Parliamentary Replies
Engineering, technical scholarships and busaries with short term bonds
Name and Constituency of Member of Parliament
Er Edwin Khew Teck Fook, Nominated Member of Parliament
Question
To ask the Minister for Education whether his Ministry will consider providing engineering and technical scholarships or bursaries with short term bonds so that students will be attracted to taking up these scholarships.
Response
MOE recognises that Singapore needs to produce enough professionals with expertise in Science and Technology to drive the knowledge industries in our economy. For the student, such qualifications also are highly valued by industry and attract better pay.
This is why courses in Science and Technology related disciplines already receive higher subsidies compared to other general disciplines. To facilitate, universities also provide more spaces into Science and Technology disciplines, which make up about 55% of total enrolment. Scholarships from public sector agencies are also skewed towards providing for students from these disciplines. Currently, about 61% of the scholars holding scholarships from public sector agencies are from the Science and Technology disciplines.
In 2007, three-quarters of all scholars in the three local universities were in the Science and Technology disciplines. In addition, there are also scholarships from the private sector for Science and Technology disciplines.
The bond periods for these scholarships range from 3 to 6 years, and reflect the value of the scholarship provided as well as the talent development plans of the parent organisation. In practice, Government agencies and companies compete for good students and bond periods are reviewed periodically to maintain the attractiveness of the scholarships.
Bursaries serve a different need to ensure that all deserving candidates of a university or polytechnic education are not deprived of the opportunity because they cannot afford educational expenses. They are awarded on the basis of financial need and are not confined to specific fields of study.
Universities and other Government agencies also provide students with information about future career prospects to help young Singaporeans make more informed choices about their courses and careers.