The 7 Commandments of Apple’s iPad

By Amanda Lian

After much thought and nerve-wreaking ideas, I come to think of the newest addition to the Apple family as the 7 commandments to a happy relationship. Why 7 you may ask? Because… And a huge because Apple said that it is an in-between product of the iPhone and MacBook which does 7 wonderful essential things better. What are these things? They are the Internet, Email, Video, Music, Games and eBooks. How do you feel about this issue? We want to know. But before that, I will tell you my experiences.

Well now, Apple has gotten everyone talking and the industry abuzz with the announcement of its new iPad. Some dubbed it just another product larger than an iPhone, while others are seeing it as something which they might actually be inclined to use. Whichever the case, I am privy to some conversations I’ve had with a techy person, another who uses his notebook only reluctantly as required for work and one more, a close family member who is a self-proclaimed Luddite. Maybe, we will talk about my friend’s mother too, if we ever get to it.

It is just so surreal when everyone else is excited about computing except the geeks and the nerds.

Techy person

I went home on the day that Apple was going to announce the iPad. As most of my friends were based in Singapore, it was almost 2am over there when they heard the news. Most of them stayed up in anticipation or for work, but this friend came to me the following morning saying “I was so disappointed. The hype was too overrated!”

Me: Well, don’t you like the iPad? Or the idea in that sense?

Techy person: No! If it is for eBooks, then I would get e-ink as it is better for the eyes in long periods of reading. If it is for other things, my notebook is able to do those things better and more efficiently. I guess the only thing that I’m excited about would be the A4 chip.

Being a geek myself, I can understand why most people will think this way. I mean, yes, the iPad looks pretty and such but what it does, do not meet the needs and demands of the technically inclined niche.

Technophobe

My friend is an engineer and uses a notebook only if there is a necessary need for it. If she is able to shy away from technology altogether, that would be the greatest day of her life. Unfortunately, reality is harsh and she has to use it for work purposes daily.

While she shuns away from the iPhone, when the iPad was announced, she called me immediately. Sounding superbly excited and thrilled, she said, “…iPad is so beautiful and do you think I could get used to it? I haven’t really played with the iPhone yet but I feel that it is really easy to use. Is the iPad similar? Would you recommend me to buy it when it comes out in Singapore?”

Being bombarded with so many questions at a time, I began to realize that the iPad has indeed created a stir. She do not normally go gaga over technology and this is the first time in the 20 plus years that I’ve known her, that she actually reacted so enthusiastically over a new Apple product.

Luddite

For the sake of some people, a Luddite is someone who denies technology altogether. Do not be alarmed, there are definitely individuals still like that in good, old Singapore. And it happens to be one of my friends. Be it choice or circumstance, this friend of mine has never used a notebook before. Even his mobile is the really basic one which you can purchase easily from any 7-eleven stores in Singapore. So when he took the initiative to ask me about the iPad, I was kind of shocked.

He actually thought the iPad would work for him. In his words, he said “looks good on the outside, easy to use on the inside.” And for him to fork out that amount of cash is not a problem. This is not a usual phenomena, it is a sensation. Sadly, I do not feel the same.

And there we go again…

The iPad is indeed of paramount importance to everyone, EXCEPT us. Somehow, someday, until we see a MacBook Air cut in half (which in our impression is the new tablet and the one we always wanted), we will wait and see. We would urge you not to purchase it just yet, if you really, really wanted a set as Apple had spoken of the prices staying nimble, which means good news for us, the consumers. If the sale of the first generation is not ideal, Apple WILL cut the price to sell more, just like the iPhone where it was reduced by $200 within the first few months of sale.

Afterthoughts

Watching the industry react, the voices of the people, and the overall atmosphere, this is going to be a blast for me – just seeing it unfold before my very existence.

As for my friend’s mother, she kept saying she was too old to learn how to use a computer. Till this day, she only knows how to push the power button on the CPU. But after the entry of Apple’s iPad, she was motivated to learn how to use the email and the internet! Wow! For now, we will await the landing of Apple’s iPad on Singapore’s sandy, sunny shores.

Specifications:

·        Height: 9.56 inches (242.8 mm)

·        Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm)

·        Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)

·        Weight: 1.5 pounds (0.68 kg) Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds (0.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

·        9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology

·        1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip

·        Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music

The Reform Party’s Seminar on Education

By Amanda Lian

Education Policy Proposals

The seminar organised by the Reform Party was being held at the Berkshire School’s lecture room on the second level of Shaw Towers on the 23 January 2010, Saturday, 1.30pm. Temasek Review attended the seminar and listened in on the various policy proposals being brought up and compiled it in this article to allow our readers to be updated with the latest news and information, plus what was being discussed by the individuals who attended. Starting the seminar was the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, Mr. Kenneth Jeyaretnam. Other speakers at the seminar included the Reform Party CEC (Central Executive Committee) members, Mr. Tony Tan and Mr. Justin Ong, a member of the Reform Party, Mdm. Hazel Poa, an external speaker, Dr. James Gomez and two special speakers, Mr. Peter Li and Mr. Jason Soh.

While at the second level, upon reaching the premises of the school, there were several people seen buying items of the Reform Party which included t-shirts, badges, newsletters and books. At 1.30pm sharp, we were ushered into the lecture room and seated. When the seminar began, Mr. Kenneth Jeyaretnam embarked on the discussion of the key issues which are education hours versus GDP, real income of graduates and productivity in comparison to education investment.

The seminar quickly progressed with the next speaker, Mr. Tony Tan, who shared his personal experiences during his education days when he was younger and how it had changed and affected him in real life. Ending his part, he said that while he was on one of the Jurong walkabouts, a bean sprout and bean curd seller said to him, “students nowadays have no heart…”

Following closely was a speech by the external speaker, Dr. James Gomez, who is currently also a Head of Department for Monash University, Australia and was a former CEC member of the Workers Party and a General Election 2006 candidate. He touched upon issues like education in Singapore and also education overseas, the differences and how it will affect the next generation.

CEC member of the Reform Party and Head of the Youth Wing, Mr. Justin Ong provided his opinions on the education system and also, related his experience when he found out how many foreign students were in the top places in University and on government scholarships. He also recalled that most Singaporean scholars preferred to head overseas for education instead.

Following which, questions were opened to the floor. Several pressing questions were asked during this session including “would the Reform Party do an independent research themselves?” and “would there be any form of aid by the Reform Party?” The reply for the latter question was that the JBJ scholarship application was rejected as JBJ was a criminal.

After the question and answer session, Mdm. Hazel Poa continued with the next part of the seminar. She graduated from the University of Cambridge with First-Class honours. She went through various pressing issues like the education system in Singapore and even proposed solutions like a thorough education from Primary 1 to “O” Levels, thus abolishing the need for PSLE. Also, she proposed that more subjects be opened up to the students like Business Studies and Communications and Information Technology. This, as quoted by her, was due to the passion and dreams of different individuals as the core practical subjects learnt in school was held in higher regard than subjects like repairing a car for example. She also said that “if all animals were to go through a standard test and the test was to climb a tree, would the elephant and the fish be able to do it?”

A break ensued and lasted for 10 minutes as they said that most attention span of individuals lasts for 15 minutes.

The seminar then continued with Mr. Tony Tan showing the audience an extract from “Educating our Young”, written by Mr. Tan Kin Lian, covering selfish behaviour.

“They learn to compete against their classmates. To be better, they have to keep some knowledge from others. They learn, at a young age, to be selfish and to take care of themselves. This selfish trait becomes part of their character, which sadly is quite typical of a Singaporean.”

About the issue on children with special needs and children with disabilities, speaker Mr. Peter Li covered the definition, and problems experienced by the mainstream schools and the parents of the children. Certain mainstream schools are currently only available to children with Dyslexia, Autism, physical disabilities, hearing and visual disability. As of 2010, children with Dyslexia are allowed into all mainstream schools as support is available. Only 10% of teachers are trained in special needs support.

Lastly, we have Mr. Jason Soh, who summed up this portion by proposing how Singapore can do more for people with Special Needs. He made comparisons with the United States of America, Singapore and Malaysia.

Members of the audience were given a chance to voice out opinions, suggestions and questions. Mr. Michael commended the Reform Party for bringing up the issue of children with special needs and Mr. Alex Tan provided some suggestions to the education system.

Mr. Kenneth Jeyaretnam ended the seminar with a short speech and Miss Jeanette informed us that on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month, the Reform Party is offering a free legal clinic where legal advice would be given for all cases except criminal and corporate issues. Appointments are preferred.

Temasek Review will leave you to ponder more with a quote from the seminar, “I want all of you to be independent, innovative and critical thinkers by following all that I do and say!”

Escapade to Vietnam – Ho Chi Minh City

By Amanda Lian

Land of the “Musical Horns”

Do you want a well deserved holiday? Planning somewhere near and exciting? Perhaps to a country that is more oriental? Inspired by the “Miss Saigon” musical? Look no further as we guide you through our recent escapade, away from the usual hum and buzz of Singapore city. We bring you to the very heart of Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City or formerly known as Saigon.

After touching down at Tan Son Nhat International Airport, we were guided through the various visa formalities that had to be adhered (Singaporeans do not need a visa for travelling to Vietnam). Following that, being non-locals, we were approached by cab drivers requesting exorbitant sums of money to get into the city, for example USD$15. We know that it could be much cheaper, so we headed back into the airport (and were stopped by guards) and got a taxi voucher for only USD$8.

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Vietnamese do not understand English and we in turn, do not understand them. We had to memorize certain phrases like “xin chào” (hello), “cám ơn” (thank you), and “xin lỗi” (excuse me/sorry).

We were impressed by the cleanliness of the hotel room given that it only costs us USD$22 per person per night. Before we forget, there is a time difference in Vietnam as compared to Singapore – Vietnam is an hour behind us.

We were introduced to Vietnamese tea whilst waiting for our room to be cleaned after the departure of the previous visitors. This tea is being served at almost all restaurants and also as a complement to sweet Vietnamese desserts. Ice cubes are included to soothe your senses. Vietnamese coffee is unique in itself as the coffee is served with a metal filter set atop a cup and it is drunk mostly with sweetened condensed milk – A café sua da. Along Alexandre de Rhodes in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, you can find a cluster of good, classical coffeehouses. Coffee goes for as cheap as 35,000 dong!

Bến Thành Market is just minutes away from our hotel, Lan Lan 1. And so, we found ourselves indulging in desserts, where a glass of rainbow ice comes with a price tag of 10,000 dong. Do not be fooled by the mention of “meat” in Vietnamese dishes. They do not state what kind of meat is being used for their culinary experiments. Our shock came only when we asked what meat was used in their seemingly normal and subtle fried rice. They actually use frog meat!

Eventually, we came to the entrance of the War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh. However, something at the corner caught our attention, tiger cages. This remodelled replica of the grisly torture tool is quite disturbing.

A cyclo is a form of transportation in Vietnam, similar to a trishaw but the passenger is seated in front of the rider. We decided to try and ride one of these to take in the sights in a more relaxed manner. But to our horror, after hours of sightseeing, the riders demanded USD$8 per hour for their services while USD$2 an hour was the norm!

A trip to Vietnam would not be complete without eating Phở. Phở is an authentic Vietnamese dish of noodles, usually served with basil leaves, lime and bean sprouts. You are able to choose the type of meat to go along – Phở bò (beef), Phở gà (chicken).

The Opera House (Municipal Theatre), attracted us to stand across the road and look at the screen, portraying the powerful voice of an opera singer. The theatre was closed for a private function which means tickets are needed and onlookers could only view the spectacular performance on a huge screen located outside the theatre.

There is an organization which employs physically handicapped individuals and they are all situated in a factory that produces handmade handicrafts. The process of producing a hand-painted bowl seemed easy under the agile fingers of these people. Be prepared to drop USD$9 for a handcrafted fork here. Can you imagine being underground and shrouded in darkness while you crawl through the Cu Chi tunnels? Definitely not for the claustrophobic but experience how the Vietnamese lived through the War, the living conditions and the mastery of the system – the sheer size of the tunnel entrance. The half day tour costs USD$38.

Chợ Lớn is the district in Ho Chi Minh City where Vietnamese would call “Chinatown”. It is the largest of its kind in Vietnam and lies on the west bank of the Saigon River. We alighted at Bình Tây Market which is less touristy than Bến Thành Market. Remember to check out the amazing deals you can snap up, from fermented duck eggs to a carton of Snickers’ bars going for only USD$3.20. Say banana wine and we are reminded of those medicated wines you use when you are injured. Upon drinking it, our bodies gave out a warm sensation. We also tried the roadside stalls selling Vietnamese spring rolls that cost 10,000 dong each.

KFC in Vietnam, we found out that the chicken pieces were smaller, we had to utilise a plate, fork and knife while the motto is still “finger lickin’ good”. Glasses were used to serve our drinks which is much more environmentally-friendly.

The residents of the Mekong Delta area is said to be poorer due to agricultural activities. The visit costs USD$58. It includes seeing a coconut kingdom and how candies are made, eat tropical fruits, have lunch and listen to folk music, it was overall an eye-opener. We did not expect to see buffaloes at work, and it was spectacular. Imagine buffaloes with a nose ring and in the water, a priceless experience.

Do you know we tried to buy all the different kinds of beer that is uniquely Vietnam? But gifts of the beer brand’s logo being imprinted on the various t-shirts are good alternatives.

Hạnh phúc đi du lịch!

Reform Party Forum on Minimum wage

By Amanda Lian

This forum by the Reform Party was held at the RELC Hotel on the 5 December 2009, Saturday, at the Napier Room on Level 5. Temasek Review dodged the gloomy, rainy weather and attended this forum to gain some insight and to allow our readers to know about the economic policy proposals that were being brought up and discussed.

Leading the seminar was the Secretary-General of the Reform Party, Kenneth Jeyaretnam. Other speakers included the Reform Party CEC (Central Executive Committee) member, Mr. Tony Tan, financial consultant, Mr. Leong Sze Hian and the moderator of the forum, Miss Jeanette.

Upon reaching the fifth level, there were a handful of people waiting to proceed into the function room. When the forum started, Mr. Kenneth Jeyaretnam started with the discussion of starting a minimum wage policy. He said that real earnings for less-skilled workers are falling because of competition from foreign workers. Several pressing questions were asked during the discussion from the floor including “what is the rational for workers who are exempted?” and “why are older workers being exempted rather than having a lower minimum wage?”

The seminar was followed closely by the next speaker, Mr. Leong Sze Hian, who touched upon the issues of productivity, housing policies, CPF and healthcare. He mentioned that the poor productivity record has been falling since 2007.

He also continued with a humorous speech saying why every year, the government says that people are not buying the smaller HDB flats. Because more than 230,000 households could not even afford to buy flats! From the household expenditure records which were recently released, 40 percent of households in Singapore have no increase in income.

Out of these households, statistics state that their expenditure had increased simply put, if you earn $700 per month, how can you have spent $1000? So the figures are quite ridiculous.

The Reform Party will examine why the HDB programme has slowed right down since 2000 and the effect this had and also, how the failure to build cheaper units is going to affect in pushing up property prices at the lower end, including how much does it cost to build a HDB flat since the last published breakdown of costs back in 1984. They will also push for privatisation of CPF after part has been used to fund a genuine public health insurance scheme and to fund a basic pension for all Singaporeans who have contributed to CPF for a specific number of years.

Mr. Tony Tan embarked on his part of the seminar on education and training. He proposes to provide students with a buffet of choices on what to study, quoting Steve Jobs on learning Calligraphy so that he is equipped with skills to design fonts other than his engineering modules.

Kenneth Jeyaretnam added that foreign students should not be rejected in Singapore’s education but provided that they pay the full cost of their education without any subsidy, just like us if we choose to head overseas for further education. We should also have compulsory and free primary and secondary education, and only then, we can head and work towards a top ranked country in the world. By expanding tertiary opportunities, we should head in that direction and strive at making our Polytechnics into Universities in itself. Do we have the resources and can we afford to? The Reform Party says “it is not a question of whether we are able to afford but whether why we are not able to afford?”

About immigration and foreign workers, they attempt to level the playing ground by providing them with a CPF scheme. Singapore should not give ad hoc assistance to foreign workers because they are definitely on higher ground than locals as they will save on National Service leave, Maternity leave, they have no CPF, no reservist and employers do not have to pay extra tax!

Other issues being discussed were liberal tax and investment regime, increasing domestic consumption and privatization of SWFs. There was also talk of finding a middle ground for people who finds that the minimum wage is still too low.

Interview with Dr Lim Hock Siew and Dr Poh Soo Kai, contributors to the book “The Fajar Generation”

By Amanda Lian

After the official book launch of “The Fajar Generation”, Temasek Review managed to snatch some personal time with Dr. Lim Hock Siew (LHS) and Dr. Poh Soo Kai (PSK). During this time, we managed to get some books autographed by them while at the same point, ask them a few questions.

TR: Thanks for taking time away from The Fajar Generation’s exciting book launch to correspond with Temasek Review. Can you briefly describe for our readers what you hope the book would relate to that is not yet done so by other authors in the same genre?

PSK: While others say that you cannot rewrite history, we are relating history in a way where others have not experienced before. Simply put, retelling the history of that period in our own words, experiences and recollections. This is what we call, “Victor’s history”.

TR: How do you feel about the current government policies in place, namely in Singapore?

LHS: For another Fajar Generation to emerge, the ISA of Singapore needs to be removed.

TR: Where did the Fajar Generation idea come from?

LHS: I was considered part of the Fajar Generation, and while I am honoured to be known as that, I am not a part of the original Fajar 8. We just want to relate what we have been through and also, let others in on the other side of Singapore.

TR: What do you feel about the book, and do you have any plans to launch other books on similar topics in the near future?

PSK: Very happy!

LHS: We are happy and we have other books in our plans which will be launched in the future.

TR: If all goes well with the Fajar Generation’s book launch which already was in my opinion as all the books are sold out, how would the younger generation benefit from this book?

PSK: They will learn about what the Fajar Generation has done, know the true history of Singapore and decide for themselves with an open mind.

That was all an enlightening experience of the whole event. While we sip our next cup of drink, why not, spend the time to think back about these interesting questions and answers for yourselves?

Watch a video recording of Dr Lim’s speech here

VIDEO: Kenneth Jeyaretnam’s speech at Reform Party Dinner anniversary

Video taken by Amanda Lian, Social Correspondent

Background:

Over 300 guests turned up at Fortunate Restaurant on 25 September 2009 to celebrate the first anniversary of the founding of the Reform Party whose Secretary-General is Mr Kenneth Jeyaretnam, the elder son of opposition icon Joshua Benjamin Jeyaretnam

PART 1

PART 2

Kenneth’s speech in text:

Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. I would like to extend a warm welcome to you, on this the Reform Party’s First Anniversary Dinner. It is good to see so many people here tonight, diplomats from around the world and representatives of most of the active Opposition parties in Singapore but most importantly it is good to see Reform Party members, their families and all our supporters. And what a lot of you there are. You are the reason we are here today. Thank you.

So, The Reform Party is one year old – Well not quite! Hungry Ghosts and Ramadan took precedence so The Reform Party is actually 14 months old. But, it is of course, almost exactly one year after the founder of the Reform Party, the late Mr. J. B. Jeyaretnam, passed away. Almost a year since JBJ stood in this restaurant on this stage and said,

“Cast off the slumber into which you have been led for the last 50 years, wake up to your rights as a human being, to your proper role as citizens of this country.”

And it is one year since JBJ was interviewed by Hugo Restall of the Wall Street Journal. In that interview JBJ said he was often accused of talking too much about politics so now he was going to speak about economics. For my part, I speak too often of economics. I’m confident you all know by now that I am an economist. But I am also a politician, a politician who has the honour, the privilege, and the responsibility of leading Singapore’s brightest new Party, The Reform Party. So tonight, as is only right, I am going to speak about Politics.

Recently we were given a history lesson in Parliament, by our Minister Mentor Mr Lee Kuan Yew, no less. We were told that in the US, despite the phrase from the Declaration of Independence that “all men were created equal”, it took till 1964 for the Voting Rights Act to be passed. This Act prevented the former slave-owning states in the US using a number of subterfuges to prevent black Americans from voting. It was then remarked that it took nearly another fifty years for America to elect its first Black President.

I suppose that this was to illustrate that Singaporeans could not expect dramatic changes to the way they were governed when after all such reforms had taken 200 odd years in the US. The Analogy is in the first place bogus. If the lesson is that we are not to be impatient, that we are to be content with the system we have, that it is not unreasonable to wait another 50 years for change then that analogy must be followed to its logical conclusion. Our senior ministers should at this very time be saying to us “don’t worry that you are still travelling by Bullock Cart. Progress takes time. Even in America it took 150 years to invent the car.”

But of course No-one in Parliament says any such thing. As any smart young nation would, we leapfrogged the technology bypassing the Penny Farthing and went straight to the MRT and LRT stages. We can make the same leaps with democratic processes.

In any case, don’t be fooled. The lesson to be learnt from America is not the length of time it took for this to happen (even in 2007 who would have thought that a Black man with a Muslim name would become the next occupant of the White House) The lesson to be learnt is that this momentous event did not happen by magic. Instead there was a rising trend of registering Black voters resulting in increased Black participation in American political society and an increasing number of Blacks elected to both Federal and State legislatures and as Governors and Mayors. This culminated in record numbers of Black voters turning out in the presidential election of 2008, so that southern states that since at least the 1960s had always voted for a Republican candidate, suddenly turning Democrat and voted for Obama.

So, Singaporeans, it won’t happen by magic. There is a process involved. If you desire a government that has at its heart a commitment to improve the lives of ordinary Singaporeans then you are the only people who can bring about those changes that put in place a chain of events that culminated in 2008 in the US with the election of Obama or this year in Japan with the victory of the Democratic Party, ending a virtually unbroken 55 year rule of the LDP. And it starts with Waking up! And then Signing up!

As in America that process will begin with one person, then 10 then 100. Communism in Eastern Europe was finally put to rest when that first person climbed on the Berlin wall and started chipping away at it. I‘m not advocating mass disobedience, I’m reminding you that ultimately power resides in the people but if you are not prepared to climb on the wall in your mind and start chipping away at it then you will remain powerless.

But it will not be easy. From every avenue The Government will tell you that there is no need to vote for the Opposition. In fact the Opposition is just a distraction. They have generously given us the NCMP and NMP schemes. Well let me tell you -The NMP scheme is a fundamental subversion of democratic principles that would be laughed at in any properly democratic country. Let me hear no more of NMP’s and their so called voices.

Secondly it is ludicrous to equate NCMPs with NMPs when under our current GRC system 33% of those able to vote in the 2006 elections voted for Opposition candidates and yet the Opposition only won 2 out of the 84 seats in Parliament, which equates to 2.4% of the total. Let’s get that right- 33% of the votes resulting in 2.4 % of the seats. Enough of waiting 50 years! We need a government that will abolish the GRC system and go back to SMCs or move to a system of proportional representation where NCMPs would have the same powers as directly elected MPs.

And what of the argument, often used by the Government in past elections and too often repeated unquestioningly by Singaporeans, that any constituency which votes for the Opposition will find itself moved to the back of the queue for HDB upgrading and other goodies. Firstly, the money does not belong to the Government; it belongs to you, the taxpayers. You earned it, you gave it to them for safekeeping and you should determine how it’s spent. I would stand the argument on its head and say to you, the people of Singapore, if you don’t vote for the Opposition then you will remain powerless to get the changes you desire, need and deserve – not just for your HDB estates but for your country and your lives

But how can you vote for a representative if there isn’t one to be found? It is compulsory to vote in Singapore, unlike in the US and yet for too many of you voting is a meaningless exercise. You are effectively disenfranchised because the Opposition has been unable to find sufficient candidates and financial resources to contest more than half of the constituencies. In 2006 the PAP were able to gain 37 seats on Nomination Day without having to contest them, because candidates could not be found to stand in these constituencies. This is a travesty of how the democratic process is supposed to work and for those of you living in those constituencies you might as well be living in North Korea or China, for all the ability you have to choose your representative.

So not only do we need you to vote, we also need those among you with the necessary abilities and determination to come forward and become candidates.

So I am upping the ante. And adding Stand Up! to Wake Up! and Sign up!

Finally, getting back to that History lesson and The US election campaign, I’d like to remind you of something Obama said frequently during his campaign taking a quote from the poet June Jordan by way of Alice Walker:

“Change will not happen if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we’ve been waiting for.”

If you want to see policies that put the welfare of ordinary Singaporeans first, then come out and support us The Reform Party, or another Opposition party –

Because I will say this to all of you today: “You are the ones I am waiting for.”

So Wake Up! Sign Up! Stand Up! …………or at the very least buy a T-shirt!

Thank you again for supporting us here tonight and we look forward to growing numbers of you coming forward to join us as we contest our first elections.

©Kenneth Jeyaretnam 2009

Are foreigners depriving locals of places in NUS, NTU and SMU? (Part 2)

By Amanda Lian, Social Correspondent

Are foreigners depriving locals of places in NUS, NTU and SMU? (Part 1)

By Amanda Lian, Social Correspondent

We are sure you are all very concerned about the issue of the influx of International Students at our local universities and whether it has affected the local students adversely. And so, this article is going to look into anecdotal perspectives of whether foreign (International) students are really depriving locals of places in the few Universities in Singapore, and to what extent.

With some evidence, though which may not be enough, this is my take on the issue and hopefully, we would be able to gain further knowledge on this widely debated issue.

We will look into two main points in the hope of coming to a conclusive answer:

1. Statistics have been available to the Singapore public that there has been an increased intake of foreign students. So has this in relation affected the local students who are eligible and made it harder to get enrolled?

2. Since only 5% of Polytechnic graduates are eligible for University admission, should we as a nation, reconsider that number and ultimately, decide again on the intake of foreign students in the local Universities?

Although on this topic and these points will come up in our minds from time to time, we must also clarify that the answers to them are also able to stand on their own.

However, although we might say that it is harder for local students to enter Universities but we are also open to other factors that might affect this conclusion. So before we move into the actual main points, we are going to cover some of these factors.

Any caveats? A word of warning first though, this is not an official study but a compilation of all the information that we have our hands on. Therefore, our answers are still highly debatable and tentative to most citizens out there.

Why are more and more foreigners coming to Singapore to study? Are there some advantages that they see by flying all the way here?

To be truthful, yes there are, including achieving citizenship status more efficiently. On the other hand, would the government be viewing this as devaluing the status of our local citizens?

There are definitely stereotype values that foreigners from the West are more valuable than our comrades from the East for some reasons.

Would this make Singapore a lost haven? One which we had worked so hard to attain – a haven for people of higher intellect? And because of that, maybe we can also consider why all our high flyers or brain children are going overseas for tertiary education instead.

As said in the second main point above, only 5 percent of Polytechnic graduates are eligible for admission into universities and these graduates have to get a minimum grade point average of 3.5. Yet, how many of these eligible graduates actually have priority to fit into that 5 percent and how many of these are foreigners?

Out of all the polytechnic students in a certain intake, 10 percent of them are foreigners. Besides that, shouldn’t scholarships be given out to Singaporean students only, just like most of the other countries?

Yes, we are definitely in the know about the new University that is coming up and building that is still using the taxpayers’ money right?

Although it is targeted at the local polytechnic graduates, it is still new and has to build a name and reputation for itself from scratch!

Another factor to note is that admissions to the local universities are perceptibly different for polytechnic students because they are admitted and enrolled based on paper qualifications or more colloquially, scores rather than skills while they are being trained in that area while in their course.

I fully agree that they are generally enrolled into second year University modules because of their advanced standings but how many graduates actually make it through the admission’s interview in the first place?

Now after listing down so many factors, let us go into the main point of whether our local students are being deprived of places in our handful of Universities by foreigners.

The answer to it is actually quite easy: “Apparently not”.

As said by the former Senior Minister of State (Education) Aline Wong in 2000:

“All local students who qualify will have a place in Singapore’s educational institutions and Singaporeans get priority in primary and secondary schools and junior colleges”.

From what I gather here, foreign students do not interfere with the competitive education environment with us, other than the JC and Polytechnic divide.

On the other hand, as far as us, the citizens know, it is the policies that the Education Ministry has set a benchmark on and the university admissions department has to strictly adhere to the intake numbers of local students and foreign students and the both of them are not correlated.

[To be continued in Part 2 tomorrow]

About the Author:

Amanda Lian graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in English Language, Creative writing and Child Psychology from the University of Western Australia. She worked as a staff writer for Hardwarezone and is currently an editorial executive at Cre8 Singapore Pte Ltd.