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[h=2]Closure of optometry degree course – due to ‘politics’?[/h]
March 2nd, 2013 |
Author: Editorial
According to a Straits Times’ article today (‘End in sight for optometry degree course’, 2 Mar), Singapore’s only full-time optometry degree programme is shutting down.
The reason quoted was “due to a lack of students and difficulty in recruiting staff”.
It said the 2-year course, which is jointly offered by Singapore Polytechnic and the University of Manchester, has failed to hit its target of 60 enrollments a year since it began in 2009.
The programme will come to an end after the current batch of 41 students graduates.
However, a student who is in the degree programme wrote in to say that the closure was mainly due to “politics”.
She said, “The Malaysian head of the course chased many of the competent lecturers from the course and brought in his team from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.”
“Many of my peers who have reserved a placing in the school while serving national service have no where else to turn to for their degree education. They are now giving reasons that they can’t get enough students. I don’t see how the long waiting list of students contribute to ‘LACK OF STUDENTS’ as explained by the school.”
“By using foreign lecturers for staffing, it totally closes up opportunities for more competent local lecturers from good backgrounds like The University of Auckland, University of Melbourne, etc.”
She added, “This is really a waste of government funding amounting to millions of dollars by closing down the course, 4 years from its opening. Uniquely Singapore indeed.”
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The reason quoted was “due to a lack of students and difficulty in recruiting staff”.
It said the 2-year course, which is jointly offered by Singapore Polytechnic and the University of Manchester, has failed to hit its target of 60 enrollments a year since it began in 2009.
The programme will come to an end after the current batch of 41 students graduates.
However, a student who is in the degree programme wrote in to say that the closure was mainly due to “politics”.
She said, “The Malaysian head of the course chased many of the competent lecturers from the course and brought in his team from Hong Kong Polytechnic University.”
“Many of my peers who have reserved a placing in the school while serving national service have no where else to turn to for their degree education. They are now giving reasons that they can’t get enough students. I don’t see how the long waiting list of students contribute to ‘LACK OF STUDENTS’ as explained by the school.”
“By using foreign lecturers for staffing, it totally closes up opportunities for more competent local lecturers from good backgrounds like The University of Auckland, University of Melbourne, etc.”
She added, “This is really a waste of government funding amounting to millions of dollars by closing down the course, 4 years from its opening. Uniquely Singapore indeed.”
.
Join our TRE facebook page here: http://www.facebook.com/TREmeritus
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Rate this (31 Votes)
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