Why the bulk of illiterates in Singapore could be from
the generation under the british rule?
According to wiki, 7.5% of our population are illiterates. That
translate to 225000 people.
According to our statistics, there are
305500 pple above 65 years old.
Considering that sources available out there suggested that
education policy was extremely poor to the extend of 'minimal'.
305500 people alive today lived their youth during the
time with minimal emphasis on education.
If we will to say that a good proportion of
that 305500 people are illiterates, they will form the bulk of the
225000 illiterates in our country today. I have no proof on that,
but it is a possibility after looking at the above findings.
It is strange to blame the PAP government for the amount of
illiterates despite extensive effort to improve education in
Singapore while keeping a blind eye to the lack of british support
before 1946.
http://webdrive.service.emory.edu/users/talviar/HKSingColonialTransition.pdf
Where did you get your figure of 225,000?
So the BULK our 1950s immigrant generation are
illiterate?
But if you look back at the statistical tables year 2000, it
shows 4.3% of 25-34 y.o. and 9.7% of 35-44 y.o. without
qualification.
25-34 y.o. without qualification = 4.3% = 24,013
35-44 y.o. without qualification = 9.7% = 61,703
So using 225,000 (your calculation), this figure already
represents 38% of illiterates.
Your first link to Emory didn't provide any conclusive evidence
that the British promoted education more fervently in Hong Kong
than in Singapore.
Your second link was more interesting, you post the blog of this
old man in his 70s 0r 80s, saying ''There was no education
policy for development in Singapore and Malaya during my
grandparents’, parents’ and my own early days." It's
currently 2008, less 75 years and less 22 for his parents and
another 22 for his grandparents. It might be the same British
colony, but is it the same century? 
In those days in the 1930s, I doubt there was any affirmative
education system. In those days, I heard from my parents, education
was free, you just have to get your butt to school. If you have a
primary school education in those days, you should be quite proud
of your achievements.
You should also differentiate from the author's definition of
"educational policy" and access to free public education.
