Singapore for Singaporeans?

[snowfly]

resgmom:

Came across this by accident:


新加坡德明政府中学招生说明会 2012
Talk on Singapore Dunman High School Secondary Recruitment Exercise, for
No.2 Middle School Attached to Shandong Normal University, China

http://www.ssefz.com/article/article-info.shtml?articleID=fbff6383-8804-46b2-aa66-5b33323ab825

山东师范大学第二附属中学

5月15日，我校友好学校——新加坡德明政府中学招生说明会在我校报告厅召开。来自新加坡的连汉川老师、杨振光老师以及我校和育英中学的100多名家长参加了会议，会议由毛利新副校长主持。

会上，杨振光老师做了题为《中国初三学生赴新加坡学习项目》的报告，详细介绍了新加坡教育体制、选拔过程、奖学金情况等。之后，杨老师和连老师对家长们关心的问题进行了耐心细致地解答，对有关事项进行了说明。

会后，荆兆晶校长代表我校与新加坡两位老师进行了亲切的会谈，就教育教学等问题进行了友好而深入的交流，希望两校进一步加强交流与了解，增强感情与友谊，相互学习，培育更多优秀学生，为促进中新友谊的发展做出贡献。

It's becoming more and more common for the top schools in Singapore to give scholarships to top Chinese students, and they're aggressively recruiting there, top students = top \"A\" level results. The top Chinese students would be spoilt for choices from Dunman High, NYGH, HCI, etc. There's really no reason for them not to take up the all expense paid scholarships to study in Sg, which would also greatly increase their standing when applying to uni in the West (many of the top students will NOT stay in Sg - same for our own top Singaporean students not on govt scholarships i.e. no bonds). However, at least for Singaporean, their roots are here and they might want to come back someday. But these foreigner would never look back. Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

Foreigners also pay tax here...

[3Boys]

resgmom:

Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

[limlim]

verykiasu2010:

20 years ago, no Singaporeans wanted to be posted to China even with double or triple pay .... the Malaysians went on behalf of Singaporeans / Singaporean companies ..... they gained the experience and network while Singaporeans continue to whine in Singapore about PRC citizens fighting for their jobs here ..... this I saw with my own eyes in the company I was working for

And those who are willing to venture didn't quite get the chance to..... :sad:

[verykiasu2010]

3Boys:

resgmom:

Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

:goodpost:

to add on :

I hope my kids will be their classmates.

if they stay in SG, good for SG talent pool even if my kids were to \"lose\" to them in competition

if they go back to their home countries, there will be opportunities in future for my kids to call on them through work etc etc be it in gov't or in private sector ... immediately the alumni network kicks in and you are one up on your other competitors without such network

if my kids are in gov't service and those scholars returned to their countries also in gov't service, it will help to open doors and ease communication and diplomatic relationship between countries (read Obama and Netanyahu)

Singapore is not just red dot, it is a tiny dot. We need all the friends in and out of singapore. Better if they have been classmates and chit-chatted nonsense under the stars in bishan or bukit timah or jurong hill or tanjong rhu etc etc

[snowfly]

verykiasu2010:

3Boys:

[quote=\"resgmom\"]Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

:goodpost:

to add on :

I hope my kids will be their classmates.

if they stay in SG, good for SG talent pool even if my kids were to \"lose\" to them in competition

if they go back to their home countries, there will be opportunities in future for my kids to call on them through work etc etc be it in gov't or in private sector ... immediately the alumni network kicks in and you are one up on your other competitors without such network

if my kids are in gov't service and those scholars returned to their countries also in gov't service, it will help to open doors and ease communication and diplomatic relationship between countries (read Obama and Netanyahu)

Singapore is not just red dot, it is a tiny dot. We need all the friends in and out of singapore. Better if they have been classmates and chit-chatted nonsense under the stars in bishan or bukit timah or jurong hill or tanjong rhu etc etc[/quote]Me also hope tat... at least hope my kids can be motivated by their attitude of study hard

[verykiasu2010]

as they used to day, iron sharpens iron


crows of the same feathers flocked together

[resgmom]

I agree that there are good rationals for govt to attract bright foreign students to increase the competitiveness of our students, but probably shouldn't be in the expense of local tax-payers. Many of these extremely bright foreign students, I suspect, came from rich families from their own countries. I just don't see the best publicly funded secondary schools in places like US giving away fully sponsored scholarships (room and board, living expenses, airfares, not just school fees waived) to foreign students. If there are, they're private schools, funded privately. Why aren't other smaller countries like Finland, Sweden doing that? They're suspected to foreign competitions as well.


This may or may not be in the expense of local students, we don't know. If there isn't a disparity in secondary school's resources (HCI has a mock court room for their debaters, right? Do other neighborhood schools have these facilities? How about having PhDs as teachers?), we don't have to be too concerned.

When I was in secondary school at a SAP school, there were only HK and Asean scholars, at most 10-15 for the entire level. The HK scholars with their higher Chinese standards pushed the locals to work harder, but there's a limited number of them. The large number of Chinese scholars now in SAP schools, has fundamentally changed the secondary school's scene in terms of Chinese related CCAs, competitions, etc, even how competitions are judged. Even the student reporters in Lianhe Zaobao are mostly China born students now (I was one of them many years ago - all Singaporeans). This is not conductive to improve the Chinese standards amongst our local students.

本地学生“乐学”却没机会“善用” (originally from Zaobao - sometime in Nov 2011)
http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_645e32610100zc6w.html

I've also read similar comments from Danny Yeo's 杨君伟 blog. He's a frequent judge for the local Chinese speech and drama student competitions. Unfortunately I can't seemed to find the blog posts now.
http://blog.omy.sg/dannyyeo/

[Sun_2010]

verykiasu2010:

3Boys:

[quote=\"resgmom\"]Why are we depriving our Singaporean students precious places in the best schools, which are funded by tax-payers? Are the tax-payers paying for these scholarships, or is this funded by private donors? Is the govt tracking the economic benefits of giving out scholarships to these foreign students?

If we do not take top students from around the world to our schools, how do we keep our schools at the top?

Yeah, Singaporeans only, top in Singapore, but 2nd rate world wide, what's the point?

It seems very short-sighted to me. Don't you want our top students to be competing against the best in the world? Sharing and learning?

:goodpost:

to add on :

I hope my kids will be their classmates.

if they stay in SG, good for SG talent pool even if my kids were to \"lose\" to them in competition

if they go back to their home countries, there will be opportunities in future for my kids to call on them through work etc etc be it in gov't or in private sector ... immediately the alumni network kicks in and you are one up on your other competitors without such network

if my kids are in gov't service and those scholars returned to their countries also in gov't service, it will help to open doors and ease communication and diplomatic relationship between countries (read Obama and Netanyahu)

Singapore is not just red dot, it is a tiny dot. We need all the friends in and out of singapore. Better if they have been classmates and chit-chatted nonsense under the stars in bishan or bukit timah or jurong hill or tanjong rhu etc etc[/quote]
True.
The amount of fight spirit, the hunger and the global reality they wil provide the rest of the locals in the class is well worth the scholarship.

Undoubtedly we talk about the hunger and drive of many overseas kids. An exposure to this in the growing years is what will help our kids bring out the best in them. Next best thing to overseas stint.

[resgmom]

Also, we’re equating the Chinese to the best in the world. You’re equating their "hunger" with being successful in the world. With it’s huge population, Chinese are not the ones making breakthroughs in science, technology and arts - the Westerners are. In places like the US, you see more Chinese being the professional worker bees. The Chinese innovators, sadly, and far and few between. Professors I know in the West are already saying that the Chinese are good as research assistants, but they hardly lead the research.

[ChiefKiasu]

limlim:

Why the company themselves never make an effort to encourage Singaporeans to buy their products? They can't blame anyone but themselves.


Why is Make in Singapore product not sold cheaper in Singapore to encourage local consumption while maintaining the high standard of quality of the product sold overseas?

They are just profit oriented companies. And they do not make special privilege for Singaporeans when they sell their products locally. They do not appreciate local consumers, why should local consumer appreciate them?

Did the Govt never support them? I believe, they receive grants or tax concessions for innovations for investments locally. They could have passed the savings to Singaporeans but they didn't (I guess). Why should Govt encourage local consumption? The products should speak for themselves.

It is ridiculous to see so often, that Made-In-Singapore products are actually sold much much cheaper overseas than locally. That some locals have to actually import from US many Made-In-Singapore products! (for e.g. SSDs) as it is so much cheaper even factoring in shipping costs! (as much as 50% or more).

And, also, for flash drives, I heard (can't verify), these items are actually more costly in Singapore than overseas because they have to pay loyalty if sold in Singapore, but not when sold overseas. This is like a tight slap on local consumers by a local company!

These local companies are just trying to squeeze as much as possible from locals, even thou the market is actually not that big.

They treat local consumers like carrots.. chop chop chop chop as much as they can..

If you don't care for local consumers, don't expect local consumers to support you.

Thanks limlim, I think you are the only one who actually responded to my point so far

In reality, the kind of support provided to local enterprises from our government is far below that given to similar industries by other countries. There was a time when things were being made in the right direction, where money is pumped into long-term research in key sectors like biotech and IT. But we have too little patience, and we expect too much too soon.

You have made a good point regarding pricing issues - most local enterprises play it safe and price above cost to survive short-term, with little emphasis to win the market.

But my point is not really about the lack of government support. What I'm trying to say is that we Singaporeans have to change the way we view ourselves and our own achievements. I remembered how I was almost beaten up by a bunch of South Koreans when I stupidly made a joke about Hyundai cars back in the 80s. Well, the car really sucked then, but you never want to make fun of it to South Koreans who are fiercely proud of anything South Korean.

While I don't agree with their thuggish behavior, I couldn't help but feel admiration for their nationalistic spirit. That is something which I feel is missing in our relationship with Singapore. If an outsider criticises a Singapore-made product, I think we are more apt to agree with that comment than to take issue with it.

So, can we really blame anyone but ourselves if we have to hire foreign talents to do what we think we ourselves cannot do?