S’pore gave them a chance to study abroad
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S’pore gave them a chance to study abroad
A decade ago, a shy 15-year-old boy from China landed in Singapore. The only English phrases he could utter, and which he spoke haltingly, were “Good morning” and “How are you?”
Mr Zhong Lei, a Harbin native, had come here on a Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE) scholarship.
Last month, he bagged another scholarship. This time it was from the Agency for Science, Technology and Research, or A*Star, to do his doctorate in biosciences at Stanford University in the United States.
For non-citizens who accept the prestigious A*Star scholarship, there is a condition: They must give up their native citizenship.
Now 25, Mr Zhong, a former Chinese High School and Raffles Junior College student who aced both his O and A levels, did not have to think too long and hard about giving up his Chinese citizenship.
“I’ve lived in different countries and nationality is less of an issue these days. Everyone considers themselves a global citizen,” he explained, speaking in perfect English.
Of the 101 students who received A*Star’s National Science Scholarships and A*Star Graduate Scholarships this year, 22 hail from China, Malaysia and Vietnam.
The agency aims to foster world-class minds in biomedical sciences, physical sciences and engineering for the country. The scholarships are open to Singapore citizens as well as permanent residents and non-Singaporeans as long as they take up citizenship.
An A*Star spokesman said selections are based on “a passion for science and research, excellent academic ability and a commitment to contribute to Singapore”.
Mr Zhong is grateful that his Singapore scholarships have given him the opportunity to study overseas – at Cambridge, where he did his undergraduate studies, and now at Stanford.
He said if he had stayed in China, he probably would not have had such a chance. His parents, a university professor and a journalist, could not have afforded the tuition fees. He also attributed his English proficiency to the years he spent in Singapore. He exemplifies the bright child who is allowed to bloom.
His feet remain firmly planted on the ground. “Compared to my Singaporean friends, I had experienced what poverty was like. So when opportunities present themselves, I feel more privileged to be able to take them on. Throughout the years, that has been my motivation in my academic pursuits,” he said.
Displaying a similar drive is Mr Wu Yan, also 25, and another A*Star scholar. He is originally from Shantou, Guandong province.
Mr Wu, who will be heading for London to do his PhD studies at the Imperial College, also came here on an MOE scholarship. That was nine years ago. He had studied at Catholic High School and Hwa Chong Junior College before going on to Cambridge for his undergraduate degree in electrical engineering.
“If I hadn’t left China, I’d be a normal student receiving a normal education and worrying about whether I could get a job. In Singapore, it’s not that I don’t have to worry, but I believe that after receiving education from these top schools, I gained a lot of confidence,” he said.
Like Mr Zhong, Mr Wu did not feel there was an issue of split loyalties in having to give up his Chinese citizenship for a Singapore passport.
He too is grateful. “This Government and the taxpayers have sponsored me since I was in Secondary 3,” said Mr Wu, who will get his citizenship papers next month. “Whether I’m Singaporean or Chinese, I can still contribute to both societies. And in the field of research, I can advocate for stronger collaboration between the two.”
Mr Zhong agreed. “I’ve never seen my allegiance to either China or Singapore as conflicting,” he said.
The duo may not have said so but a sense of belonging here seemed to have sunk in.
Said Mr Zhong: “I’m comfortable having dinner at a hawker centre here and listening to Hokkien songs, but I also enjoy talking in my native accent with my Chinese friends.”
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we need more ppl like them
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sure?
SG is just a stepping board.
and since they are smart ppl, they long ago oredi know wat the next step is
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Originally posted by Ah Gong:
A decade ago, a shy 15-year-old boy from China landed in Singapore. The only English phrases he could utter, and which he spoke haltingly, were “Good morning” and “How are you?”
He is from china, majority of people in Singapore were all descended from China, why is there a need for this english bullshit?
Cut your crap lah, Lee Kuan Yew. You want to be anglophile cultureless banana, that is your business lah.
Please don't impose on others.
Fuck off lah, old banana Lee Kuan Yew.
Old disgusting anglophile bastard.
Don't even dare to admit that you are peranakan. Pui.
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Originally posted by Dalforce 25:
He is from china, majority of people in Singapore were all descended from China, why is there a need for this english bullshit?
Cut your crap lah, Lee Kuan Yew. You want to be anglophile cultureless banana, that is your business lah.
Please don't impose on others.
Fuck off lah, old banana Lee Kuan Yew.
Old disgusting anglophile bastard.
Don't even dare to admit that you are peranakan. Pui.
ya, pui !
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maybe they should go do ippt every year and ns too.
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Originally posted by FireIce:
sure?
SG is just a stepping board.
and since they are smart ppl, they long ago oredi know wat the next step is
is ok.most of them intend to goto usa or new zealand setup a company there with all the high end skills they amassed over the years.
either that or they end up as porn stars ln usa or nz like most sporeans.
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Mr Zhong agreed. “I’ve never seen my allegiance to either China or Singapore as conflicting,” he said.
Then there is something wrong with PRC nationalist propaganda in their schools.
Why this PAP, now pushing all sorts of pro-alien propaganda on state media.
I noticed after presidential elections, there are more and more propaganda on state media pushing for import of more aliens.
Fuck your PAP propaganda lah. Want to go and restrict local people from going into universities somemore.
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Originally posted by Dalforce 25:
Then there is something wrong with PRC nationalist propaganda in their schools.
Why this PAP, now pushing all sorts of pro-alien propaganda on state media.
I noticed after presidential elections, there are more and more propaganda on state media pushing for import of more aliens.
Fuck your PAP propaganda lah.
pap...low iq ministers mah!!!!probably kelong underrtable degree thus obtaining unexpected poor decisions and it shows and stinks like dirty diapers. -
on the other side is the pol pot sporean wannabes not with pap.suddenly everything looks like transormers movie with autobots,decepticons and quentizons!
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spore gave them a chance to study and get great job.spore never gimme anything.only national service where i cough out and sweat blood for many months and years.
and each time its as bad as being runned over by a lorry.
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Singapore boasts a highly competitive and well-regarded primary and secondary education system, but the number of Singaporeans completing a tertiary education is relatively low.
Only 23 percent of Singaporean students entering primary school complete a degree at a local four-year university.
In other knowledge-economies such as Japan's, around 50 percent of students complete a university degree.
However, according to Cheryl Chan, Assistant Director of the Planning Division at the Ministry of Education (MOE), the government does not plan to encourage more students to get a higher education.
The university enrollment rate will continue to be maintained at 20-25 percent because the Singaporean labor market does not need everyone to get a four-year degree, she asserted.¶10.
http://wikileaks.org/cable/2007/02/07SINGAPORE394.html
me: " so wad makes u decide to come here"
PRC: " i didnt"
me: " wa, ur parents force u here or ur bf is here"
PRC: "neither, ur SG gahment invited us here"
me: " huh, wad do u mean"they offer us, ALL Expenses paid for our fees in NTU, including lodging and we even get pocket money
on top of that, they have send me the INVITATION letter to apply for PR after we grad"
- PRC on PAP MOE.
http://www.mycarforum.com/index.php?showtopic=2663008
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I think it's time to stop the bullshit policy PAP.
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.................................with wad?suicide bombers??how many?
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what they should ask is, "Will you return to China eventually?"
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Lets stop for a moment. I am pretty sure these guys are good enough compared to most Local Trash.