According to the dictionary, 'to volunteer' means 'to offer one's service or help without payment or rewards'.

It irks me that parents undertake 'volunteer' work in schools to secure a place for their children.

What is worse is that schools are allowing this to happen.

What are we teaching our children? That, you volunteer your time and effort so that you can get something in return?

If that is the rationale, children may in future 'volunteer' their time in an old folk's home so that they can secure a place for their parents, hopefully, for free.

Are these the values we should instil?

Mrs Ng urged the Education Ministry to stop schools from imposing higher-than-usual volunteering hours as and when they feel like it.

I say let's put a stop to this sort of 'volunteer' work and stop teaching our children the wrong values.

Lim Soo Huat