We refer to the article “Never too early or too late” to learn a new skill: DPM Tharman” (Straits Times, Oct 13).

It states that “In a Facebook update on Monday morning, he cited the examples of two senior folk he met last week while on a study trip to visit community colleges in the Bay area around San Francisco in the United States.

One, a 67-year-old lawyer, was taking a course in metalworking at De Anza College in Cupertino because he “wanted to make things with his hands”, Mr Tharman said.

The other, a retiree who enjoyed cooking, was enrolled in a culinary arts course at Laney College in Oakland and offered to make Mr Tharman “a better cook”.

Free education for seniors?

– we would like to point out that many universities in California waive the course fees for seniors to attend many course.

Pension, medical benefits, etc?

Also, most seniors get a pension indexed for inflation and medical benefits (such as Mediaid and Medicare) – monthly public transport pass from as low as US$20.

Stark contrast with Singapore?

In contrast, Singaporean retires have no Government funded pensions (only about 1 in 8 can meet the CPF Minimum Sum and many studies place our retirement adequacy as one of the lowest in the world), no generous almost free medical benefits (only means tested subsidies from ever rising medical fees), relatively more expensive public transport fares, etc.

We believe most elderly Singaporeans would adopt lifelong learning, if most of them may not have to struggle to make ends meet, or worry about their medical fees, etc.

S Y Lee and Leong Sze Hian

P.S. Come with your family and friends to the 5th Return Our CPF protest on 25 October 4 pm at Speakers’ Corner https://www.facebook.com/events/446619505476438/