15 Mar 2007

Entry to Polytechnic Courses is Merit-based

1. We refer to the recent discussion on polytechnic admission.
2. Over the years, our polytechnics have gained greater recognition for their wide range of courses catering to the diverse interests of our students. Their graduates are much sought after by the industries, as reflected in the high employment rate of more than 91% within 6 months of graduation. Polytechnics have now become tertiary education institutions of choice among our students.
3. In anticipation of a larger O-Level cohort in 2006, the polytechnics have increased the number of places in their diploma courses this year by more than 1,100 for the Joint Admissions Exercise (JAE). While the polytechnics have some flexibility to increase the number of places in each course, there is a limit to the number that can be added without diluting the quality of the educational experience and affecting the employment prospects for the students.
4. Some 17,600 students were successful in their JAE application to the polytechnics this year, as compared to 16,900 the year before. Around 32% of these students were JC-eligible, a marginal increase from 30% the last few years. As entry to the polytechnics is merit-based, more popular courses are likely to have lower cut-off points than less popular courses and are therefore more difficult to get into.
5. For the JAE this year, course information was provided on the Joint Polytechnic Website (http://www.polytechnic.edu.sg), which included the previous year's cut-off points, employment prospects, and the number of vacancies available for each course. The link to the website was included in the JAE booklet given to all applicants. In addition, academic counsellors and telephone hotlines were available at the respective counselling centres in the polytechnics to advise applicants and parents.
6. To assist students who were unsuccessful in the JAE, the polytechnics had put in place a centralised Joint Polytechnic JAE Appeal Exercise which was held from 6-8 Mar 07. Students were able to access information on the recent 2007 JAE course cut-off points on the JAE Appeals Website and consult course counsellors at the JAE Appeal Centres set up at the polytechnics before they submitted their appeals. We will continue to assist those who have not been successful in their appeals to explore other alternatives.

Perry Lim
Director, Higher Education