Consider This...
1. Is ASEAN Scholarship really a scholarship?
The figures here was at my time. It should be slightly higher now
but not too far different.
The annual "scholarship" is only a mere S$2,300. School fees are
FOC for scholars, which actually is very low even if you're not on
"scholarship". The S$2,300 is not even enough to cover my daily
living expenses - accommodation in a hostel cost me more than S$100
per week. (same price in Presbyterian Hostel and Anglican Hostel in
the East Coast)
I managed to secure Kuok Foundation Scholarship for my tertiary
education, and was given RM48,000. Now that's real scholarship -
not a mere sum of S$2,300.
2. One Way Ticket
Going to Singapore with an ASEAN scholarship is like taking a one
way ticket. Singapore government is very smart. They know that if
you're already there, you'll still need to be there to continue
your education even if they stop renewing your scholarship. Ask
around how many who went there since Sec 1 and how many actually
managed to clinch ASEAN Pre-U scholarship? You'll be
surprised.
The other reason is the lack of choice after your pre-u
scholarship. Either you continue your study in Singapore, or you
get good grades and get another scholarship elsewhere, or unless
you're filthy rich and sponsor yourself overseas. Otherwise, you
can say bye-bye and start working (hopefully you can get a job with
only secondary or A-level, good luck to you).
I was fortunate to be able to secure Kuok Foundation Scholarship to
continue my Bachelor Degree. Otherwise, I'd have lost it all.
3. Brainwashing by PAP Machineries
Every morning, all the students are subjected to brainwashing
session. All students must pledge loyalty to Singapore, pledge
loyalty to Singapore government and sing Majulah Singapura every
morning.
4. Meritocracy
Does Singapore education system really follow true meritocracy?
Maybe a little bit,... but ask those girls who got flying colors in
their A-level and how many actually make it to the medical faculty
in NUS.
An officer from PSC made it very clear to the ASEAN Scholar during
one of the seminar regarding tertiary education in NUS and NTU that
we can forget about Medical and Law. As for female, the chance even
for Singaporean female, is almost zero. And that's the comment came
directly from a government officer!
5. Higher Standard in Cambridge O-level and A-level?
Singapore exams follow the Cambridge O-level and A-level. If you
believe that Cambridge O-level and A-level is of higher standard
than Malaysian exams, you're in for a surprise. Just look at the
results for both O-level and A-level and see the number of A's.
It's like sea of A's. In TJC, the number of people who obtained A's
for their Mathematics was higher than 80%!
Even British academics recently question the quality of the
Cambridge exams. See this article in BBC here and another article
here. The only advantage of taking the Cambridge exams is that the
medium is in English, which is very useful when the students come
out and join the workforce.
6. Opportunity Costs
Due to limited choice for tertiary education after the A-level, one
must choose Singapore universities (unless you can escape by
managing to get another scholarship overseas, or enter local
Malaysian universities).
By taking up the offer at either NUS or NTU, you'll be locked up
for a minimum of 3 years by the so-called Tuition Grant. You'll
need to serve a bond of working in Singapore for at least 3 years.
The grant was supposed to lessen the "actual" tuition fees of more
than S$20,000 to S$6,000. Now, if Singapore government believes the
actual tuition fees in Singapore could be more than the average Ivy
League University in US, then Singapore government must be
dreaming. The only obvious reason is that they want to lock you up
for 3 years.
7. Immaturity
One thing that struck me instantly in the Singapore education is
the quesionable maturity level of Singapore students. For 17-18
year old students of A-level, I find it very weird that their
favorite activity is sitting around in circle and sing. Even when I
was younger, we never do that. Our favorite activity could range
from football to joining certain activities of some clubs or
societies, but never sing like young pampered children. Some
friends in Malaysia at that time were already starting their own
business. My form 5 class monitor had his own small stall in pasar
malam. Now compare that with my A-level classmates,...
8. Rote Learning
Singapore education systems are very good at churning out rote
learners who completely lack of deeper analytical mindset. General
knowledge is appalling. I still remember my GP teacher asking about
the junta in Burma, and no one even knew where Burma (or Myanmar as
it's known now) is located, not to mention what "junta'
means.
9. The System in Singapore is not Conducive for High Flyers
Singapore government believes whatever they think is the only
correct way and this is applied across the society. This makes the
system in Singapore extremely rigid. Everything has been thought
out and planned for you.
Now this may be good for the average person on the street. But it's
not good for high-flyers who prefer to do things their way. Due to
this culture and thinking system in Singapore, things were very
constraint. Creativity, deeper analytical mindset, think out of the
box concept were all very lacking and not even encouraged.
10. Unhealthy Competition
I was placed in the top class in Temasek Junior College. TJC was
the top 3 colleges in Singapore at that time. While certain
competition is definitely good, what I've seen happened in TJC will
make anyone with some sense speechless.
There was a case where a student stole her classmate's lecture
notes and dump it into the dustbin. She was caught, and confessed
to her "crime". And the reason given was that she couldn't stand
seeing her classmate did better than her in exams.
The 2nd case was the principal of TJC, Mr Ro**rt T*n, at that time
forced several "bad" students to take their A-level as private
candidates. Why? So that their exams results will not pull down the
overall grade of TJC. Incidentally, in that year, TJC was the top
in the A-level, beating Victoria Junior College (TJC main "rival")
and even RJC, normally the top college every year.
I'm not sure whether I want my son and daughter to grow up in such
environment. Having spent my time in Singapore for more than 10
years, both as an ASEAN Pre-U scholar, and later studied my degree
course and working there, I see more disadvantages than advantages
in the ASEAN scholarship.
It could be the biggest legalised con-job by the Singapore
government on unknowing Malaysian talents.
Posted by Mark Eleven at 11:41 AM [/b][/quote]
Would you not consider putting your
case in the Straits Times newspaper forum page so as to gain more
feedback.
Is it fair for you to be comapring the benefits from Asean
scholarship and the Kuok Foundation scholarship given to you.
You must acknowledge that you are so fortunate as to be given 2
scholarships from 2 different institutions; other people may not
even get one.
Learn to be more grateful and stop being too calculative - nobody
owes you a living.
I believe the singapore garnment has been giving out Asean
scholarships to many recipients from many different over the
decades. The amount given out could amount to millions of
US$.
Count your blessings, my M'sian friend.
How much has your own govt. done for you in terms
of awarding you scholarships???????
Don't you agree that the Asean Scholarship fund given to you,
belongs to the public (from taxpayers pockets) 
