<![CDATA[Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey]]>http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/scholarships-based-merit-not-nationality-baey-152120978.html

[quote]No matter where a scholarship comes from, nationality should not factor into the decision of who receives it, says Member of Parliament (MP) for Tampines GRC Baey Yam Keng.
\"Whether they are a GLC (government-linked company), the government or a private company, they all want good people to work for them,\" he told Yahoo! Singapore in an interview on Thursday.
He said that a scholarship should be awarded based on meritocracy, and should not be allocated specifically to locals or foreigners.
\"If a local is as good or better than the foreigner, I think the local should get it. It shouldn't be because I want a foreigner, therefore I will settle for (a candidate with) a lower standard… because ultimately people want good talents, so the nationality should not be an issue at all,\" he added.
Comments to media sparked online backlash
Baey was at the receiving end of a wave of online furore over the past two days following his comments in Wednesday's The New Paper on a Chinese scholar studying here who made the \"There are more dogs than people in Singapore\" remark on his web blog.
After almost 40 posts attacking him were posted on his fan page wall, Baey published a transcript of what he said to the newspaper over a phone interview, where he explained that Singaporeans should not jump to conclusions over the comment the student, Sun Xu, had made.
The note he posted on his Facebook profile and shared on his fan page attracted almost 350 comments, some of which were positive but most were negative sentiments from internet users, who questioned his choice of words, his statement that citizens should \"reflect upon (themselves)\", and even his loyalty to Singapore, among other things.
When asked about the fiery reactions to his initial comments, Baey told Yahoo! Singapore he accepted, understood and appreciated the sentiment expressed in them.
While several users took issue with the fact that he felt the need to deconstruct Sun's offending line while speaking to TNP, Baey said at that point he was striving to be as rational as possible about the situation.
\"I have to be accountable for what I say, whether published in the media or otherwise,\" he said, explaining why he published the transcript of his phone interview with the paper, with the hope of setting context to his words.
\"I thought at the time, let's not jump to conclusions. Yes, certain words can be hurtful but let's not punish (the whole community because of) one person… we shouldn't just pick on one word (or phrase) and that's it, condemn the person for life just because he's said that.
\"My point was please, let's not enlarge or expand it to say that all foreign students are bad — that's very dangerous.\"
Responding to people accusing him of defending Sun's actions, Baey said, \"Why should I defend him? I'm just asking for us to take a step back and cool down, rather than just reacting on impulse.\"

'A big lesson in my political career'
When asked whether he would have said anything differently on hindsight, Baey said he still stands by his views, as well as his intentions, although he is more mindful of how people might read into the things he says.
\"There's a lot of learning I have done from this… it's a big lesson for me in my political life—in fact, I would say my whole career so far,\" he said.
\"But to me, I still do what I think is right, and will do my best serving people in my constituency, the country and the society,\" he added.
Acknowledging the threats on his Facebook page of him losing his voters in 2016, Baey said, \"Ultimately I think I want people to judge me over a longer period of time. It's a lot more about what I do and what I say. Look at me as a person, what my values and views are, and whether they are consistent… so I'm taking it in my stride; I cannot let (the incident) hamper what I need to do in the constituency because I shouldn't.
\"I will still make my own judgement and do what I think is right, and I hope people will understand that and give me the opportunity to do so.\"[/quote]

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/32451/scholarships-should-be-based-on-merit-not-nationality-baeyRSS for NodeWed, 29 Apr 2026 15:03:03 GMTFri, 24 Feb 2012 00:20:55 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:37:03 GMT]]>http://temasektimes.wordpress.com/2012/03/01/easy-for-foreigners-to-enter-singapore-polytechnics-using-forged-certificates-prc-student-in-singapore/


It is very easy for foreigners including PRC college students from mainland China to gain direct admission into Singapore polytechnics using forged certificates, revealed one PRC student currently studying in Singapore on the popular Lion City Forum frequented by mainland Chinese.

In a discussion thread started by a PRC student expressing his unhappiness at the ‘preference’ displayed by local polytechnics towards college students in China, one netizen wrote that it is relatively easy to obtain ‘real’ education certificates in China if one has the right connections and money:

http://temasektimes.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/fakecertpr01.jpg

“Just find some connections from the family and use money to convert the result to a ‘real’ one……it’s not a secret anymore, can say that many ‘DAE-foreign’ are using fake results….”

(“家里找关系或者花钱做个公证..于是成绩就光明正大变真的 因为中国考试系统只能查出应届的成绩 很多人就有了可乘之机 这不算什秘密了 可以说dae-foreign 多数都是假成绩 因为二本以上的话很少有人放弃本科来读专科并且现在无pr 就业也不明朗”)

Another netizen added that it is quite easy to use the same ‘method’ to get admitted to Singapore universities as well.

(听说超过一本线30可以以直接报大学。那这样是不是也是很多人作假？)

One netizen said the problem is worse in the polytechnics:

“Yes, heard the universities also have the same ‘phenomenon’, but the problem is worse in polytechnics. And there are many people I know enter polytechnics in this way (using forged certificates), so I can say that the poly’s ‘DAE’ (Direct Admissions Exercise) is very messy.”

(对 有听说 大学也有这个现象 但是poly比较严重 而且我身边就很多人这么进的 所以我可以负责任的说 poly的DAE非常混乱…)

It was reported lately that enterprising ‘foreign talents’ are selling fake certificates from many private schools in Singapore online. Judging from the shocking posts made by these PRC students, the problem may only be at the tip of the ice-berg and quite a number of foreigners may be studying in Singapore polytechnics and universities right now using forged certificates.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721325https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721325Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:37:03 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:56:43 GMT]]>Just my 2 cents of a differing prespective

Has anyone wondered why this being done ?

Afterall there had to be some benefits before a policy is implemented. It is definetly not a purely altrustic policy.

One important benefit I see that would be hard to simulate otherwise.
It is a fact that most of these scholars raise the standard of the levels. The competitive environment drives the local students. i have heard the opinion from students in 2 different IP schools that once in Year 3 , the local kids get a face the heat of the competition from these scholars. This really drives them to work harder. It also prepares them to handle a real world than being cocooned.

So personally,
Do i have to pay full school fees ? Yes.
Do i begrudge the scholars their scholarship? - No
Should there be a better criteria/checks for taking in scholars? - Yes

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721039https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721039Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:56:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:45:00 GMT]]>not with MOE but with individual school that sponsored the scholars.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721013https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721013Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:45:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:41:43 GMT]]>how many are from neighbouring countries?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721009https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721009Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:41:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:41:06 GMT]]>

friendship:
Fat Mama:

DS Sec 3 in IP school. There are 8 PRC scholars in his class of 30. They are either 1 or 2 yrs older than SG kids.


No doubt they are very good in Maths and Science but weak in English. They attend different Eng lesson as SG kids and the School provide 2 hrs daily of English tuition after school for them. They stayed in sch dorm, food and pocket money provided and teachers assigned to be their guardian to take care of them.

If our SG kids are weak in Chinese, Physics, Chem, Maths etc... does the Schools provide 2 hrs daily tuition to help our kids???? No, we have to pay for tuition ourselves. :mad: :mad:

Some of his PRC classmates are good but some are loners and have attitude problems. DS has problem getting his group mate to do project work. :frustrated: :frustrated: How to cooperate and be friendly to them?


So this is true. Different schools have different way of doing enrichment.
One reputable girls' school secondary, their China scholars are in Learning Lab. They are about 5 of them in the same class as my friend's dd. The girl asked those china girls where they are staying, they told her they stay in dorm and they are scholars, everything school paid.

:rotflmao: This is too funny. MOE itself recognises the superiority of TLL in the provision of a quality education. Why not sign an MOU with TLL? Educators have to pay tuition centres to teach their scholars? So why is MOE blaming parents for the tuition culture by saying that parents send children to unnecessary tuition?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721008https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721008Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:41:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:39:02 GMT]]>This year DS school cut down number of PRC scholars from 50+ to 30+.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721006https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721006Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:39:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:34:30 GMT]]>

Fat Mama:
DS Sec 3 in IP school. There are 8 PRC scholars in his class of 30. They are either 1 or 2 yrs older than SG kids.


No doubt they are very good in Maths and Science but weak in English. They attend different Eng lesson as SG kids and the School provide 2 hrs daily of English tuition after school for them. They stayed in sch dorm, food and pocket money provided and teachers assigned to be their guardian to take care of them.

If our SG kids are weak in Chinese, Physics, Chem, Maths etc... does the Schools provide 2 hrs daily tuition to help our kids???? No, we have to pay for tuition ourselves. :mad: :mad:

Some of his PRC classmates are good but some are loners and have attitude problems. DS has problem getting his group mate to do project work. :frustrated: :frustrated: How to cooperate and be friendly to them?

So this is true. Different schools have different way of doing enrichment.
One reputable girls' school secondary, their China scholars are in Learning Lab. They are about 5 of them in the same class as my friend's dd. The girl asked those china girls where they are staying, they told her they stay in dorm and they are scholars, everything school paid.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721001https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/721001Thu, 01 Mar 2012 04:34:30 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:17:46 GMT]]>Wonder if those in charge would think differently if the money is theirs? Would they pay for their kids’ education or dole out money freely to bright kids outside their house?


Sometimes I feel that the current leaders have forgotten about the sacrifices of the people who helped build up the kitty, but focus on earning their own brownie points in the name of some obscure abstract national policy. I also suspect that these leaders are overfed and their own kids are well provided for.

I dont get it. Why are the foreign scholarships doled out without bonds? Are we doing our part as good citizens of the world? We have arrived? Think most of us missed the good boat then.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720925https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720925Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:17:46 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:07:35 GMT]]>DS Sec 3 in IP school. There are 8 PRC scholars in his class of 30. They are either 1 or 2 yrs older than SG kids.


No doubt they are very good in Maths and Science but weak in English. They attend different Eng lesson as SG kids and the School provide 2 hrs daily of English tuition after school for them. They stayed in sch dorm, food and pocket money provided and teachers assigned to be their guardian to take care of them.

If our SG kids are weak in Chinese, Physics, Chem, Maths etc... does the Schools provide 2 hrs daily tuition to help our kids???? No, we have to pay for tuition ourselves. :mad: :mad:

Some of his PRC classmates are good but some are loners and have attitude problems. DS has problem getting his group mate to do project work. :frustrated: :frustrated: How to cooperate and be friendly to them?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720868https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720868Thu, 01 Mar 2012 03:07:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:23:55 GMT]]>These are scholars. They shouldn’t be taking enrichment fees.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720781https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720781Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:23:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:09:23 GMT]]>I know in some primary school or sec school. There is a team in the school whose job is to travel outside Singapore giving scholarship forms and inviting those students for interviews.


Enrichment fee such as Learning Lab or Hua Language Centre, lodging, school fees and daily allowance capped at a certain amt are fully paid by the school.

School has this money because MOE allocated the funds. Where is MOE income come from? Tax payers.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720759https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720759Thu, 01 Mar 2012 02:09:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:59:07 GMT]]>

caroline3sg:
Dad42:


Some PRC even disappear after gradution and not returning to Singapore to serve their bonds. It is like taking our money and not returning back. Yet this silly garment still keep offering scholarship to them. :yikes:

I remember reading somewhere that S'pore govt wants to raise the standard of NUS/NTU internationally (there is list of ranking Ivy League, Oxford, Cambridge etc etc) hence grant scholarships based on merit. Just like in the sports arena - Li Jia Wei, Tao Li, bringing medals for S'pore so that the world knows S'pore can be well known in sports too. 😆

If he serve and win for Singapore and not calling our parents dog!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720634https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720634Wed, 29 Feb 2012 19:59:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:57:43 GMT]]>

concern2:
Came across an interesting article on Scholarships:


\"It’s not about how many foreign scholars attain upper class honours. It’s about how many Singaporeans attain upper class honours but were denied scholarships.

This is how our society treats us and our parents who pay taxes. They’d rather give scholarships to others than their own. They’d rather leave us with the burden of debts from pursuing our tertiary education than offer each promising Singaporean a ~$24,000 scholarship. The S$6000 annual living allowance awarded to foreign scholars can nearly fully finance the annual university tuition fees of one Singaporean. That’s all we’re asking for. We’re not asking for an allowance for food and accomodation like the kind of scholarship that is dished out to foreign scholars. We’re just asking for free tertiary education for Singapore students with potential.\"

(source: http://thethinkingfishtank.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/scholarships-for-foreigners-debts-for-singaporeans/)
how about this.....

[quote]The spate of criticism against the PRC “scholar” Sun Xu is an episode that is in long overdue, and I am surprised such an incident has not occurred much sooner. “Foreign talents” (and I use this phrase very loosely) imported by the PAP are no longer what they used to be like in the 1990s. Even the Singapore government has admitted that their foreigner pets are no better than local peasants; about two thirds of their imported foreigners graduate from local universities with a 2nd-upper honors classification or higher, compared to about half of the local students.

How can these foreigners be classified as “talent” if they are not significantly better than locals? In contrast, 40% of the Indian American population in the US (of which a large majority are immigrants and arguably real foreign talents) have post graduate degrees, which is FIVE times the national average in US.

Thanks to the PAP pro-foreigners policy and their collaborators in the local universities, Singapore tax payers are giving out free money to foreigners via scholarships that are *EXCLUSIVELY AWARDED* to non-Singaporeans that is numbering in the value of millions of dollars. Such awards are being given away by the boatload, and competitive local talents such as myself (please refer to my previous article “NUS Denies Scholarship to Top Local Talent” (http://www.tremeritus.com/2011/07/18/nus-denies-scholarship-to-top-local-talent/) have been marginalized in favor for sub-standard foreigners like Sun Xu.

It is truly uniquely Singapore that a good majority of the scholarships available to undergraduates are targeted directly at non-Singaporeans, specifically from countries such as the PRC, India and the other ASEAN nations. You will hardly see this phenomenon in other developed countries (e.g. US, Canada, UK) where their scholarships (also known as fellowships) are mostly awarded to their citizens. It is also truly uniquely Singapore that the government (i.e. MOE) would provide tuition subsidies to all students regardless of nationality, whereas in other developed countries foreign students will always be on the much higher non-resident (aka foreigner) tuition rate.

Lastly, unlike other developed countries where the foreign student after graduation would need to find a job in order to get “sponsorship” for a work visa, in Singapore we have the unique system where we require most of these foreigners to remain and work in Singapore for 3 years even if they are NO BETTER QUALIFIED OR CAPABLE than local graduates.

In light of Singapore’s “unique” approach to “Foreign Talents” is it really so difficult to understand why local fresh graduates cannot find gainful employment?[/quote]

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720414https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720414Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:57:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:47:01 GMT]]>Came across an interesting article on Scholarships:


\"It’s not about how many foreign scholars attain upper class honours. It’s about how many Singaporeans attain upper class honours but were denied scholarships.

This is how our society treats us and our parents who pay taxes. They’d rather give scholarships to others than their own. They’d rather leave us with the burden of debts from pursuing our tertiary education than offer each promising Singaporean a ~$24,000 scholarship. The S$6000 annual living allowance awarded to foreign scholars can nearly fully finance the annual university tuition fees of one Singaporean. That’s all we’re asking for. We’re not asking for an allowance for food and accomodation like the kind of scholarship that is dished out to foreign scholars. We’re just asking for free tertiary education for Singapore students with potential.\"

(source: http://thethinkingfishtank.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/scholarships-for-foreigners-debts-for-singaporeans/)

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720404https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/720404Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:47:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:25:48 GMT]]>

laughing cat:
\"As the marketing and promotion arm for Singapore Education, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) assumes the responsibility of attracting international students to Singapore...\"

:rotflmao: Sorry, I can't explain why this is just so ticklish.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718768https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718768Mon, 27 Feb 2012 06:25:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:09:15 GMT]]>

LOLMum:
so to your question \"Is it our gov role to help other countries' poor or our own first?\", well, do our citizens not have a single place in our local unis? if our citizens do not have a single place in our local unis, then yes, i agree with you that our govt needs to put our own first.
List me a country whose Gov says that they do not need to put their own first.

My disagreement is not with giving scholarships to foreigners. I do not agree that scholarships be given to poor foreigners INSTEAD of poor Singaporeans. Apples to apples. And I am pro-Singapore.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718312https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718312Sun, 26 Feb 2012 14:09:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:50:40 GMT]]>

dragonflysg:
LOLMum:

[quote=\"dragonflysg]


I disagree mainly with your first statement. I do not agree that we should pay for someone else's kid who is poor and cannot get into THEIR own top Uni to come to ours. Our Unis are not a dumping ground for unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners, with scholarships paid by us some more.


lumping them as unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners is definitely not right.

it was exposed in the papers (china) that many of these bright poor students were ignored by many uni because they do not have the right connections.

i am all for giving out scholarships to them to study here. there should however be a cap and a fairer distribution to not just give most scholarships to 1 country and preferably to those of poor families (farmers, workers and not doctors, lawyers etc).

Then I question how many. Is it our gov role to help other countries' poor or our own first? What was the number of full scholarships for locals vs foreign specifically for poor people in your statement? What is the total and per capita value in comparison?[/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote][/quote]


you want figures, nos etc , please write to the relevant boards for the them.

What was the number of full scholarships for locals vs foreign specifically for poor people in your statement? my statement? where? pls highlight to me.

if you are referring to this there should however be a cap and a fairer distribution to not just give most scholarships to 1 country and preferably to those of poor families. , well, i am actually referring to not just allocate most of the scholarships to china but a more balanced allocation to all foreign countries like vietnam, thailand etc.


my post is to state i dont agree with you lumping them as \"unwanted or unsuccessful second rate\". i am sure many of our bright citizens also received overseas scholarships to study in overseas uni - so are these bright singaporeans \"unwanted or unsuccessful second rate\" too?

so to your question \"Is it our gov role to help other countries' poor or our own first?\", well, do our citizens not have a single place in our local unis? if our citizens do not have a single place in our local unis, then yes, i agree with you that our govt needs to put our own first.

and also i am in favour of giving out scholarships to foriegners. as the cap - please, i can give any figures but it is the relevant authorities who after much research and discussions can come up with the best figure in order not to tip the scale, not you, not i (unless you are on the board).


anyway, whatsoever be it.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718158https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718158Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:50:40 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:36:17 GMT]]>In some developed countries, scholarship offering to the locals are far more for the foreigners. On top of that scholarship offering to foreigner are very stringent. So why is SGP so special? Is it purely for the benefit of gaining more $ as an education hub that government forgets entirely on Singaporean?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718149https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718149Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:36:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:29:14 GMT]]>The Singapore Government website named Singapore Education (note the gov.sg). The website’s About page says the following....


\"As the marketing and promotion arm for Singapore Education, the Singapore Tourism Board (STB) assumes the responsibility of attracting international students to Singapore. The STB works very closely with Singapore education institutions and education agents to reach out to potential international students through a range of promotional platforms, including roadshows, education fairs, education talks and PR and advertising. STB’s efforts are focused on:

a.building international brand recognition for Singapore as a provider of quality education;
b.providing platforms for our institutions to reach out to their target audiences;
c.building credible marketing and information channels so that potential students have access to reliable information; and
d.ensuring that international students have an enriching learning (and living) experience in Singapore so that they in turn can be valued ambassadors for Singapore.\"

it seems the Singapore Tourism Board for some reason is tasked with enticing foreign students to study in Singapore, partly by offering them scholarships.

What’s particular disturbing was this particular page where a list of scholarships are offered to foreign students. The Nationality of Applicants states which ones are. But some of them are ambiguous, so I went to Google them to find out explicitly which scholarships are open to whom. Of the 28 scholarships displayed, it appeared that only 15 of them are open to Singapore citizens as well.

Note that all 28 scholarships are open to non-Singaporeans. http://i40.tinypic.com/1m5h5.jpg\">

On top of that...., there’s an additional scholarship program offered by something known as the Singapore Cooperation Programme (SCP). It is open only to citizens of ASEAN excluding Singapore:

\"Citizens of ASEAN member countries (except Singapore) are eligible to apply for the Singapore Scholarship.

Candidates must have an outstanding academic record, a good command of English and meet the entry requirements for NTU, NUS and SMU.\"

The best part about the SCP scholarship? There’s no bond or loan attached. Foreign graduates may return to their home countries upon graduation:

\"Q: What does the Singapore Scholarship cover?

A: The Singapore Scholarship covers full tuition fees, living allowance of S$4,300 per annum and accommodation fee based on the room rates at each university during the school semester. One economy class air ticket from scholar’s home country to Singapore at the commencement of their undergraduate course and one economy class air ticket from Singapore to their home country upon successful completion of their undergraduate course. No further financial assistance will be provided for other travel expenses as well as any additional expenses/fees incurred during the Overseas’ Exchange Programme, Overseas’ Attachments or Summer Courses taken up by the scholars with their respective universities.

Q: What is the difference between this Award and other Scholarships Scheme?

A: Under the Singapore Scholarship, the Singapore Government will not impose any bond on the scholars. However, all scholars are expected to return home at the end of their studies in Singapore to contribute to the development of their country. This is different from other undergraduate scholarship schemes, where the graduating students would be obliged to work in Singapore for certain period of time to repay the tuition grant from the Singapore Government. In the case of the Singapore Scholarship, the Singapore Cooperation Programme is sponsoring by paying the full tuition fees for these ASEAN scholars who therefore do not need to apply for the tuition grant with the universities.\"

Why are Singaporeans shut out and excluded from such scholarships? Why is the Singapore Government actively promoting Singapore as an education hub to the extent of excluding Singaporean citizens from just under half of all those scholarships listed above? Why do they allow such discrimination against Singaporeans?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718145https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718145Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:29:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:14:12 GMT]]>

LOLMum:
dragonflysg:

[quote=\"atutor2001\"]I would not object if the foreign scholar comes from poor family who cannot afford to pay for entry to their top school or university. However, it is not the case most of the times. Many of these scholars are very rich and S'pore is only a stepping stone for them to settle in US and Europe.


Why waste the resources doing training for the developed countries. Perhaps MOE should seriously include \"financial background\" as a consideration for awarding scholarship. It is silly to think that the rich will move over if their kids studied here. So far my personal kaypohing proved that the very smart ones disappeared to US or UK after JC. Left in NUS/NTU are the not so smart ones, waiting for their chance to run. So their presence will also not help much in improving the standard of our local uni.

I disagree mainly with your first statement. I do not agree that we should pay for someone else's kid who is poor and cannot get into THEIR own top Uni to come to ours. Our Unis are not a dumping ground for unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners, with scholarships paid by us some more.


lumping them as unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners is definitely not right.

it was exposed in the papers (china) that many of these bright poor students were ignored by many uni because they do not have the right connections.

i am all for giving out scholarships to them to study here. there should however be a cap and a fairer distribution to not just give most scholarships to 1 country and preferably to those of poor families (farmers, workers and not doctors, lawyers etc).[/quote]Then I question how many. Is it our gov role to help other countries' poor or our own first? What was the number of full scholarships for locals vs foreign specifically for poor people in your statement? What is the total and per capita value in comparison?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718139https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/718139Sun, 26 Feb 2012 07:14:12 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:08:23 GMT]]>

dragonflysg:
atutor2001:

I would not object if the foreign scholar comes from poor family who cannot afford to pay for entry to their top school or university. However, it is not the case most of the times. Many of these scholars are very rich and S'pore is only a stepping stone for them to settle in US and Europe.


Why waste the resources doing training for the developed countries. Perhaps MOE should seriously include \"financial background\" as a consideration for awarding scholarship. It is silly to think that the rich will move over if their kids studied here. So far my personal kaypohing proved that the very smart ones disappeared to US or UK after JC. Left in NUS/NTU are the not so smart ones, waiting for their chance to run. So their presence will also not help much in improving the standard of our local uni.

I disagree mainly with your first statement. I do not agree that we should pay for someone else's kid who is poor and cannot get into THEIR own top Uni to come to ours. Our Unis are not a dumping ground for unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners, with scholarships paid by us some more.


lumping them as unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners is definitely not right.

it was exposed in the papers (china) that many of these bright poor students were ignored by many uni because they do not have the right connections.

i am all for giving out scholarships to them to study here. there should however be a cap and a fairer distribution to not just give most scholarships to 1 country and preferably to those of poor families (farmers, workers and not doctors, lawyers etc).

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717960https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717960Sat, 25 Feb 2012 17:08:23 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:59:02 GMT]]>http://i42.tinypic.com/wlyhkx.jpg\">


happy ? :roll:

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717959https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717959Sat, 25 Feb 2012 16:59:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:08:54 GMT]]>

atutor2001:
I would not object if the foreign scholar comes from poor family who cannot afford to pay for entry to their top school or university. However, it is not the case most of the times. Many of these scholars are very rich and S'pore is only a stepping stone for them to settle in US and Europe.


Why waste the resources doing training for the developed countries. Perhaps MOE should seriously include \"financial background\" as a consideration for awarding scholarship. It is silly to think that the rich will move over if their kids studied here. So far my personal kaypohing proved that the very smart ones disappeared to US or UK after JC. Left in NUS/NTU are the not so smart ones, waiting for their chance to run. So their presence will also not help much in improving the standard of our local uni.
I disagree mainly with your first statement. I do not agree that we should pay for someone else's kid who is poor and cannot get into THEIR own top Uni to come to ours. Our Unis are not a dumping ground for unwanted or unsuccessful second rate foreigners, with scholarships paid by us some more.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717911https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717911Sat, 25 Feb 2012 15:08:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Scholarships should be based on merit, not nationality: Baey on Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:36:43 GMT]]>

atutor2001:
caroline3sg:


I remember reading somewhere that S'pore govt wants to raise the standard of NUS/NTU internationally (there is list of ranking Ivy League, Oxford, Cambridge etc etc) hence grant scholarships based on merit. Just like in the sports arena - Li Jia Wei, Tao Li, bringing medals for S'pore so that the world knows S'pore can be well known in sports too. 😆

Yes, that is their intention but it is not working. The super smart ones will be offered full scholarship by those top uni and they will disappear after JC. Left behind in NUS and NTU are the study until die types - cannot achieve much.

Now the ranking is about the richest country. S'pore 3rd. :roll:

http://business.asiaone.com/Business/News/My%2BMoney/Story/A1Story20120223-329681.html

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717783https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/717783Sat, 25 Feb 2012 08:36:43 GMT