old school is not new school.

"graduation" by ~jennee, deviantart.

Seen on the Straits Times Forum, 16th May 2008:
Universities should be clearer about entry criteria

"CREDIT must be given to the Ministry of Education and the institutes of higher learning for being forthcoming in releasing application figures for places in our local universities.
The number shows the enthusiasm of our young in pursuing higher education.

It would be ideal if every student who meets the minimum entry requirement can be admitted to a local university. This is particularly so for A-level students who chose to study for another two years after their O levels only to find that they now have to compete with polytechnic graduates for admission to a varsity.

I am not against diploma holders pursuing a degree. Indeed, if they are capable, they should further their studies later and get a postgraduate degree.

But based on reports last year, 32 per cent of university applicants were polytechnic diploma holders.

This being so, I feel that universities should spell out clearly their criteria for admission.

If the criteria are aimed only at picking the best from each group, that is, A-level graduates and polytechnic diploma holders, this should be made known to O-level graduates early so that students in school can make informed decisions about whether to pursue a diploma first or to continue with their A levels.

If resources permit, our polytechnics can work with foreign universities to confer degrees on their deserving graduates.

In this way, we can free up more places for A-level graduates in our local universities without some having to resort to going overseas to pursue their degrees.

By Patrick Sio"

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a bit too much right, Mr. Sio?

Recently, a 14 year old secondary student who is local complained about how foreign students were stealing top spots from local students due to their 'motivation to please their parents' and 'being older than her'.

I say, enough. Firstly on Mr. Sio. With all due respect, I think you are having a rather superficial view. A university degree, especially one from local university carries weight in our ever changing economical and global climate. True, My Paper carried a report about how employers are more inclined to experience, but in the end, it's that piece of laminated paper that gets your foot in the door. Now, the bare minimum is a diploma, and even then, to survive in our expensive world, its tight.

With the paper chase being so adamant in our society, why shouldn't JC kids get more dibs? Yes, A Level students are loosing out in terms of experience at the end of 2 years because they only graduate with an A Level cert compared to a poly diploma. A poly student is ready to be and can be employed in a respectable job while A Levelers aren't very sort after. This isn't kindergarten.

But think about this, Mr. Sio: what makes an A Leveler more deserving of the degree than a poly student? Is it because he or she spent '2 years' studying FOR uni? Is it because a poly student took a more specialised approach to education since he or she knew what she wanted to do in life? What makes a JC student more deserving?

What makes a JC student better than a poly grad?

The reason for your view is because you see poly grads as "already graduates". why rob JC students who have don't have any certification? Poly student deserve just as much as JC students to get into the uni for the pure reason that it is simply harder to go through admissions. We have to not only be in the top percentile, but be consistent for 3 years (compared to just the alevels for JC), have a sparkling record, juggle projects upon lecturers AND as if that's not enough, we still have to be scrutinised by the public for being the "not so smart o levelers'.

I am an example. I had 12 points (R5) for my O Levels. It was enough for me to get into a JC. Not only did I understand the route poly will lead me (harder to get a degree) but despite of that, i chose that route anyway because i knew what i wanted to be. Call it far sighted, call it ambitious, but that's what poly students are.

We're not just a bunch of people who didn't do well enough and got to get stuck in poly. My course, or in fact many other courses require points that can get any applicant to JC. In my course, most of my classmates had between 9 - 15 (R5) for their O's. yet we're still here.

Also, it is onus on the O leveler to find out route he or she can take. There should be an ideal route, and a what-if route. At that age, future planning should already be cultivated, there shouldn't be a need for any Governmental statement to think about what you want to be and do.

To the A Levelers, if you feel as if you are being threatened, then work harder. Competition is the key to survival in our society. We Singaporeans are getting more and more complacent, and think simply by stirring some emotions, they can get what they want. Please, it's a dog eat dog world out there. If you don't put it up a notch, someone else is going to.

In the end, it's jobs and money we all want. Can't we just compete civilly in education so everyone can improve together? There is nothing wrong with private or overseas unis. More and more Australian, Britain and American uni's coming to Singapore to start a campus and there is nothing wrong with that. Yes, fees are slightly more expensive but if it's really "EDUCATION" you are harping about then this shouldn't be a problem.

Lastly, to that local girl who claimed foreign students are taking away top spots, i will be harsh and say: Grow Up. Just give the foreign students a break. They are away from the comfort and proximity from home, they are here to gain an education because back where they were, it is not as simple as our education system. They are here because they think we are good if not the best. Be happy that they are here, and you know, if you were smart enough, you would work with them and not against them.

Singapore, not everything is about winning. Sometimes you need to lose, hit rock bottom in order to succeed.

i never, ever regretted not going to JC, even though i know my mom is still disappointed in me for not going. Because I chose the path that i wanted, and I never looked back. I got rejected from local unis, and since it was the education i wanted, i enrolled into a private one.


See, competition is healthy.
except when China is hosting it. The earthquake, the Olympic conspiracy... who said "8" was a lucky number for the chinese?