Why Reserve Scarce Uni Vacancies for FTrash?

[makapaaa]

Apr 15, 2010

UNIVERSITY ADMISSION
JC students deserve priority

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POLYTECHNICS lure students with glossy brochures and spiels about their fabulous courses, but fail to tell them how difficult it is for them to enter local universities via the poly route.
How many 16-year-olds will forgo sexy-sounding courses like communications and finance over subjects like physics, chemistry or mathematics?
Ironically, these polytechnic brochures often boast of how many of their graduates enter university. But they are silent on the reality that employers value degrees more than diplomas.
Polytechnic graduates cannot have it both ways. They must know the Government spends more to train a polytechnic graduate than a junior college (JC) student.
So they cannot expect a second bite of the cherry with the same priority in university admission as JC students who complete two years of school and hold only an A-level certificate.
Polytechnics pride themselves on hands-on training while JCs arm a student with more in-depth grounding in core subjects to prepare them for university.
To JC students, university is and has always been their final destination. To poly students, their end point, in Singapore at least, should be their diploma.
If they want to go beyond that in Singapore, they should choose the JC route. If they do not qualify, it is not the Government's fault.
Nothing should stop them from pursuing their dream overseas, but they cannot expect greater access to local universities just because it is costlier to study abroad.
A place in a good local university is a limited resource and should go to the most deserving; in this case, those who qualify for JC and have consciously decided to take the JC path to prepare themselves for a university education and not a diploma.
In the past, a JC education was called 'pre-university' education, and it is precisely that.
So it is time polytechnic graduates accepted the implications of their decision to choose between polytechnics and JCs, and not gripe that the system is unfair.
Lee Beng Tat

 

[makapaaa]

Apr 15, 2010

Varsity entry not only about grades

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MR TAN Wei Liang lamented on Tuesday ('Don't let poly graduates fall through the cracks') that he was unable to obtain a place in a local university despite his above-average grade point average (GPA) of 3.4 after graduating from a polytechnic with a diploma.
My GPA is similar to Mr Tan's. Like him, I am a national serviceman. Unlike Mr Tan, however, I was offered a place by all three local universities on my second attempt, though I had just one offer on my first attempt in what I was less interested to pursue. Eventually, I settled on Singapore Management University. Though it may not be the most popular by convention, its pedagogy suits my learning style and I believe it will be able to help me self-actualise.
The reason I was offered places in local universities is that, apart from academic scores, the universities consider leadership, community involvement, sports and other areas when granting admission.
I am not academically superior to Mr Tan, but the assessors considered me a deserving candidate based on my non-academic achievements. The universities offered me a place based on my entrepreneurship, leadership and community service. I also believe that positive testimonials from past employers and mentors, as well as other professional certifications, helped.
More often than not, preferences on university programmes can also make a difference in admission consideration. It may not be realistic to expect firm offers in popular courses like business, accountancy and law.
Locally, the Singapore Institute of Management and SIM University have contributed significantly by producing quality graduates who remain an anchor of the economy. While the prestige and recognition of private degrees have been a concern to many, the recent launches of the Singapore University of Technology and Design and the Singapore Institute of Technology are the latest efforts to provide another platform of choice and keep diploma holders competitive in the workforce.
Mr Tan is blessed to have parents who are willing to invest their retirement savings to help him further his studies abroad. There are many others in the low-income group who must give up their academic advancement to support their families even though they have good results. Should he study abroad, I hope Mr Tan will remain rooted to Singapore and come back to contribute to the nation and his parents after graduation.

=> Why should he when FTrash who donch need to serve NS are given free scholarships to study in Sg and taking away opportunities from NSmen?

Aloysius Lau (aka FAPee Dog)

 

[makapaaa]

Apr 15, 2010

Choose study route carefully

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AS A polytechnic graduate who was granted admission to a local university, I empathise with the plight of fellow graduates like Mr Tan Wei Liang ('Don't let poly graduates fall through the cracks', Tuesday) who did not manage to get a place. When I applied for polytechnic admission, I had already planned to enter a local university and worked very hard to achieve my goal.
Over the past half decade, the polytechnic marketing strategy appears to have evolved. It now apparently focuses most of its attention on top-performing graduates. Most become the poster boy or girl on their websites.
I think this is justified as the administration wants to attract as many good quality O-level students as it can, to continue producing trailblazers, and eventually enhance the prestige of its diplomas.
I believe it is beneficial for both fresh graduates and alumni. Some polytechnics have talent development programmes that groom high-calibre students, and help them aim higher in life.
However, we should not lose sight of the fact that polytechnics are not meant to produce elites or academics. Their primary role is to produce hands-on, mid-level skilled workers who cater to the needs of industry. Secondary school teachers, who know the educational system well, should play a greater role in advising students about choosing their study route.
Tay Xiong Sheng

 

[makapaaa]

Apr 15, 2010

Plug varsity admissions gap

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I READ with interest last Saturday's report ('From poly to...') and Mr Tan Wei Liang's letter on Tuesday ('Don't let poly graduates fall through the cracks').
I understand Mr Tan's predicament. I have just graduated from a polytechnic with a diploma in mass communication. Like him, I chose to study in a polytechnic over a junior college, even though I had above-average O-level scores. I graduated with a grade point average (GPA) of 3.35, which is slightly above the average.
While I managed to secure a place to study in a local university, I cannot help but empathise with my friends who, like me, came in with stellar O-level scores (an L1R5 of 10 points or below) and scored similar GPAs (above 3.0) and now have difficulty securing places in local universities. We also hear of how some top-scoring students - with GPAs of close to 4.0 - have difficulty in getting a place.
A common grouse I hear, and I agree with, is how A-level students get into these local universities far more easily (minus the entry interviews and with a quicker response) than polytechnic graduates. Are there different admission guidelines for polytechnic students and A-level students?
A general reply from A-level students and others is that 'if a polytechnic graduate does not get into a local university, at least he has a diploma to fall back on and can start work, but A-level students have nothing to fall back on'.
Times have changed. One cannot deny a deserving polytechnic student his desire to further his education, simply because of his diploma.
Going overseas is an option, but as Mr Tan pointed out, it is frustrating because an education overseas is not cheap.
With brighter students increasingly choosing to study in polytechnics, something must be done to plug the gap in local university admissions. Releasing figures on the number of graduates who enter local universities would help steer students in the right direction, but more needs to be done - for example, increasing the number of places in local universities for these middle-ground students, from the current 10 to 15 per cent to perhaps one-third of the cohort.
Do not deny deserving students their chance in furthering their studies.
Alfred Chua
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[makapaaa]

Apr 15, 2010

Studying abroad a blessing in disguise

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I REFER to Tuesday's letter by Mr Tan Wei Liang, 'Don't let poly graduates fall through the cracks'.
I agree that no one should be denied education and that human capital is precious in Singapore.
Like Mr Tan, I did my national service and my applications to the three local universities with my diploma from Singapore Polytechnic were not approved. Having to work full time and do my undergraduate degree in the evening was not easy, as I had to finance it out of my pocket upfront. However, this was a blessing in disguise for me.
Experience in a global bank for three and a half years has enabled me to see things from a macro view. Decision-making skills are learnt in real life more than in a classroom setting. Human capital is not only a paper qualification, but also networking, public relations skills, experience, innovation and many other factors that cannot be taught.
Mr Tan should see this opportunity to go overseas to study as a blessing in disguise, as one can see things from a different perspective and new ideas can be learnt. Bring back the best practices and use them to advantage in Singapore. Even the best university has things to learn from other individuals or organisations. After all, a university is made up of people.
It is essential that people do not see themselves as just aiming to achieve a paper qualification; it should be an avenue to assist one towards a goal, whether it is to run a business, be a millionaire or simply be an average Joe.
We should be careful not to demand transparency and end up rejected more due to the lack of places in the local universities.
Loh Guo Ji

 

[makapaaa]

Apr 15, 2010

Only the best should get a place

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I REFER to Tuesday's letter by Mr Tan Wei Liang, 'Don't let poly graduates fall through the cracks'.
All universities, both here and abroad, are competing to admit the best students. University places at our three universities - the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University - are limited. We cannot simply increase places indefinitely without comprising standards.
Therefore, if we force our universities to take more polytechnic students, it means someone else is deprived of a place. It is about supply and demand, and university admission boards will review and select the best applicants according to their admission criteria.
The same applies to the job market. It is a free market and we cannot expect employers to give priority to those from junior colleges or polytechnics. Employers have the right to employ the best candidate.
Tan Lee Hwang (Ms)

=> What are you defending? Ungrateful SPGs?