Many Singaporeans have been to places like Japan and Taiwan, and returned impressed that the citizenry there generally take responsibility to clean up after themselves because they see it as their civic duty.

This cannot be solely the result of strict rules and enforcement but also education that began at a young age ("What is point of cleaning activity?" by Mr David Soh Poh Huat; Dec 14, and "All schools to have cleaning activities daily from January"; Dec 12).

Thus, the Ministry of Education's move to emulate theeducation curriculum in these places by introducing compulsory cleaning by students is commendable.

But it will take time for society to change, especially if there are no immediate material benefits from it and also if the practice goes against the cultural norms.

Spitting in public places is one example.Through education and strict rules and regulations, that practice has stopped.

Nowadays, even though the strict regulations stay, most citizens accept that spitting in public is an uncouth, uncivilised behaviour and refrain from doing so of their own volition.

But the change took years and spanned several decades and generations.

Schools can serve as a catalyst for change in society, helping to build up a "critical mass" in generations to come.

Sim Eng Cheong