Singaporeans 'get priority' in varsity entry
Singaporeans 'get priority' in varsity entry
Half got places this year, compared to 4% of foreigners; number of places for them also rising
By Aaron Low
SINGAPOREANS get priority over foreigners when they apply for a place in universities here.
Also, the universities have been progressively increasing the number of places for Singaporeans. For the past 10 years, it has risen by an average of 5 per cent each year.
Last year, it was increased even more - 10 per cent - to accommodate the swell of 19-year-old girls born in the Dragon Year, which is considered auspicious by the Chinese.
These points were highlighted in Parliament yesterday by Minister of State (Education) Gan Kim Yong.
He also produced figures to allay fears that local students were being crowded out. The numbers show foreign students get only a fraction of the places.
For instance, 28,000 local students applied to study at the three universities here this year: National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.
Half of them - 14,000 - were offered places. In contrast, out of 23,000 foreigners who applied, only 987 - or 4 per cent - got the nod.
'We want to demonstrate that the university does give priority to local students,', said Mr Gan as he assured MPs that the drive to get more foreign students is not being done at the expense of locals.
He was replying to three MPs - Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) and Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) - and Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong.
Among their concerns was that local students who do not get into universities here may feel as if their places were being taken by foreigners.
Parents have also written to The Straits Times Forum page in the past few months, complaining especially about the 'Dragon Year' effect.
To cope with the 'Dragon girls', Mr Gan said the universities are offering 14,685 places, 10 per cent more than last year.
As a result, 23.5 per cent of the local cohort will enter university this year, compared to 20.8 per cent in 2000 and 15 per cent in 1990.
Singapore is aiming to give subsidised university education to one in four Singaporeans in each cohort.
'As we move towards (it)...the universities will continue to look at additional places to accommodate our students and to provide them with opportunities to pursue university education here,' said Mr Gan.
But the increase will be done at a pace that will not compromise the quality of graduates, he added.
Eventually, he sees four in 10 Singaporeans having a university degree, as polytechnic students increasingly pursue a university education.
Mr Gan's remarks have given hope to Miss Lydia Leong, who is born in the Dragon Year.
The 19-year-old scored 2 Cs and a B for her A levels - grades that could not get her into the social science faculty at any of the three universities here.
She is working as a temporary research assistant in a statutory board and wants to re-apply next year.
'I know people with similar grades in earlier batches who got into the universities here. I had a feeling the Dragon Year would hurt my chances.
'Hopefully, I'll be second-time lucky next year, with no Dragons around.'
Half got places this year, compared to 4% of foreigners; number of places for them also rising
By Aaron Low
SINGAPOREANS get priority over foreigners when they apply for a place in universities here.
Also, the universities have been progressively increasing the number of places for Singaporeans. For the past 10 years, it has risen by an average of 5 per cent each year.
Last year, it was increased even more - 10 per cent - to accommodate the swell of 19-year-old girls born in the Dragon Year, which is considered auspicious by the Chinese.
These points were highlighted in Parliament yesterday by Minister of State (Education) Gan Kim Yong.
He also produced figures to allay fears that local students were being crowded out. The numbers show foreign students get only a fraction of the places.
For instance, 28,000 local students applied to study at the three universities here this year: National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University.
Half of them - 14,000 - were offered places. In contrast, out of 23,000 foreigners who applied, only 987 - or 4 per cent - got the nod.
'We want to demonstrate that the university does give priority to local students,', said Mr Gan as he assured MPs that the drive to get more foreign students is not being done at the expense of locals.
He was replying to three MPs - Mr Zainudin Nordin (Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC), Mr Zaqy Mohamad (Hong Kah GRC) and Mr Liang Eng Hwa (Holland-Bukit Timah GRC) - and Nominated MP Siew Kum Hong.
Among their concerns was that local students who do not get into universities here may feel as if their places were being taken by foreigners.
Parents have also written to The Straits Times Forum page in the past few months, complaining especially about the 'Dragon Year' effect.
To cope with the 'Dragon girls', Mr Gan said the universities are offering 14,685 places, 10 per cent more than last year.
As a result, 23.5 per cent of the local cohort will enter university this year, compared to 20.8 per cent in 2000 and 15 per cent in 1990.
Singapore is aiming to give subsidised university education to one in four Singaporeans in each cohort.
'As we move towards (it)...the universities will continue to look at additional places to accommodate our students and to provide them with opportunities to pursue university education here,' said Mr Gan.
But the increase will be done at a pace that will not compromise the quality of graduates, he added.
Eventually, he sees four in 10 Singaporeans having a university degree, as polytechnic students increasingly pursue a university education.
Mr Gan's remarks have given hope to Miss Lydia Leong, who is born in the Dragon Year.
The 19-year-old scored 2 Cs and a B for her A levels - grades that could not get her into the social science faculty at any of the three universities here.
She is working as a temporary research assistant in a statutory board and wants to re-apply next year.
'I know people with similar grades in earlier batches who got into the universities here. I had a feeling the Dragon Year would hurt my chances.
'Hopefully, I'll be second-time lucky next year, with no Dragons around.'
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