8 Junior Colleges are Merging? Rumors or Reality?
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thsheng99:
I agree with you . Me thinks too the govt would have already notice the pop decline trend but chose to wait to see if the numerous baby incentives will reverse the downward trend. I do not think it was a knee jerk reaction....it was probably a slow realization that despite whatever initatives, the pop decline trend is not going to reverse any time soon.[/quote]Doesn't it mean they have no proper contingency plan? 'Never mind, assume baby bonus scheme works, build first, if it fails, then just close them down.'
I am willing to give MOE the benefit of the doubt. Early 2000s is already 10-15 yrs ago? Maybe they hoped that the baby bonus etc might increase the no. of births. Haven't we all made mistakes based on forecasts which didn't turn out the way we expected, with all the best will and research available to us? Hindsight is always 20-20.slmkhoo:
[quote=\"mum_sugoku\"]What I fail to understand is, why had they not foreseen the decline in student enrollment and proceeded to open 2 more JCs (InnovaI and Meridian) in the early 2000s? Back then, baby bonus had already been introduced, indicating govt was already aware of our declining birth rates. And if the objective was to increase proportion of U grads, it could always increase the intake from polys, couldn't it?
It's waste of money/resources to build JC facilities only to have it closed some years later. Just like what they did with that Budget Terminal at Changi. -
floppy:
when birth rate continues to fall, the polytechnics will be next to merge.
One day it may be the polys turn as well.
Ngee Ann Poly - Clementi
Singapore Poly - Dover
Temasek Poly - East
Republic Poly - Woodlands
Nanyang Poly - AMK -
mum_sugoku:
Doesn't it mean they have no proper contingency plan? 'Never mind, assume baby bonus scheme works, build first, if it fails, then just close them down.'
The JCs were in use for more than 10 yrs, which is not too bad, I would think. They aren't tearing them down, but do have plans to use the buildings for other purposes. If they hadn't built, then there would have been fewer JC places for the past decade or so, and they would probably have been criticised for that too? -
At least they are recognising the wastage and decided to reduce it?
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slmkhoo:
mum_sugoku:
Doesn't it mean they have no proper contingency plan? 'Never mind, assume baby bonus scheme works, build first, if it fails, then just close them down.'
The JCs were in use for more than 10 yrs, which is not too bad, I would think. They aren't tearing them down, but do have plans to use the buildings for other purposes. If they hadn't built, then there would have been fewer JC places for the past decade or so, and they would probably have been criticised for that too?
Totally agree with slmkhoo.
The infrastructure have been put to good use. Many children have benefited from attending these JCs, I do not see why there would be a deemed wastage.
Btw, if Sg infrastructure are only funded by taxpayers' money, I wonder which era we would be stuck at now. -
lee_yl:
Mmmm, are you saying that CCS is too ashamed to fight for his alma mater? :pokeeye:
Not only does he not send his children to Macpherson Primary School, he also didn't oppose its closure :siam:
Maybe!! But as NCM's colleague, CCS cannot disagree on the mergers. 
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An affected parent’s letter to the The Straits Times forum was published today.
Sometimes I wonder whether we are attaching too much (and perhaps sometimes unnecessary) emotions to physical structures.
Till today, I can see in my mind the school compounds of my primary school and the college I went to. Both were demolished ages ago. -
mum_sugoku:
AJC and the 7 that were picked are wholly-owned govt JCs that are diff legal entities under a different governance framework which makes them less complicated to merge. MOE has full autonomy over the 8 JCs. Some others like CJC, ACJC and SAJC which have a lower COP than AJC are left untouched as they are govt-aided.
There's really no reason for AJC alumni to be upset cos, as I see it, AJ is just a 'collateral damage' - a result of MOE's preference for using 'merging' over 'closing down' (SRJC in this case). Since you need at least 2 JCs to 'merge', AJ was picked (perhaps because it happens to be geographically nearest to SR?)jetsetter:
As far as I know, only 2 KGMs have mentioned they were from AJC and while they lamented about the merger and possible slide in COP, they aren't going to petition or do anything at all.
What I fail to understand is, why had they not foreseen the decline in student enrollment and proceeded to open 2 more JCs (InnovaI and Meridian) in the early 2000s? Back then, baby bonus had already been introduced, indicating govt was already aware of our declining birth rates. And if the objective was to increase proportion of U grads, it could always increase the intake from polys, couldn't it?
It's waste of money/resources to build JC facilities only to have it closed some years later. Just like what they did with that Budget Terminal at Changi.
Edited to add: NYJC is also govt-aided.
I suppose they were encouraged by the Y2K spike but shortly after there was a downturn after 911, so many families held back their family plans. After the 2001 M&P, LHL enhanced the M&P perks when he became PM in 2004. Another round of enhancements in 2008 and 2012 didn't work. Falling TFR is just one of the reasons.
Around the early 00s, recall we were negotiating with US on FTA which came into force in 2004. The 2 IRs were work in progress; they were supposed to generate a lot of jobs. There were a couple of other FTAs being signed then as well. Maybe they expected a lot of grad jobs to created in the upcoming years?
Economy is slowing now. TPP is no more.
The Govt tends to increase spending on infrastructure and public works each time there's a downturn. https://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=67330&p=1768852&hilit=sportshub#p1768852
A lot of public tenders are awarded during recessions. Quite a common practice in other capitalist nations.
https://fas.org/sgp/crs/misc/R42018.pdf
I wonder what they're going to do with those White Elephants? For SkillsFuture training of ah gong, ah mas, uncles and aunties? :scratchhead: -
And ActiveSG too coz I read somewhere that every JC got track and gym.
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oliviachng:
At least they are recognising the wastage and decided to reduce it?
perhaps flagged by AGO?
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