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Singapore births head for a 26-year low

ANN/THE STRAITS TIMES
The number of babies born in the first six months of this year has fallen at such a rate that if it continues, Singapore will, at year-end, record its lowest number of births in 26 years.
Only 18,503 babies were born from January to June and when extrapolated, will produce just about 37,000 babies for 2003 ? lower than the 38,364 recorded in 1977.
The half-year figure is 6 per cent lower than the 19,712 born in the same period last year, when the annual total of 40,800 was at a 16-year low.
With the economic gloom, the likelihood of a burst in babies in the second half of this year is remote.
Historical figures in years of economic hardship support this: In 1986, 38,379 babies were born, a 10-per-cent drop against the previous year and in 1998, there were 43,664 babies ? 8 per cent lower than the year before.
Agreeing, Dr Cheng Li Chang, medical director of Thomson Fertility Centre, said: "Singaporeans are very realistic people."
"Raising children is becoming more costly, especially since our education system is so competitive."
"Parents feel the need to spend a lot of money on tuition and enrichment programmes for their children."'
But the man in charge of helping to promote marriage and family life here disagrees.
Mr Chan Soo Sen, chairman of the Family Matters! Singapore said "It's easy to blame the recession for the decline, but the main reason is that people don't view it as a priority."
"It's not as though this is a new problem."'
Architect Bruce Ngam, 32, married for three years, typifies the childless couple Mr Chan probably has in mind.
Mr Ngam Said "We're not ready to have children yet. We want to do well in our careers and be financially stable, to travel and do many other things. Besides, we work like crazy and we don't go home until very late every day. It doesn't make sense to have a baby and then just leave it at my mother's place."'
His view may indicate why the 2001 baby bonus programme, which gives cash for six years to parents who have second and third children, has left couples cold, as have a slew of other incentives introduced over the years.
Sociologist Paulin Straughan felt the incentives may have failed because they focus mainly on one barrier to parenthood ? money.
Also, she feels people can't be blamed for choosing to put career first after slogging for years in school.
Despite these obstacles, the Government continues its relentless quest for more babies.
Last month, a committee was set up to get more people to marry and have babies, among other things.