Enough places in local universities for Singaporeans: MOE

Silly report on university places:

The number of university places should not be expanded too quickly so as to ensure quality, according to the Education Ministry, when asked by Parliamentarians if there were enough places in the local universities for Singapore students.

The three local universities will provide 14,685 places this year, a 10 percent increase from the previous year.

University places for foreign students are over and above those set aside for local students.

The universities do give priority to local students. And for our students who can qualify based on the requirement of each discipline and each faculty would have been given admission. Beyond that, the universities would want to ensure there are also sufficient foreign students to provide diversity.

23,000 foreign students applied and only 987 or 4.3 percent were given places.

If there are zero foreign students next year, there will be 987 extra spaces for local students.

Does that mean the quality will drop? Obviously no.

I think we can safely say that the top 14,685 or 1 million students in the world are brighter and more qualified than the top 14,685 Singaporean students. Does that mean all our university places should go to foreign students?

Our local universities are for educating Singaporeans. If their results show them to be in the top 14,685 of their cohort, then give them a place.

Want to set aside places for foreign students?

OK, then expand intake at the same time so that local students are not forced into polytechnics, private or overseas universities.

It'll be Silly to slow down intake expansion and allow more foreign students at the same time.