Received this in my email... One of the latest topics which the opposition is trying to stir up emotions is that of foreign students in Singapore. Often quoted is the figure disclosed by the Ministry of Education, that it is spending $350 million a year on foreign students. The message to voters is simple – the government cares only about foreigners, and ignore the welfare of Singaporeans. These are 5 reasons why there is merit to this policy for the objective Singaporean to consider: Reason 1 -------- MOE’s budget for 2014 is $11 billion. This is for the sole purpose of advancing Singapore and Singaporean’s education. $350 million spent on foreign students is less than 3% of MOE’s annual budget. Reason 2 -------- The quality of schools are getting better, and the number of education places for Singaporeans are increasing. For example, ITEs campuses are expanding and state of the art. The ITE campus in Ang Mo Kio is an envy of the world, and you will know why if you have visited it. For universities, the last few years saw the setting up of two new universities – SIT and SUTD. University places have risen to 14,000 in 2014. The number and diversity of course opened to Singaporeans are unprecedented. Reason 3 -------- Foreign students add to the education experience for Singaporeans, or for that matter, anyone seeking an all rounded education. Singaporean students get to know foreign friends, learn their culture, their thinking, establish regional and worldwide contacts. This is also the reason why top universities like Harvard, Yale, MIT, Oxford, Cambridge all receive significant numbers of foreign students and award them scholarships. With diversity, we broaden the minds of our students and provide a better education. At the same time, foreign students get to learn about Singapore and get to know Singaporeans. This leads to the next reason. Reason 4 -------- Foreigners who study in Singapore often return to their home country with fond memories and admiration for our country. They will help Singapore when they grow up and become successful. During the Committee of Supply debate in 2014, Education Minister Mr Heng Swee Keat, in a reply to a member of the opposition party, said that when he was negotiating Free Trade Agreements, he came across foreign diplomats who had studied in Singapore, and would be helpful to Singapore. His answer was off the cuff, heartfelt, and received an applause from the House. His is just one person’s experience. Many of us would have met foreigners in influential position, who used to study in Singapore, and have become our international allies. Reason 5 -------- Foreign countries are always trying to attract Singaporean students to go to their universities to study. Some advertise openly to attract our students. Why? Because they know Singapore has invested hundreds of thousands of dollars per Singaporean child to develop them. At the point of University admission, the foreign country attracts the Singaporean over with a scholarship or bursary. It is an investment of a few tens of thousands of dollars per Singaporean student, but the foreign country reaps the reward of the many times more of educational investment Singapore has devoted to the student over many years. This is the reality of international competition for good people. We do not stand by and watch while others do this. We have to hold on to our students as much as we can, and also try to attract their students, whom they have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars. It is not difficult for opposition politicians to use the issue of foreigners to get Singaporeans all emotional and upset. But what are the consequences if we keep going down this path? Now that the Government is closing the tap on lower skilled foreign workers, we are seeing our favorite Nasi Pandang stall shuttering and our SMEs suffering. Foreign MNCs are no doubt watching if the Government’s labour market tests to curb foreign white-collar workers is going to make it harder to continue operating in Singapore. And if the Government again respond to this latest issue and drastically cut down the intake of foreign students (which they have started), then we deprive our own students the opportunity to build an internal circle of friends. And these foreign students will probably go to another competing university in another competing country. An issue like this will not win votes for the Government. But it is better for the Government to explain and persuade, then try to be populist to the detriment do of Singapore’s long term interest.
Posted on: Mon, 31 Mar 2014 02:15:03 +0000
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