A comment made by the Minister of State for Defence and Education, Lawrence Wong, during a dialogue session with 100 students from the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) on Tuesday at the ITE College East Campus in Simei has been taken out of context, said Mr Wong.
The forum was held as part of the 'Kopi Talk' series organised for young people by the Government's feedback unit Reach.
A hot topic that came up during the forum was whether more places will be set aside for ITE graduates in polytechnics. The Straits Times reported that the question came up twice during the dialogue session, as students were worried about facing stiff competition from O-level holders, and if other methods of admission, such as being assessed on merit of an applicant's talent in sports and the arts would be considered.
Mr Wong said that there are further plans in the pipeline to increase the number of ITE students who will progress directly to the polytechnics from 22 per cent to 25 per cent. However, not all students will be able to get a place for further studies.
He encouraged students who did not make it to polytechnic not to give up, and that "there are other pathways to upgrade themselves and further their studies."
However, one remark he had made, raised an uproar in online discussion forums. He said: "If everyone can move up, we will not have enough ITE graduates out there in the workforce.”
The comment was first carried by local freesheet, Today.
In response, Mr Wong made a clarification on his Facebook page on Wednesday, and said that the comment had been taken out of context.
He said that he was upfront with the students that not all of them will be able to get a place in a polytechnic, even as the Ministry of Education (MOE) worked to provide more places at polytechnics to ITE students.
But he added that workplace demand for ITE graduates remains strong as the job market needs people with their technical skills.
Mr Wong also suggested that one of the pathways for ITE graduates who did not make it to polytechnic directly is to consider joining the workforce first, before upgrading their skills later to meet industry needs.
Below is Mr Wong's clarification on Facebook in full:
"Today carried a report of my dialogue with ITE students yesterday, noting the strong desire of the students to get a diploma.
It quoted me as saying, “if everyone can move up, we will not have enough ITE graduates out there in the workforce”. Unfortunately, this was taken out of context.
I would like to share with you what transpired in the dialogue so that you have a fuller picture.
...
I explained to the ITE students that MOE has been expanding places in the polytechnics so that they can further their education.
In fact, we are doing all we can to expand capacity in the polytechnics. In 1995, about 12% of ITE students progressed directly to the polytechnics. Currently, this proportion is at 22%, and it will be increased further to 25%.
So, even more ITE students will have the chance to get a diploma.
I've met many ITE students who have succeeded in getting a place in the polytechnic. One of them is Mr Muhammad bin Moh Jauhari.
He did well in ITE College West and got direct entry into the second year of electrical engineering at Ngee Ann polytechnic. With the increased places in the polytechnics, I hope that there will be more examples like him.
But even with the expansion of places, I was upfront in highlighting to the students that not all of them will be able to get a place in the polytechnic.
There is a strong industry demand for ITE graduates, and the job market needs people with their technical skills.
The polytechnics also have to maintain a certain entry criteria to uphold the standards of diploma education.
Moreover, we do not want to end up in a situation like some countries where they have rapidly expanded diploma/degree places, resulting in large unemployment or under-employment of such graduates.
Nevertheless, for the students who are unable to get a place in the polytechnic, I encouraged them not to be disappointed or give up.
There are other pathways to upgrade themselves and further their studies.
In particular, MOE has expanded and enhanced the part-time diploma programmes in the polytechnics. So ITE graduates can work first, and then upgrade their skills later, to keep current with industry needs.
I also told the students that this is an attractive pathway for them to consider.
Because when they start work, they will have a better understanding of what they enjoy doing, what they are good at, and what industries they would like to work in.
They will then be able to upgrade their skills in that particular industry through a part-time diploma, which is subsidised by the government, and which their employers will also support."
cynloh@sph.com.sg
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