Today's young Singaporeans are more educated and streetwise.

Most want to enjoy life and date many others before they settle down, while some prefer to live with a partner and choose not to marry and have children.

It is not necessary to build a village to help young people get hitched ("Build 'singles village' to help young people get hitched" by Mr Chua Boon Hou; March 16, and "Independent singles make for attractive partners" by Dr Lee Siew Peng; yesterday).

This will, in fact, not be good for them, as they will have more freedom to go from partner to partner, and this will deter them from settling down.

Unlike in the past, young people today have many opportunities to meet others through work and social activities.

In contrast, most of the women of the older generation were brought up in a protected environment, with very little opportunity to meet men.

But today's young women are independent, and parents are more liberal too.

When a daughter or son moves out to live with a partner, many parents accept it.

In the past, this was unthinkable.

Many parents also do not pressure their children to marry and settle down - the reason being that the children are more educated and independent, and do not need their support.

Shamim Moledina (Ms)