tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post1486316104492545650..comments2024-02-14T04:53:18.295-08:00Comments on Singapore Dissident: Singapore, Lee's First World Country denies it's children an education!Gopalan Nairhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-11497638690796264522007-06-16T14:14:00.000-07:002007-06-16T14:14:00.000-07:00Dear Anonymous,What you have said is true. Going b...Dear Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>What you have said is true. Going by your writing, you are a person with some ability. I have no doubt that you can make it to America or anywhere else if you wanted to.<BR/><BR/>Thank you.<BR/>Gopalan NairGopalan Nairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-57194151139378493222007-06-16T04:11:00.000-07:002007-06-16T04:11:00.000-07:00spore is really singapore inc. it is run as an eco...spore is really singapore inc. it is run as an economic entity first and foremost and all other dimensions are secondary.<BR/><BR/>in the case of education, the govt must get a return from its investment and it therefore wants the best to enter its universities. which is why sporeans now have to compete with highly qualified foreigners for uni places.<BR/><BR/>and it's not just about uni admission. the type of courses offered is also determined with the economic benefit in mind. so those liberal arts courses which train and challenge students to analyse and critique issues, question morality, ethics, values and other human qualities are not given much funding.<BR/><BR/>and i need to remain anonymous, of course, because i've not made it to america!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-68892927780755792312007-06-14T11:41:00.000-07:002007-06-14T11:41:00.000-07:00Hello Anonymous,The fact that after writing such a...Hello Anonymous,<BR/><BR/>The fact that after writing such a detailed and reasoned repsonse to my post, you wish to remain "anonymous", does explain a lot! In any case, I think most parents and students in the rest of the world would probably not agree with you, especially in the light of the fact that Singapore Government pays its ministers millions of dollars and they claim to have one of the highest financial reservers in the world! However, that is your opinion, wishing to remain "anonymous", and it will be published.<BR/><BR/>Thanks you.<BR/><BR/>Gopalan NairGopalan Nairhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15399145588654603667noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-13479187221547425512007-06-14T11:04:00.000-07:002007-06-14T11:04:00.000-07:00Hi,For the first minute while I read your blog pos...Hi,<BR/><BR/>For the first minute while I read your blog post, I was nodding my head in agreement at what I thought was a show of sarcasm. And then it hit me - you were actually being serious.<BR/><BR/>Well, I do agree with many of your points. Singapore could, and SHOULD indeed, spend much more on education than it has - setting up new universities and schools so that in the future, no one is denied a place, is an excellent idea. And granted, too, there aren't enough ready opportunities for midlifers who have never had the chance, to enter into a tertiary education. That is something that should be improved too. <BR/><BR/>However, one fundamental argument in your post is flawed. Just passing her A levels does NOT give Mr See's daughter the right to enter university. Of course, entrance into all universities in Singapore, I believe, requires that one has two (or more) A level credits, with the additional AO credits, etc etc. However, that does not mean that ALL who meet that requirement automatically are ensured a place. That is, in logical terms, everyone who ever enters a Singaporean university requires at least these grades; but not everyone who obtains such grades is automatically granted a place. To equivocate both would be to commit a serious mistake. <BR/><BR/>Furthermore, the very idea that just obtaining a passing mark in the A's is enough to ensure a university place reduces the entire idea of a junior college education to nothing more than a stepping stone to university. Of course, I might be off the mark about your views here, but that's how I take it. I think it's much more than that - it's a place where a myriad of lifeskills and also, content-based lessons, are transferred to students. To imply that A's are just a stepping stone is just to stereotype JC education - something that you have asked the government not to do to students. <BR/><BR/>To my knowledge, a grade of E, E and E (A levels) and perhaps C (AO levels) would be a passing grade, too. Now my question is: would you also argue so hard for See's daughter (and indeed, would he have) if she had gotten these grades? <BR/><BR/>All things said, though, as I mentioned, I agree with you that more universities could be built, and more chances could be given. But right now, with the limited supply of places? I'm afraid I can't agree with you that just passing alone entitles her to it. An American kid might pass his SATs, and all, and be refused a place at Harvard because his grades didn't meet the mark. You, and the whole world, would agree with this. So why the whole hoo-ha? See's daughter might not have met the mark. And yet the American kid gets to go to some other college not of his first choice. Now THAT is because they've got enough colleges, and we don't. THAT, and not some mistaken view about her entitlement to tertiary education solely because of her passing grades, is what we want to quabble about. <BR/><BR/><BR/>KLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-6704990321905082562007-06-07T20:40:00.000-07:002007-06-07T20:40:00.000-07:00You have been away for quite some time and I thoug...You have been away for quite some time and I thought you would like to know that the MOE has relocated to Buona Vista (<A HREF="http://www.moe.gov.sg/corporate/location_map.htm" REL="nofollow">map</A>) a few years ago. The building at Kay Siang Road was initially used by Temasek Polytechnic temporarily before the ill-fated UNSWA used it as its initial campus.<BR/><BR/>Thank you and all the best.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8081742307252789733.post-39107046533653436352007-06-03T16:20:00.000-07:002007-06-03T16:20:00.000-07:00I realized sometimes you speak blindly ! For examp...I realized sometimes you speak blindly ! For example<BR/><BR/>"In a recent survey in Singapore, as many as 47% of young people said they would emigrate if given a chance.",<BR/>Since the press that survey is gov controlled as well, you should have mentioned 47 X 2 = 94% want to leave. The six percent comprise of Lee's relative, offspring, cronies, prata presidents, elite, scholars, etc.<BR/><BR/>Please do report the truth rather than the truth by ST.<BR/><BR/>ST always tell lies, and we know better to reverse everything ST say is the truth !<BR/><BR/>If they are the truth, it will not be called ST (Shit Truth)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com