Comments on: Are Singaporeans Really Paying For Foreign Scholars In Singapore

By: SGDaily Roundup: Week 14 « The Singapore Daily

SGDaily Roundup: Week 14 « The Singapore Daily — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:52:34 +0000

[...] Paying for Foreign Scholars - Ian On The Red Dot: Are Singaporeans Really Paying For Foreign Scholars In Singapore [...]

By: amberlife

amberlife — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 05:39:57 +0000

They are foreigners, no asset; no family here, how to bond them? The most they are not allow to enter Singapore again, if they default. Do they care, if they are taking Singapore as the stepping stone?

I believed the only issue is how much of places should be provided to ‘foreign talent’ to benefit the ‘ideal’ senario, as mentioned by Darkness above, and that will not be at the expense of our own Singaporean.

By: jack

jack — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 12:29:48 +0000

They can work for years while they are in Singapore but the question is: are they contributing to Singapore with their so-called “super talent” and move Singapore to the next level.

Or are they dragging their feet to do the necessary years while producing so-so results and spring off when their deadlines are over.

Where are the patents?

By: iantimothy

iantimothy — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 08:31:24 +0000

They have to work in Singapore for a certain number of years. Would that count as a bond?

By: Charles

Charles — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:33:07 +0000

Let me throw the argument back to you. If we are really a destination of choice for higher education, then regardless of bonds, they will still come.

The question I have is not so much spending money on these scholarships but why not bond them? Implement a bond and see what that does to the numbers.

By: Astarian II

Astarian II — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:34:10 +0000

I really have to go with darkness on this one. When I take into account the cummulative cost of training a scholar into full usefulness to even allow him or her to amortize the investment. i really cannot see how it can be accomplished within a period of 6 or even 8 years. We all know the first 5 yrs is learning curve, so what are you saying the entire cost can be recovered in one year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

By: Fox

Fox — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 02:27:10 +0000

If these students help increase the amount of GST and corporate tax in Singapore by an amount greater than their school fees and other expenses spent on them, can it be said that the investment on them was worth it?

Well, each foreign scholar costs us at least $125000. Probably more than that. Do you really believe that the Singapore government can recover that within the paltry six years bond period?

By: iantimothy

iantimothy — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 11:08:18 +0000

@amberlife thanks for highlighting this issue.

By: amberlife

amberlife — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 10:30:24 +0000

I subscribe to Darkness’ philosophy/quote, but at the same time, we must also find out, how are these foreign talent recruited?

At one stage, I understand, especially those from China they are recruited through agents base there. We should know coruption is widespread there.

So the talent recruited, do not complete their studies in our universities here, as they are not the real bright one.

I know of a group, who uses these money to rent chalet regularly at East Coast park, merry making consuming alcohol and marjong session, did not complete their studies here.

I also know of Asean Scholarship, where the students from Philippines, came for their secondary education, out of about five students, none make it to the local university.

So, where do we see the result from the money spent?

I am always not against good policy decision, but the follow through and the deliveries by the civil servants always failed.

By: Sylvester Lim

Sylvester Lim — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 07:03:04 +0000

All advanced countries need to consider taking in real FT, not cheap labor. Let’s face it, talented FTs can contribute to the economy of Singapore. However, a disfunctional country can be behave like a disfunctional family where the elders treat strangers better than their own family members. Own family is taken for granted just like Singaporean and outsiders are treated better hoping that they will stay on to contribute further. Over time, resentment is built up and you get attitudes such as apathy, disinsterest, attention seeking behaviour. The misconsception that people have is that with education, people can think better and behave as well. Unfortunately, our education system is academically results based and does not look at building a broad based society, a thinking citizen. You not need a degree to achieve good family relations with your family. A disfunctional family relationship will result in the same type of government/citizen relationship. A authoritarian father will have disfunctional children and start a viscious circle. While LKY is a fantastic stateman, what makes us think that he is a good family man and will take care of the country? Education? Nah….