MinisterÂ’s blunder a cause for concern
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i wonder how is he going to justify his pay rise?
MinisterÂ’s blunder a cause for concern
Posted by theonlinecitizen on July 20th, 2007
By Choo Zheng Xi
Our writer Leong Sze Hian recently pointed out that numbers for the proportion of foreign students in local varsities given by Minister of State for Education Gan Kim Yong in Parliament did not add up.
Mr Gan had said in Parliament that of 23,000 foreign students who applied to local varsities, “only 987 or 4.3 percent were given places”.
Mr Leong was right.
The Ministry of Education today clarified that almost five times the number were in fact admitted. Out of the 23,000 foreign students who applied, the actual number admitted was 4,218.
However, even with this latest clarification from MOE, the numbers still do not stack up. (Link)
The most cursory glance at the figures involved shows that the gross disparity in the statistics delivered to Parliament and actual numbers should have cried out for an explanation.
As Mr Leong pointed out in his article, about 20% of the National University of SingaporeÂ’s 23,900 undergraduates come from overseas. For anyone curious about the issue of foreign talent, not to mention a Minister of State, this disparity should have been obvious.
It is worrying that a Minister of State would present statistics to parliament which later have to be corrected by officials from his ministry. This seems to defeat the purpose of having parliamentary debates in the first place.
More worrying is the weakness of political leadership this incident displays: what exactly is the role of the Minister of State if he is merely the Parliamentary mouthpiece for his civil servants?
MOE has been quick to put the actual statistics out in public view. This is commendable.
However, it is most regrettable that Parliamentarians have been temporarily deprived of the ability to ask the questions about our governmentÂ’s foreign talent policy they otherwise could have were accurate statistics provided in this sitting. The debate must now carry on in the platforms in which it was first aired: in the old media and the new.
Mistake aside, unanswered questions still remain.
As Mr Leong has written, the government has so far not provided us with actual admission intake figures for Singaporeans, PRs and foreigners. Indeed, a back of the envelope calculation shows that the number of foreign students might actually exceed the 20% quota set by MOE.
The government has staked its reputation on good leadership. One Parliamentary misstep will hardly rattle its track record. However, this incident does put into question the importance the political leadership places on the question of foreign talent.
Unless the government wants to entrench an impression of laissez faire management of a laissez faire policy, it has to ensure that its ministers are properly briefed before the next Parliamentary sitting, and that Parliament and the people are given the correct answers – and figures. -
Creative accounting?
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Lest anyone thinks that it's a small thing, I have just one thing to say:
Remember the old NKF. -
an honest mistake.
now who in MOE is going to take the rap and resign -
Mr Gan mentioned 987 foreign students but he forgot to say that those were only the ones who have studied locally prior to university admission. It has slipped his mind to include those who have arrived fresh from overseas.
Genuine mistake? I cannot see how that can happen when one is the minister of state for education.
Obviously, he had the intention to inform Singaporeans that locals have priority in admissions. Perhaps, to mislead too.
How badly he has fallen flat. -
and he was replying to a written question! should have the time to verify the fig.
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Obviously somebody didn't do his homework, and its not the person who did the sums for him I'm referring to.
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The result of a cushioned route into office - our ministers have it too easy; a glaring mistake like that simply exposes your inadequacies and lack of preparation for a parliamentary session. Such an action in itself displays a certain level of contempt for parliament.
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*sianz* and if LHL, the PM questions him about the mistake, he will simply say: "Why your wife can make billion dollars mistakes and get away with it but you so hard on me?" Or LHL should be too ashamed to even question him.
These people should follow the Japs and hold themselves accountable, killing themselves as an apology if they want to hold high office, take million of dollars in salaries using public money and make decisions for the rest of us. -
okay.. what the hell is a Minister of State?
there to state nonsense?
is he there to 'help' the minister?
if so, does it mean that the actual minister needs help?
if the minister needs help, why the hell are we paying that minister so much for? -
I think if I am not wrong, the Minister of State is the equivalent of a US Undersecretary for the Secretary for the so and so dept.Originally posted by the Bear:okay.. what the hell is a Minister of State?
there to state nonsense?
is he there to 'help' the minister?
if so, does it mean that the actual minister needs help?
if the minister needs help, why the hell are we paying that minister so much for?
A Minister, in addition, also has a Permanent Secretary from the Civil Service proper.
The PAP tends to use the Minister of State post to groom a potential minister...
Of course, we all know how well this grooming is. -
a permanent secretary is a civil serpent...
the minister is a politician..
there is a gigantic difference which our politicians want to blurOriginally posted by Fingolfin_Noldor:I think if I am not wrong, the Minister of State is the equivalent of a US Undersecretary for the Secretary for the so and so dept.
A Minister, in addition, also has a Permanent Secretary from the Civil Service proper.
The PAP tends to use the Minister of State post to groom a potential minister...
Of course, we all know how well this grooming is. -
In my opinion, the minister probably "conveniently forgot" about the real proportion of foreigners in our local universities given the rise in unhappiness over the ease of obtaining PR and Citizenship and the govt's constant propaganda on the need to increase the pool of foreign talent leading to increase foreign employment and fewer job opportunities for the locals.
As for the govt's official foreign student figure itself, it shouldn't come as a surprise to most of us as we all know how "true and updated" the govt is in providing this information of this sort to the public. -
minister of state..sound so funny...no head no tail...
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Somehow, figures issued from the ministers always paint a rosy picture for Singaporeans.
But in this case, I am even more surprised that MOE had to come out publicly to refute and correct the figures.
Something doesn't add up here.
Is something going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of? -
It is an insult to our own intelligence that they even dare to do double talk.Originally posted by charlize:Somehow, figures issued from the ministers always paint a rosy picture for Singaporeans.
But in this case, I am even more surprised that MOE had to come out publicly to refute and correct the figures.
Something doesn't add up here.
Is something going on behind the scenes that we are not aware of?
Ridiculous. -
Aiya, Singaporeans cowards la, nothing will happen. Blah blah blah.
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you cannot blame these elites, most get to study free at the best schools overseas which is why they are unfamiliar with local unis...
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Well.. indeed the saying is true...
... we are getting monkies for all the bannas and peanuts we pay...