2 in 3 respondents agreed that PM's vision of Singapore as a Home with Hope and Heart resonated with them

2 in 3 respondents in a REACH Quick Poll agreed that Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's vision of Singapore as a Home with Hope and Heart resonated with them.

The poll on Prime Minister's National Day Rally speech hosted on the website of REACH, the government feedback channel closed at 5pm this evening.

The poll of 178 respondents, also showed that the 77% welcomed the ideas raised in the rally on promoting parenthood such as work life balance, giving couples with young children housing priority , paternity leave and medisave account for each newborn to defray childhood medical expenses.

71% also agree that measures such as having a new statutory board to oversee pre-school education, raising the quality of programmes for pre-schoolers and giving more support to children from middle and lower income families can help improve the standard of pre-school education.

Having more babies was the most discussed topic.

While many voiced support for paternity leave, there were concerns on the impact of its actual implementation.

Contributors pointed to underlying issues such as employers mindset towards appraisal and expectations of improved annual performance which may place men at a disadvantage in the workforce if they take paternity leave.

There were also calls for more accessible and affordable childcare centres.