11 Oct 2004

Forum Topic:  Admission Criteria to Local Universities for Poly Graduates

1. We refer to the letter “Open university doors to more students from polytechnics” (pdf, 190KB) (ST, Sept 30), by Mr Lua Swee Wei.

2. JC and polytechnic education each serve a purpose. The JC curriculum is more academically driven as it is designed to prepare our students for university. The polytechnic curriculum, on the other hand, is more practice-oriented as the intent is to train middle-level professionals to support the technological and economic development of Singapore.

3. Nonetheless, we are mindful of the aspirations of our polytechnic graduates to pursue a university education. As part of the restructuring of the university sector, the Government has decided to provide more university places, from the current cohort participation rate of 1 in 5 Singaporeans, to a rate of 1 in 4 Singaporeans by 2010. The increase in places at the three local universities will go primarily to deserving polytechnic graduates.  As a result, the number of polytechnic graduates admitted to the local universities is expected to triple by 2010.

Yours sincerely

Lim Chee Hwee
Director, Higher Education
Ministry of Education