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TR Exclusive: PRC “scholars” thinking of breaking bonds even before arriving in Singapore
September 3rd, 2010 |
Author: Your Correspondent
On 30 August, Lianhe Zaobao published a critical commentary asking the government to review its scholarship system which is being abused by some foreign students who broke their bonds upon completion of their studies without returning to Singapore. (read article here)
The exact number of foreign scholars who broke their bonds yearly is not revealed by the Ministry of Education which is sponsoring an increasing number of them to study in Singapore polytechnics and universities using taxpayers’ monies.
The PAP’s rationale for offering scholarships for foreign students is to “catch” the “talents” when they are young in the hope that they will settle down here and contribute to Singapore in the future.
However, it is pretty obvious that quite a number of these foreign students are more interested in using Singapore as a platform to immigrate to other countries like U.S., Canada and Australia.
Over at “Baidu Answers“, a popular Chinese internet portal, Chinese students asked how they can wriggle a free education out of Singapore without having to serve any bonds.
Attached below are two questions posed by Chinese students interested to further their studies in Singapore:
[Source: baidu.com]
Question:
I want to study in Singapore and take the “O” levels there before enrolling in a Singapore polytechnic to complete my studies while enjoying 80 percent financial assistance (for my studies from the Singapore government) at the same time. However, I will need to work in Singapore for at least three years if I accept the scholarship. Considering that I need to spend a year preparing for the “O” levels, three years in the university and three years working, I will have to spend seven years (in Singapore). The time is too long though I can return to China midway, I will be away for too long.
Is there any way for me not to work in Singapore for three years? Just take away that 3 years will be good enough. Can those who know help me? Please be detailed. Thanks so much. This is urgent!
Answer:
There are four ways:
Two ways which are not encouraged:
1. Pay up the bond upon completion of your studies and return home.
2. Break the bond and return home without paying the bond, never to return to Singapore again.
Two feasible ways:
1. Register a company in Singapore. It’s fine so long that the Singapore government thinks you are working in Singapore (though you may be physically elsewhere)
2. Work for a multi-national company in Singapore and request to be posted overseas.
[Source: baidu.com]
Question:
How much do I have to pay if I don’t want to serve the 6 years bond for the SM3 scholarship? If I don’t pay the penalty, can I still apply for other country’s graduate study, and come back to serve the 6 years?
Answer:
I think not, but you can run away and don’t return to SG. After all, they can’t go everywhere to look for you.
As we can see from the above, these two prospective PRC “scholars” have no intention of staying in Singapore upon graduation. Even before they arrive in Singapore, they are already making plans to further their careers elsewhere.
Why are we then sponsoring their studies at the expense of our local students? Are we suckers or what?
It is not surprising that some PRC students harbor this type of attitude with no sense of belonging to Singapore even after spending a number of years in Singapore.
Though Singapore is a predominantly Chinese society, the majority of them prefer to relocate to western countries like United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
In an authoritative poll conducted last year by Gallup, the top three immigration destinations for bright Chinese college students are United States, South Korea and France. Singapore was not even featured among them.
[Source: Gallup]
The Singapore government should conduct an in-depth study to analyze why PRC and other foreign students are not interested in staying put in Singapore, a number of whom are simply here to take advantage of our education system and citizenship as a stepping stone to greener pastures elsewhere.
A graduate from a Chinese university will find it more difficult to obtain a scholarship to study in the United States or a green card to work there as compared to a Singapore graduate or citizen.
Till today, the Ministry of Education has yet to reveal the actual number of bond-breakers among foreign scholars each year and the number who eventually become Singapore citizens.
What is the percentage of foreign scholars who leave Singapore upon completion of their studies or their bonds? Are we getting a reasonable return from our investment on them?
When Singapore scholars break their bonds, their names get splashed over the papers and they are shamed publicly. Why should foreign scholars who break bonds be spared the humiliation?
A place for a foreigner is a place deprived for a Singaporean. We should stop throwing money at ingrates who will never regard Singapore as their homes and spend more on nurturing and grooming deserving Singapore students.
It is irony that some Singapore students have to go overseas to further their tertiary education and their places taken up by foreign students who have no qualms turning their backs on us after they succeed in life.
The primary duty of the elected government of the day is to take care of the interests of Singaporeans first and not foreigners. Charity begins at home. It is about time we revamp the obsolete scholarship system which is flagrantly being abused by some foreign students to serve their selfish agenda.
On 30 August, Lianhe Zaobao published a critical commentary asking the government to review its scholarship system which is being abused by some foreign students who broke their bonds upon completion of their studies without returning to Singapore. (read article here)
The exact number of foreign scholars who broke their bonds yearly is not revealed by the Ministry of Education which is sponsoring an increasing number of them to study in Singapore polytechnics and universities using taxpayers’ monies.
The PAP’s rationale for offering scholarships for foreign students is to “catch” the “talents” when they are young in the hope that they will settle down here and contribute to Singapore in the future.
However, it is pretty obvious that quite a number of these foreign students are more interested in using Singapore as a platform to immigrate to other countries like U.S., Canada and Australia.
Over at “Baidu Answers“, a popular Chinese internet portal, Chinese students asked how they can wriggle a free education out of Singapore without having to serve any bonds.
Attached below are two questions posed by Chinese students interested to further their studies in Singapore:
[Source: baidu.com]
Question:
I want to study in Singapore and take the “O” levels there before enrolling in a Singapore polytechnic to complete my studies while enjoying 80 percent financial assistance (for my studies from the Singapore government) at the same time. However, I will need to work in Singapore for at least three years if I accept the scholarship. Considering that I need to spend a year preparing for the “O” levels, three years in the university and three years working, I will have to spend seven years (in Singapore). The time is too long though I can return to China midway, I will be away for too long.
Is there any way for me not to work in Singapore for three years? Just take away that 3 years will be good enough. Can those who know help me? Please be detailed. Thanks so much. This is urgent!
Answer:
There are four ways:
Two ways which are not encouraged:
1. Pay up the bond upon completion of your studies and return home.
2. Break the bond and return home without paying the bond, never to return to Singapore again.
Two feasible ways:
1. Register a company in Singapore. It’s fine so long that the Singapore government thinks you are working in Singapore (though you may be physically elsewhere)
2. Work for a multi-national company in Singapore and request to be posted overseas.
[Source: baidu.com]
Question:
How much do I have to pay if I don’t want to serve the 6 years bond for the SM3 scholarship? If I don’t pay the penalty, can I still apply for other country’s graduate study, and come back to serve the 6 years?
Answer:
I think not, but you can run away and don’t return to SG. After all, they can’t go everywhere to look for you.
As we can see from the above, these two prospective PRC “scholars” have no intention of staying in Singapore upon graduation. Even before they arrive in Singapore, they are already making plans to further their careers elsewhere.
Why are we then sponsoring their studies at the expense of our local students? Are we suckers or what?
It is not surprising that some PRC students harbor this type of attitude with no sense of belonging to Singapore even after spending a number of years in Singapore.
Though Singapore is a predominantly Chinese society, the majority of them prefer to relocate to western countries like United States, United Kingdom and Canada.
In an authoritative poll conducted last year by Gallup, the top three immigration destinations for bright Chinese college students are United States, South Korea and France. Singapore was not even featured among them.
[Source: Gallup]
The Singapore government should conduct an in-depth study to analyze why PRC and other foreign students are not interested in staying put in Singapore, a number of whom are simply here to take advantage of our education system and citizenship as a stepping stone to greener pastures elsewhere.
A graduate from a Chinese university will find it more difficult to obtain a scholarship to study in the United States or a green card to work there as compared to a Singapore graduate or citizen.
Till today, the Ministry of Education has yet to reveal the actual number of bond-breakers among foreign scholars each year and the number who eventually become Singapore citizens.
What is the percentage of foreign scholars who leave Singapore upon completion of their studies or their bonds? Are we getting a reasonable return from our investment on them?
When Singapore scholars break their bonds, their names get splashed over the papers and they are shamed publicly. Why should foreign scholars who break bonds be spared the humiliation?
A place for a foreigner is a place deprived for a Singaporean. We should stop throwing money at ingrates who will never regard Singapore as their homes and spend more on nurturing and grooming deserving Singapore students.
It is irony that some Singapore students have to go overseas to further their tertiary education and their places taken up by foreign students who have no qualms turning their backs on us after they succeed in life.
The primary duty of the elected government of the day is to take care of the interests of Singaporeans first and not foreigners. Charity begins at home. It is about time we revamp the obsolete scholarship system which is flagrantly being abused by some foreign students to serve their selfish agenda.
