also provide them with unparalleled growth and development opportunities. We can’t wait for you to discover this for yourself.
Create, research and update service requests.
Execute Business Continuity procedures if needed, according to established protocols. Business Continuity to be defined as Disaster Recovery operations due to a variety of reasons, i.e. problems with the network, operating system, telephony, etc.
Implement escalation procedures as required.
Inspect and influence global process alignment for incident management.
Interface with Global support teams and Field personnel.
Performs contract entitlement checking and works with customer to establish PO documentation for services if the customer is not entitled for service.
Performs Tiered Services enforcement based upon customer's contract level and routes these customers to appropriate service teams.
Route service requests to appropriate product support teams.
Provides front end non-technical support for the company’s Internal and External Customers.
Follows call handling procedures to ensure excellence in customer service.
Work hours comprise of shift patterns, weekends, and holidays to cover a 24 X 7 period.
Verbal and written communications skills required for any and all languages.
A lot of data entry, fast pace, ever changing environment for process so the ideal candidate needs to be adaptive.
The key need is administrative skills and the soft skills (customer service personality).
Ability to work in a dynamic and changing environment.
Ability to work in a group/team environment.
English Language plus additional language required.
May be required to work Alternative Work Schedule.
May be required to change shift as business dictates.
Schedules can shift, but not without notice and they typically stay in the shifts for at least a quarter.
Second/Third Level education or certification.
1-2 years relevant experience, or equivalent.
Tri-Lingual Required (English, Portuguese, and Spanish).

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


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OGG to FLAC Conversion Software converts OGG files to FLAC and keeps ID3 tag. The converter offers many useful features. For example, automatically normalizes volume of OGG and FLAC so that all output files have the same volume; skips the first X milliseconds of OGG and FLAC files when converting; only converts X milliseconds of OGG and FLAC files; joins multiple files to one file. The converter also convert files to popular formats such as AMR, M4A (MPEG-4 audio), AU, AWB, AAC, FLAC, MP2, OGG, etc. It could convert MPC to OGG, 3GP to AAC, 3GP to OGG, WM to AMR, AIFF to WAV, AC3 to MP3, and so on.
Click "Add Files" to choose OGG files and then add them to conversion list.
Click on "Convert" to convert OGG files to FLAC format; alternatively, click on "Convert to One" to convert all files in list and combine to a single one FLAC file.
The software is converting OGG files to FLAC format.
OGG to FLAC Conversion Software is 100% clean and safe to install. It's certified by major download sites.


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I was born in Cambridge, England but moved at an early age to Belfast in Northern Ireland where I went to school and did as much growing up as I was to achieve in most of my lifetime.
Belfast was a great place to be a writer - or, indeed, any kind of artist - in those days. The circle of like-minded people was small and enthusiastic and there were local institutions, such as BBC Northern Ireland, that encouraged young authors. A young writer seemed a good thing to be, so I began writing poems.
My academic interests were strongly scientific, so I went up to Christ's College, Cambridge to read zoology. Not very sure what I was going to do next, I tried my hand at teaching, which I did in a wonderful school (originally for girls, though boys got in eventually) in Suffolk. If you're going to be a teacher, it's a good idea to do it early on, while you can still remember the things that you yourself were taught. With something like biology it's also a good idea to teach what you know while it's still true. The subject moves so fast that a lot of what my textbooks told me at school is simply out of date now. Though we did know about the circulation of the blood; I'm not that old.
I couldn't really see myself being a teacher forever (I knew I'd be caught out eventually) so after a decent number of years I moved to London and became a researcher, writer and editor on Which? magazine, a unique institution which, in those days at least, was run by a smart and stimulating set of people. I spent my days testing electric drills. Once I wrote an article about wood, the first line of which I stole from the magazine's previous article about wood. I thought it couldn't be improved, so I copied it across word for word. The sentence was: 'Wood comes from trees.' My future as a communicator was assured.
None of this is recorded in photographs. No-one ever takes pictures of me except on holiday, as you can see, and even then I have to ask. After journalism, I went into business - actually in the City of London - first as a marketer for the accounting firm KPMG (some of my best friends are accountants) and then by starting up a design, editorial and communications company.
Running your own company is the best fun you can have in business when times are good. The prospect of all that money being stuffed through the letterbox makes you leap out of bed with glee in anticipation of another day at the entrepreneurial coal-face.
But when times are bad, none of this is true. We had our ups and downs with the company, roughly in line with the boom-and-bust economy of which we discovered we were a part.
However, we always managed to find some fun in it.
Thinking I might have just one more job in me before I could decently retire, I joined Diageo, the huge drinks company, just to see what it would be like to do real work for a living. I met some wonderful people there - skilled, professional and up for a laugh, which has to be all you need. Working for Diageo was the most fun you can have without a drink in your hand. Occasionally, I did both simultaneously. The company is - to borrow a word commonly heard emanating from the public relations department - global, which means that practically everyone in the world drinks its products. Consenting adults, anyway. This provided me with copious opportunities for travel, particularly to Africa and Asia, which is one of the aspects of the job for which I am most grateful. I was almost sorry to go, but my retirement dream beckoned. This is a rare non-holiday photo.
The very day after I retired, my wife and I were on a plane to Thailand. Seriously; it was the next day. Here, we have a modest bungalow on a slight slope above the sea in Pattaya, on the east coast. I wish I could say the photo was of our household pet, perhaps scaled down a little. If elephants didn't exist it would be essential, but not credible, to invent them.
That's the seaside resort of Pattaya in the background. This extraordinary town, and other bits of Thailand, now forms the backdrop, and sometimes the foreground, of the essays, novels and short stories I have been writing since coming here. Thailand has a fascinating culture that I do not begin to understand, but I'm hoping that that can be a good thing.
Wandering around in a state of advanced bemusement, not quite knowing what anyone's saying or what's going on, is what foreigners generally do here. Sometimes they 'go native' and dress up in what they convince themselves is traditional Thai garb to have their photos taken. It's a mystery why anyone would do this. That necklace, I recall, was made of plastic, but traditions have to start somewhere. If you thrive on mystery, you'd thrive here.
If you would like to share your experiences of any of this stuff, please get in touch.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


text: Stiltz Wheelchair Lifts are the sole suppliers of Stiltz wheelchair lifts that are designed to help wheelchair users live independently at home. The lifts do use hydraulics or require load bearing walls and can be fitted within one day. The lift is a perfect alternative to a stairlift.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


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Fiano di Avellino DOCG is located in Lapio, Montefalcione. The grapes are harvested by hand usually in the second decade of October. After cryomaceration of the grapes at 41 °F to obtain the maximum aromatic extraction from the grapes, soft pressing and cold decanting of the must follow. The obtained wine is refined in stainless steel for about 4 months.
With its straw-yellow color, Fiano di Avellino stands out for its intense and persistent notes of flowers and fruits, such as pear and hazelnut, which evolve over time into more exotic essences and honey. In the mouth it is well balanced and it has a good acid, persistent and well-structured vein. It is an elegant wine, fine and long-lived, with a capacity of aging estimated up to 5 years.
Seafood risotto, tagliatelle or truffle topped dishes.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


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Please sign in if you need to view or edit your gift registry.
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If you are interested in creating your own gift registry, you will need an account with us. Registering is free and easy.

industry_corpus2: Others