http://www.asiaone.com/News/Education/Story/A1Story20090803-158729.html
I AM keen to join the police force. With this in mind, I
took a two-year course with the Management Development Institute of
Singapore, leading to an advanced diploma which I obtained in
March.
However, in the past year, it appears the job application form
on the police website has been restructured so one may apply as a
direct-entry sergeant with a diploma only from one of the five
local polytechnics, Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, LaSalle College
of the Arts or the Singapore Hotel And Tourism Education
Centre.
What about candidates in a similar position to me?
A reply from the recruitment division of the Singapore Police
Force stated that the police force accepts diplomas only from the
five local polytechnics.
Is a candidate who has an equivalent qualification from a
private institution any less capable of being a police officer than
one from a local polytechnic?
Why does the police force need to set such a requirement, when
no basic qualifications in any of the institutions I have listed
are directly related to police work?
Even if one is shortlisted, one must still pass interviews with
the recruitment division. I assume it is in these interviews that
recruitment officers assess each candidate and decide if he is
suitable to join the police force.
I am already mentally prepared for the rigours of the job, and
this is the only hurdle stopping me from being where I want to
be.
I read often enough about the shortage of manpower in the police
force and recruitment challenges, especially among Singaporeans. So
why are educated and willing candidates like me barred from
trying?
Basil Yeo
This article was first published in The
Straits Times