damn sway to be born to a singaporean guy.
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Rejected: Teen's 5 appeals to defer NS
By Esther Tan
SINGAPORE Institute of Management (SIM) student Samuel Tan Chee Hong will not get to sit for his first-year examinations at the end of this year.
By then, the youth, who turned 18 last month, will have been called up to begin his national service (NS).
Samuel joined the private educational organisation in the middle of last year, finished a six-month foundation programme and started his course in computer science at the start of this year.
But, last month, he received a letter from the Defence Ministry telling him to report for NS next month.
He has made five failed appeals to Mindef asking for a deferment. At first, he pleaded for a deferment until the end of his three-year bachelor's degree.
When that was turned down, he made four further appeals seeking a three- month deferment to allow him to at least complete the first year of his course.
All have been rejected, even with support from Aljunied GRC MPs Cynthia Phua and Lim Hwee Hua.
Mindef's replies to him all carried the same reason: Male Singaporeans aged 18 and due to enlist will be granted a full deferment from NS only to pursue educational qualifications up to 'A' levels, a polytechnic diploma or equivalent qualifications such as those from the Institute of Technical Education.
NS deferment to pursue a university degree has not been allowed since late 2005, said Mindef spokesman Darius Lim.
At the Budget debate in 2006, Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen explained that, with more educational opportunities available now, pre-enlisted males can start their courses at any time of the year. This means many more Singaporeans are able to start university or other courses locally before they reach 18.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean also reiterated Mindef's stance in Parliament last month. "Allowing such students deferment would be unfair to the vast majority of their peers studying in junior colleges, polytechnics and other institutions who do not have the same opportunity to be deferred for their university studies."
Samuel's father, Mr Roger Tan, said his youngest of three sons had started the SIM course knowing there was a chance he would not get to defer. "But we didn't want to waste time waiting for him to hit 18 before he started NS. It was a risk we had to take," said the IT manager.
He could have enlisted earlier, as teens aged 16 1/2 can apply for early enlistment. But his father did not want him to do that: "Boys that age are too young, immature and slow to learn. The risk is too high and they will be more prone to accidents."
An SIM spokesman said the credits Samuel obtained in his first three quarters of the year will still be valid when he finishes his NS in two years' time.
Since the start of the year, five other SIM students have had to stop their studies to enlist for NS. So far, all returning students have not had to pick up new modules to replace the old ones, the spokesman said.
When contacted, a Mindef spokesman said it considers two main factors when facing a deferment request.
One is the need to preserve equity in terms of educational attainment before NS. The second is the need to enlist NS-liable males for rigorous military training "while they are young and fit".
Mr Tan, 54, said his son was asking for a three-month delay and would be only half a year older upon actual enlistment.
"Even with a full deferment, he would only be 20 years old upon the completion of his degree course. He'll still be young and fit then," he said.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Aug 11, 2008.
==============
Rejected: Teen's 5 appeals to defer NS
By Esther Tan
SINGAPORE Institute of Management (SIM) student Samuel Tan Chee Hong will not get to sit for his first-year examinations at the end of this year.
By then, the youth, who turned 18 last month, will have been called up to begin his national service (NS).
Samuel joined the private educational organisation in the middle of last year, finished a six-month foundation programme and started his course in computer science at the start of this year.
But, last month, he received a letter from the Defence Ministry telling him to report for NS next month.
He has made five failed appeals to Mindef asking for a deferment. At first, he pleaded for a deferment until the end of his three-year bachelor's degree.
When that was turned down, he made four further appeals seeking a three- month deferment to allow him to at least complete the first year of his course.
All have been rejected, even with support from Aljunied GRC MPs Cynthia Phua and Lim Hwee Hua.
Mindef's replies to him all carried the same reason: Male Singaporeans aged 18 and due to enlist will be granted a full deferment from NS only to pursue educational qualifications up to 'A' levels, a polytechnic diploma or equivalent qualifications such as those from the Institute of Technical Education.
NS deferment to pursue a university degree has not been allowed since late 2005, said Mindef spokesman Darius Lim.
At the Budget debate in 2006, Second Minister for Defence Ng Eng Hen explained that, with more educational opportunities available now, pre-enlisted males can start their courses at any time of the year. This means many more Singaporeans are able to start university or other courses locally before they reach 18.
Defence Minister Teo Chee Hean also reiterated Mindef's stance in Parliament last month. "Allowing such students deferment would be unfair to the vast majority of their peers studying in junior colleges, polytechnics and other institutions who do not have the same opportunity to be deferred for their university studies."
Samuel's father, Mr Roger Tan, said his youngest of three sons had started the SIM course knowing there was a chance he would not get to defer. "But we didn't want to waste time waiting for him to hit 18 before he started NS. It was a risk we had to take," said the IT manager.
He could have enlisted earlier, as teens aged 16 1/2 can apply for early enlistment. But his father did not want him to do that: "Boys that age are too young, immature and slow to learn. The risk is too high and they will be more prone to accidents."
An SIM spokesman said the credits Samuel obtained in his first three quarters of the year will still be valid when he finishes his NS in two years' time.
Since the start of the year, five other SIM students have had to stop their studies to enlist for NS. So far, all returning students have not had to pick up new modules to replace the old ones, the spokesman said.
When contacted, a Mindef spokesman said it considers two main factors when facing a deferment request.
One is the need to preserve equity in terms of educational attainment before NS. The second is the need to enlist NS-liable males for rigorous military training "while they are young and fit".
Mr Tan, 54, said his son was asking for a three-month delay and would be only half a year older upon actual enlistment.
"Even with a full deferment, he would only be 20 years old upon the completion of his degree course. He'll still be young and fit then," he said.
This article was first published in The Straits Times on Aug 11, 2008.
