Unveiled - 'Mystery' of heavy influx of foreign uni students to Singapore

Education System Not Helping
----------------------------

¶9. (C) Singapore boasts a highly competitive and
well-regarded primary and secondary education system, but the
number of Singaporeans completing a tertiary education is
relatively low. Only 23 percent of Singaporean students
entering primary school complete a degree at a local
four-year university. In other knowledge-economies such as
Japan's, around 50 percent of students complete a university
degree. However, according to Cheryl Chan, Assistant
Director of the Planning Division at the Ministry of
Education (MOE), the government does not plan to encourage
more students to get a higher education. The university
enrollment rate will continue to be maintained at 20-25
percent because the Singaporean labor market does not need
everyone to get a four-year degree, she asserted.

- http://thesatayclub.net/2011/09/wikileaks-government-stifles-entrepreurship-higher-education/

If university enrolment standards are not maintained, then the value of a degree will be debased.

Can someone enlighten me on where this perception that Sg has a good education system came from?

As far as I can see, the education system in Sg is heavy-loaded academically and exam oriented. I do not see students even knowing how to return the trays to the tray-bay at food outlets!!

If an education system is so good, how come such a high ratio of school kinds need private tuition classes? And do parents realize these private tuitors speak like crap?

Cheers!

Agoraphobic said:

.................If an education system is so good, how come such a high ratio of school kinds need private tuition classes?.............
Cheers!

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Good post.
If you need supplements, it shows that something is lacking eg vitamins/minerals to supplement a deficient diet.

So tution is needed likewise to supplement an inadequate school system.
I used to tell visitors that weekend for kids in sillipore =tuition.

Whilst the pappies use the excuse of a so called " world class system " to load our kids-the real reason is to actually suppress them.
They weigh the kids with so much studies so that they have to time for other things-like criticise the govt , join protest,demonsrations ect2 like in other countries.Student activism used to bring down govt in many countries-like Korea, Philippines, Indonesia ect2.

Basically the govt has robbed our kids of their childhood.
When our kids goes to work, FT's with dubious qualifications are then brought in to lower their salaries and get a good numbers retrenced by their forties.

The ironical part? -35% still voted for the father of 12 years NS deferrer and research scientist patrick tan.Patrick's father was responsible for the streaming system-one of the most suppresive and repressive education system in the history of mankind.

Now,here is what unsaid.

Out ITE graduates can beat hands down some of the foreign degree holders.Why?Because our educational system is extremely stringent....the streaming started at primary 3....and the sieving goes on.Hence only the fittest survives to our university.d

In most third world countries competative exams are only held after 10 years or so.Even than so long as they have money for further studies they will qualify for a place in a university.Becaudse even in UK vast difference in standard and quality exists between 1 univercity to another on comparative basis.Whereas in Singapore so long as you graduate from any of our 3 or 4 university one can expect a minimum standard.

But in job market--a degree holder from NUS and a degree holder from say Ah Tiong university from Timbaktu is pretty much treated the same....the only criteria is who is willing to take less salary.This is where our youth loose out to foreigners because of PAP restrictive policy to entry to our U.

It showed that 35% still lives in LEE world...believing all his BS!
Once awaken, it would be painful...

Male sporeans waste too much time in the education system. Especially when they have to do an extra 2 years of NS.

I know some who are smarter, they go an overseas Uni after their "0" levels.

Agoraphobic said:

I do not see students even knowing how to return the trays to the tray-bay at food outlets!!

Cheers!

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our education system tells them that that's the job for FTs

Cheers too!

This is great news. Hopefully, offline and online version of ST will be FOC for cheapskates like me.

borom said:

..........They weigh the kids with so much studies so that they have to time for other things-like criticise the govt , join protest,demonsrations ect2 like in other countries.Student activism used to bring down govt in many countries-like Korea, Philippines, Indonesia ect2.

Basically the govt has robbed our kids of their childhood............

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An the system left out a very important subject - history.

Cheers!

middaydog said:

our education system tells them that that's the job for FTs

Cheers too!

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Those jobs have been left for hard time seniors.

Many FTs are getting the IT and engineering positions Sg's education system was supposed to provide for - but that's open competition.

Cheers!

Confuseous said:

Education System Not Helping
----------------------------

¶9. (C) Singapore boasts a highly competitive and
well-regarded primary and secondary education system, but the
number of Singaporeans completing a tertiary education is
relatively low. Only 23 percent of Singaporean students
entering primary school complete a degree at a local
four-year university. In other knowledge-economies such as
Japan's, around 50 percent of students complete a university
degree. However, according to Cheryl Chan, Assistant
Director of the Planning Division at the Ministry of
Education (MOE), the government does not plan to encourage
more students to get a higher education. The university
enrollment rate will continue to be maintained at 20-25
percent because the Singaporean labor market does not need
everyone to get a four-year degree, she asserted.

- http://thesatayclub.net/2011/09/wikileaks-government-stifles-entrepreurship-higher-education/

Click to expand...

If what this Cheryl Chan says is correct than why are all the PAP politicians saying that we need to let in more FTs with degrees due to the shortages in the work force and to grow the economy? Really contradictory statements. The labour market will determine how many degree holders it needs, not the Ministry. If the MOM had more stringent requirements to weed out all the fake degree holders from China and India, there will be much more demand for local degree holders. Cheryl Chan should stop lying and tell people the real reason why they do not offer more space for 4 year degree courses. i.e. There is no money in it for the govt. Unis are a big loss leader for the govt. What they collect in school fees from the studentsis not close to whatthey have to spend to educate the student. hence, less spots mean less loss.

Confuseous said:

Education System Not Helping
----------------------------

¶9. (C) Singapore boasts a highly competitive and
well-regarded primary and secondary education system, but the
number of Singaporeans completing a tertiary education is
relatively low. Only 23 percent of Singaporean students
entering primary school complete a degree at a local
four-year university. In other knowledge-economies such as
Japan's, around 50 percent of students complete a university
degree. However, according to Cheryl Chan, Assistant
Director of the Planning Division at the Ministry of
Education (MOE), the government does not plan to encourage
more students to get a higher education. The university
enrollment rate will continue to be maintained at 20-25
percent because the Singaporean labor market does not need
everyone to get a four-year degree, she asserted.

- http://thesatayclub.net/2011/09/wikileaks-government-stifles-entrepreurship-higher-education/

Click to expand...

America's quality of educations is far worse.

steffychun said:

America's quality of educations is far worse.

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If America's education is worse, why do so many PAP elites send their scholars there for University education?

Latest uni ranking has all the UK and US based uni in the top 10. NUS only 20 something...

Singaopore Edu system is good in churning out robots who follow and think one kind, once they encounter problems, they are not able to think out of the box.

Which the doctrine necessary for creating an obedient, efficient work force = the antidote for foreign investors, and population who "listen" to the government.

The flip side and its already very evident, that we cannot be creative, shows the dearth of private enterprises and entrepreneurship...vicious cycle, becos we lack sufficient private enterprises, government has to be involved in everything, and so the cycle is formed, now unable to break.

And thats why, we need FTs, those with qualifications that we don't have.

We can write and regurgitate well, but you put a Singaporean student in front of the audience and ask him to give a 10 min impromptu speech, his balls freeze. Whereas a yankee or indian student has no problems talking cock to you for 1 hour even if he could barely pass his A maths.

Now which one will be the boss and which one is the obedient and efficient kah-kiah?

Papsmearer said:

There is no money in it for the govt. Unis are a big loss leader for the govt. What they collect in school fees from the studentsis not close to whatthey have to spend to educate the student. hence, less spots mean less loss.

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The gov't makes $$$ from foreign workers i.e. worker levy. So it's more profitable to let in the foreign workers

Sporeans are really dumb because they don't make the PAP pay a heavy political price by kicking out PAP MPs for their selfish policies.

Imagine they make you fight over grades to have a placement back then .

Now they just let more come in . Quantity works better than quality now .

I think you are mixing up creativity aspect and the general aspect of education. Singapore is strong in the hard sciences because you can hit perfect scores and assure yourself an entry to the best universities around the world. Humanities related subjects have been neglected. The fact that we can be admitted to tertiary institutions around the world without special preparatory course are indicative of the standards compared to others in the 3rd world.

Where we have failed is the ability to throw out creative individuals and innovators. Firstly there is little critical mass for this sort of result. Secondly Any parent or kid will aim for the hard sciences to get perfects scores as the environment is ultra competitive and every mark is valuable. The scholarships are lucrative. The fact that Singaporeans have no issues getting employed around the world or moving freely around the world attest to the quality of education. Western nations in view of their size can cover a whole spectrum of education.

We do very well in foreign competition such as the Jessup Cup, various maths and science quizzes. You can't even qualify if there is no foundation based on good education.

My sense is that this Govt keeps claiming world class in everything and that is clearly not so. This is where perception and reality shows a gap. It's like our drive to Swiss Standard of Living.

Just be glad that our education system is not where near those of our neighbours.

Agoraphobic said:

Can someone enlighten me on where this perception that Sg has a good education system came from?As far as I can see, the education system in Sg is heavy-loaded academically and exam oriented. I do not see students even knowing how to return the trays to the tray-bay at food outlets!!If an education system is so good, how come such a high ratio of school kinds need private tuition classes? And do parents realize these private tuitors speak like crap?Cheers!

Click to expand...

scroobal said:

I think you are mixing up creativity aspect and the general aspect of education. Singapore is strong in the hard sciences................................

...........Just be glad that our education system is not where near those of our neighbours.

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Actually I see education as "all round."

Reason is plain, what's the use of a bunch of super scientists when they're inconsiderate and self-centred. Or a bunch of super-brainiacs when they can't appreciate things outside of their field? Education is to better the society, and it starts at home. The trouble with today's society is the parents leave "education" to the instituitions.

Singapore's education systems is leaps and bounds ahead of our neighbours mainly because of the use of English. This being said, the heavy emphasis on mother tongue has led the majority of Chinese students in Sg unable to use their real mother tongue. Contrast this with many Chinese students from M'sia who articulate in English, Malay, mother tongue, and Mandarin.

Cheers!

In most countries, it makes some sense to restrict the % of population with degrees. U have too many pple with Degrees, not even pple doing rank and file jobs. End of the day not enough pple at certain level and too many pple at other levels. In SG however, we basically lack workers at ALL levels from top to bottom. There is no real need to be controlling the % of population for degree holders, just need to ensure quality instead

anyone has any idea how many 'A' level and poly grad qualify for uni every year ? Recent news put the number of student enrollment to undergrad at 12,000 and increasing to 15,000 by year 2015. Just wonder how many place were for international students and how many failed to get in esp poly grad.