SINGAPORE: 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.
But parents who are confronted with expensive bills as they prepare to send their children overseas question if foreign students are taking the places meant for Singaporeans in the local universities.
Gan Kim Yong, Minister of State for Education, said: "The local universities' vision to have more international students is not being achieved at the expense of local students. University places for foreign students are over and above those set aside for local students."
Siew Kum Hong, Nominated Member of Parliament, said: "Does this mean that places are offered to foreign students only after all local students have been offered and have accepted their places?"
Mr Gan replied: "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."
Mr Gan said 28,000 Singapore students applied to the universities this year and half of them were offered places.
In contrast, 23,000 foreign students applied and only 987 or 4.3 percent were given places.
MPs also wanted to know whether more university places should be created since demand exceeds supply.
Zaqy Mohamed, MP, Hong Kah GRC, said: "Will the government consider putting a second tier tertiary education, for example, more state-funded universities to cater to average students out of polytechnics?"
Mr Gan said: "We need to be careful not to end up with a situation that many countries found themselves in, when they expanded their university participation too rapidly."
Mr Gan said Singapore should produce graduates who are employable rather than jump into increasing the capacity of universities.
Based on the 2006 graduate employment survey, 86 percent of graduates from the three universities found employment within six months.
The aim for Singapore, said Mr Gan, is for 25 percent of each cohort to eventually acquire university education.
With more polytechnics offering degree programmes in niche areas, he said Singapore is well on its way to that target.
Currently, about 40 percent of each cohort acquire university education and this is a figure comparable to most developed countries.
However, of this 40 percent, about half have had to complete their university education overseas or in private universities which cost substantially more.
Statistics show that in 2007, 23.5 percent of the cohort entered the three local universities, compared to 20.8 percent in 2000 and 15 percent in 1990.
- CNA/so
source:
http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stori...288702/1/.html 
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Enough places in local universities for Singaporeans: MOE 
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