S’porean students feel the heat from foreign counterparts

AlvinLeong · 26-10-2011, 10:09 PM

From Yahoo News:

Local university and junior college students are feeling the heat from foreign students for coveted spots at local universities.

They were reacting to the news last week that international students make up 18 per cent of the total undergraduate intake in Singapore's universities for the academic year 2011.

The proportion, however, appears to differ across faculties. Foreign students make up a mere one per cent in Medicine and Law courses, but the figure could go as high as 27 per cent in Science and Engineering.

Ng Ding Neng, 23, who is currently studying in Nanyang Technological University's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (Mathematics and Economics), said international students form around a quarter of his course, and most are from China.

In a written reply to MP Ang Wei Neng's queries in Parliament last Friday regarding the foreign student intake in universities, Minister of Education Heng Swee Keat explained that the exceptionally-high intake for Science and Engineering courses is attributed to the fact that they produce much-needed manpower in sustaining key industries but are "less popular with talented Singaporeans", reported Channel NewsAsia.

Heng also highlighted that majority of the international students are on the Tuition Grant scheme, which helps to defray their fees. Moreover, they are tied to a bond that requires them to work in Singapore for three years.

25-year-old Farhan Hamid from NUS told Yahoo! Singapore that this generates a double problem, because not only do they take up spaces in universities here, they are also taking up job opportunities for fresh graduates.

Another NTU student, Vera Lau Shi Min, 18, said the presence of foreigners drives up the bell-curve and forces local students to step-up and match the standards, or get a lower grade.

"As local students, we see our foreign peers as tough competition, which makes us frustrated instead of being a source of motivation. That's because our GPA depends on a bell-curve, hurting our grades as a result," the first-year NTU Sport Science and Management student proclaimed.

But is help on the way?

In his National Day Rally speech in August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured that the government will set aside more places for Singaporeans in universities here and that the foreign enrollment (in absolute numbers) will be capped at present levels.

As such, it's expected the proportion of foreign students in local universities will eventually shrink, easing the unhappiness expressed by some who felt it is no longer "Singaporeans first" when it comes to places at local universities.

In fact, the percentage of foreign undergraduate intake was slightly higher at 20 per cent from the year 1999 to 2006, according to NUS Professor Dr. Loy Hui Chieh, who gathered information from the Education Statistics Digest Online. In 1997, it was only 10 per cent.

Data from 2007 to 2010 are not readily available online.

But apart from competition in the classroom, do Singaporean students generally welcome their foreign counterparts in campus life?

Foo Jiahui from Nanyang Business School said that having foreigners definitely adds colour to campus life and makes it interesting to mix around with people from different nationalities.

Chua Khoon Wee, on the other hand, claimed that interaction between foreign and local students is limited, and foreigners are usually either alone or in their own groups, though there are exceptions.

As for local students taking their A' Level examinations in two weeks' time, they are already feeling the intense pressure, as many compete for a limited number of places in universities here.

Liu Ting Ting, 18, from Nanyang Junior College, is one of them.

"I sincerely hope that the universities could put us students (taking Cambridge paper) as priority over the international students, simply because our mode of testing has proven to be more demanding than SATs and IB papers, and that competition is already tough within us as we compete for our As and Bs," she told Yahoo! Singapore.

But 17-year-old ASEAN scholar Ng Zhan Ming from Malaysia urged Singaporeans to be confident about facing competition for university places.

"Singaporeans should be happy that these foreigners are actually looking towards Singapore as a premier education hub, and how can Singapore who keeps wanting to 'increase its education standards' not accept more foreign students who might be more academically-inclined?" he questioned.

"The universities are already being very strict on foreigners due to political and social pressure," said the Raffles Institution (Junior College) student who scored 10 A1s for his O' Level examinations last year.
==============

And from one Singaporean called Desmond:

My wife (then-gf) had problem paying school fees during polytechnic times, despite holding two part time jobs.

Her dad was sick and not working. Her mum was surviving on $800 a month doing dish washing jobs, and supporting her younger sister who was still schooling.

The money earned by the family were mostly used for her poly fees, her sister's fees, the house loan as her dad was self employed with no CPF, etc, leaving them with no savings.

Once, my wife had problem paying her fees. She approached for financial help and was rejected. The poly's head approached her reminding her about the fees. She related her situation to the head hoping for some empathy. Shockingly, she was told that they couldnt help and advised her to take up more jobs despite knowing she was already on 2 part time jobs!

The point is, aren't those money used for these foreigners be better off helping one of our own?

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-...114119914.html

Only 27% in science and engineering?? They sure? I went SIM/NTU/NUS for lunch i though i in some beijing university...........

ray2828 · 26-10-2011, 10:14 PM

Wah if i studen now, would be very happy...more cmm to kao...

Guppies Onli · 27-10-2011, 06:56 AM

With tuition grant n guarantee a job for 3 yrs after graduation, why not? better than citizen.

hkh · 27-10-2011, 09:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guppies Onli

With tuition grant n guarantee a job for 3 yrs after graduation, why not? better than citizen.

Yup.....plus they will be grateful to our garment and vote for them after enjoying these perks and becoming new citizens.....

ray2828 · 27-10-2011, 11:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Guppies Onli

With tuition grant n guarantee a job for 3 yrs after graduation, why not? better than citizen.

Its not gurantee job for three years, its must work in sg for three years. If you cant find a job and have to go back china or go to another country, then the student grant must be repaid with penalty. Essentially the garment wants to attract talented foreign students, educate them in exchange for three years of their contribution to sg, hope they get married and breed here.

AroHong · 27-10-2011, 03:49 PM

I personally have doubts on the figures the Minister released. It would be quite different percentages if the breakdown figures or percentages were as follows;
1. Singapore Citizens
2. PRs - Average ???%
3. Foreigners - Average 18%?

Unfortunately until today all statistics seem to intentionally combined Citizens and PRs.

loveikan · 27-10-2011, 04:09 PM

This situation was set in motion many years ago as many of the part-time students from my cohort as well as other cohorts were chosen to study in Singapore.

Most of them were creme de la creme in their age-group and all were enticed with many incentives. According o them, they given free accommodations and monthly allowances just to come here and concentrate on study.

So to me, with all these conducive environment, how can they not be successful.

Today, all of them are still working in MNCs.

Well in future, my children just have to work extra hard in order to place food on the table.

therat · 27-10-2011, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray2828

Its not gurantee job for three years, its must work in sg for three years. If you cant find a job and have to go back china or go to another country, then the student grant must be repaid with penalty. Essentially the garment wants to attract talented foreign students, educate them in exchange for three years of their contribution to sg, hope they get married and breed here.

once they go back, do u think they will return to pay back those tuition grant they had took.

hkh · 27-10-2011, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by loveikan

Well in future, my children just have to work extra hard in order to place food on the table.

Sometimes working like a cow still could not put food on the table.....just have to pray hard that your kids are smarter than the rest....

Guppies Onli · 27-10-2011, 08:30 PM

U mean they are not bonded to a given job but they have to look for their own job? So as a foreigner without work permit before they get a job?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ray2828

Its not gurantee job for three years, its must work in sg for three years. If you cant find a job and have to go back china or go to another country, then the student grant must be repaid with penalty. Essentially the garment wants to attract talented foreign students, educate them in exchange for three years of their contribution to sg, hope they get married and breed here.

26-10-2011, 10:09 PM	#1
AlvinLeong Dragon Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 1,759	S’porean students feel the heat from foreign counterparts From Yahoo News: Local university and junior college students are feeling the heat from foreign students for coveted spots at local universities. They were reacting to the news last week that international students make up 18 per cent of the total undergraduate intake in Singapore's universities for the academic year 2011. The proportion, however, appears to differ across faculties. Foreign students make up a mere one per cent in Medicine and Law courses, but the figure could go as high as 27 per cent in Science and Engineering. Ng Ding Neng, 23, who is currently studying in Nanyang Technological University's School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences (Mathematics and Economics), said international students form around a quarter of his course, and most are from China. In a written reply to MP Ang Wei Neng's queries in Parliament last Friday regarding the foreign student intake in universities, Minister of Education Heng Swee Keat explained that the exceptionally-high intake for Science and Engineering courses is attributed to the fact that they produce much-needed manpower in sustaining key industries but are "less popular with talented Singaporeans", reported Channel NewsAsia. Heng also highlighted that majority of the international students are on the Tuition Grant scheme, which helps to defray their fees. Moreover, they are tied to a bond that requires them to work in Singapore for three years. 25-year-old Farhan Hamid from NUS told Yahoo! Singapore that this generates a double problem, because not only do they take up spaces in universities here, they are also taking up job opportunities for fresh graduates. Another NTU student, Vera Lau Shi Min, 18, said the presence of foreigners drives up the bell-curve and forces local students to step-up and match the standards, or get a lower grade. "As local students, we see our foreign peers as tough competition, which makes us frustrated instead of being a source of motivation. That's because our GPA depends on a bell-curve, hurting our grades as a result," the first-year NTU Sport Science and Management student proclaimed. But is help on the way? In his National Day Rally speech in August, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong assured that the government will set aside more places for Singaporeans in universities here and that the foreign enrollment (in absolute numbers) will be capped at present levels. As such, it's expected the proportion of foreign students in local universities will eventually shrink, easing the unhappiness expressed by some who felt it is no longer "Singaporeans first" when it comes to places at local universities. In fact, the percentage of foreign undergraduate intake was slightly higher at 20 per cent from the year 1999 to 2006, according to NUS Professor Dr. Loy Hui Chieh, who gathered information from the Education Statistics Digest Online. In 1997, it was only 10 per cent. Data from 2007 to 2010 are not readily available online. But apart from competition in the classroom, do Singaporean students generally welcome their foreign counterparts in campus life? Foo Jiahui from Nanyang Business School said that having foreigners definitely adds colour to campus life and makes it interesting to mix around with people from different nationalities. Chua Khoon Wee, on the other hand, claimed that interaction between foreign and local students is limited, and foreigners are usually either alone or in their own groups, though there are exceptions. As for local students taking their A' Level examinations in two weeks' time, they are already feeling the intense pressure, as many compete for a limited number of places in universities here. Liu Ting Ting, 18, from Nanyang Junior College, is one of them. "I sincerely hope that the universities could put us students (taking Cambridge paper) as priority over the international students, simply because our mode of testing has proven to be more demanding than SATs and IB papers, and that competition is already tough within us as we compete for our As and Bs," she told Yahoo! Singapore. But 17-year-old ASEAN scholar Ng Zhan Ming from Malaysia urged Singaporeans to be confident about facing competition for university places. "Singaporeans should be happy that these foreigners are actually looking towards Singapore as a premier education hub, and how can Singapore who keeps wanting to 'increase its education standards' not accept more foreign students who might be more academically-inclined?" he questioned. "The universities are already being very strict on foreigners due to political and social pressure," said the Raffles Institution (Junior College) student who scored 10 A1s for his O' Level examinations last year. ============== And from one Singaporean called Desmond: My wife (then-gf) had problem paying school fees during polytechnic times, despite holding two part time jobs. Her dad was sick and not working. Her mum was surviving on $800 a month doing dish washing jobs, and supporting her younger sister who was still schooling. The money earned by the family were mostly used for her poly fees, her sister's fees, the house loan as her dad was self employed with no CPF, etc, leaving them with no savings. Once, my wife had problem paying her fees. She approached for financial help and was rejected. The poly's head approached her reminding her about the fees. She related her situation to the head hoping for some empathy. Shockingly, she was told that they couldnt help and advised her to take up more jobs despite knowing she was already on 2 part time jobs! The point is, aren't those money used for these foreigners be better off helping one of our own? http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-...114119914.html Only 27% in science and engineering?? They sure? I went SIM/NTU/NUS for lunch i though i in some beijing university...........

26-10-2011, 10:14 PM	#2
ray2828 Dragon Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 692	Wah if i studen now, would be very happy...more cmm to kao...

27-10-2011, 06:56 AM	#3
Guppies Onli Dragon Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 1,457	With tuition grant n guarantee a job for 3 yrs after graduation, why not? better than citizen.

27-10-2011, 03:49 PM	#6
AroHong AFC Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 769	I personally have doubts on the figures the Minister released. It would be quite different percentages if the breakdown figures or percentages were as follows; 1. Singapore Citizens 2. PRs - Average ???% 3. Foreigners - Average 18%? Unfortunately until today all statistics seem to intentionally combined Citizens and PRs.

27-10-2011, 04:09 PM	#7
loveikan Arofanatic Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 384	This situation was set in motion many years ago as many of the part-time students from my cohort as well as other cohorts were chosen to study in Singapore. Most of them were creme de la creme in their age-group and all were enticed with many incentives. According o them, they given free accommodations and monthly allowances just to come here and concentrate on study. So to me, with all these conducive environment, how can they not be successful. Today, all of them are still working in MNCs. Well in future, my children just have to work extra hard in order to place food on the table.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)