Singaporeans Do Not Need To Be University Graduates To Be Successful

[Crumpler]

 

 

Singaporeans do not need to be university graduates to be successful, said National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan yesterday.

What is more important is that they get good jobs after leaving school, Mr Khaw told some 160 students and young adults in an OurSingapore Conversation dialogue.

"If they cannot find jobs, what is the point? You own a degree, but so what? That you can't eat it. If that cannot give you a good life, a good job, it is meaningless," he added.

Mr Khaw was responding to a participant who said the Government should set aside more university places for Institute of Technical Education (ITE) and polytechnic graduates.

Toh Yong Chuan, SPH

 

[lean n mean]

Singaporeans Do Not Need To Be University Graduates To Be Successful but it does guarantee a basic standard of living. Without it, you better have lotsa confidence, streetsmarts, networking, rich parents, never say die attitude and optimism.  

[gstc82]

Well if he said one must get a degree to be successful he will be called an elitist and look down on non degree holders as no bodies.

How does one assume what is successful or not? There are many people who are not degree holders but have a set skills that set them up for life. Look at David Gan. Look at plumbers, yes plumbers are not what you call glamorous. But he'll they earn decent wage.

Truthfully, there are people who are not incline to study. What one shd have is a set skill.

What KBW said is not false and not degrading, do not take word out of context.

[Guest Guest]

kong lanjiao whey..

[gstc82]

kong lanjiao whey..

So you disagree? Are you saying that if one has no degree one is a failure?

[Guest Raiden Alpha]

Look at the market wage for all level of jobs base on academic qualification and then we will see whose words hold water and who is lying with his eye open.

[Marineboy]

Khaw discourages ITE and Poly graduates from going for the degree...

 

That I think does not make sense....in a sense lanjiao whey.

You don't need a degree to be successful but you don't need to discourage one from getting it.

 

I think if everyone is a graduate not enough jobs for graduate grade...so some need to drive taxis/ buses/lorries/ cleaners/sweepers/ just to get job but not graduate pay.

 

So long as everyone gets paid well enough and share the pie fairly there should not be an issue....the problem with the world today...10% of the people wants to own 90% of the wealth.

[Guest ask]

Dear Mr. Khaw, can you advise us whether any Minister and MP in the cabinet now is not a degree or higher degree holders?   If what you said is true, will we be seeing some "commoners" to become Minister or MP after the next election?

 

Are you trying to discourage us from entering the Uni so that the vacancy in Uni can be reserved for more foreigners?  Is it true that the ratio of local vs foreign students in the Uni now is ready 6:4 ?  

[Guest Guest]

Try this, when one dog barks, the other dogs in the neighborhood will follow by howling.  KBW is echoing to what LHL had just said recently.  Nothing new, hope he tries to be creative next time.  Next please !

[sportsboysg]

more opposition fan boys.. gosh this is not a political forum

 

look at south korea with 40% grads, many cant find jobs.

 

we should keep the standards of university high

[Guest Guest]

more opposition fan boys.. gosh this is not a political forum

 

look at south korea with 40% grads, many cant find jobs.

 

we should keep the standards of university high

 

Are you implying that if there are more grads means standard is low?

[Guest Raiden Alpha]

more opposition fan boys.. gosh this is not a political forum

look at south korea with 40% grads, many cant find jobs.

we should keep the standards of university high

What do you mean by keeping the standards of university high?

Are you saying that local grad/uni students will pull down the standards of local uni?!

On what basis did you come up with such a logic and conclusion?

Choose your answer carefully. Not when KBW nor any other miw dare to make such insinuation or allusion.

[glowingember]

Not everyone can be graduates, but if the capability is there, why not?

In some countries, e.g. Bhutan, where people are money-poor and not many are graduates, they are satisfied and happy.

KBW's words sting because he's part of the group that creates our current system and his suggestions run contrary to the values we hold dear.

[Guest Guest]

he said singaporeans do not need to be university grads to be successful.

 

but did he discourage poly and ite grads from pursuing a university degree?

 

gays are really good at twisting words.

[Bern]

Let's not take his words out of context. People may have different ideals about success in life. But let's not fall for the political sensationalism trap.

 

Read it again, there is no connection between the exaggerated title and the quote.

Next, look at the image origin. Pro-party or not, this image is made up by an obviously biased source meant to misrepresent.

 

Discussion on public interest topics aside, I urge everyone to stay neutral and do not share any political views here.

[derryfawne]

lol

[lohwpr]

While it can be true that one does not need to be an university graduate to be successful, as a seasoned politician, he cannot say this out loud. People will take his statement and put it into the wrong context. I am surprise he made such a fundamental mistake. There are more than one way to cast an idea.

 

As die-hard supporter of PAP, I seriously feel they should hire a PR firm to improve on their image. Of late, there are just too many errors made in their communication and implementation.

Edited May 15, 2013 by lohwpr

[Guest PSY_朴载相]

PM Lee HL made the same comment earlier his month.

 

Here comes Khaw Boon Wan's words! 

 

 

[Guest PSY_朴载相]

Khaw discourages ITE and Poly graduates from going for the degree...

 

That I think does not make sense....in a sense lanjiao whey.

You don't need a degree to be successful but you don't need to discourage one from getting it.

 

I think if everyone is a graduate not enough jobs for graduate grade...so some need to drive taxis/ buses/lorries/ cleaners/sweepers/ just to get job but not graduate pay.

 

So long as everyone gets paid well enough and share the pie fairly there should not be an issue....the problem with the world today...10% of the people wants to own 90% of the wealth.

True! I like the way you phrase!

KBW really korng LJW! 

[Guest Gstc82]

Dear Mr. Khaw, can you advise us whether any Minister and MP in the cabinet now is not a degree or higher degree holders? If what you said is true, will we be seeing some "commoners" to become Minister or MP after the next election?

Are you trying to discourage us from entering the Uni so that the vacancy in Uni can be reserved for more foreigners? Is it true that the ratio of local vs foreign students in the Uni now is ready 6:4 ?

http://www.tremeritus.com/

http://www.tremeritus.com/2012/10/14/pm-proportion-of-foreign-students-in-universities-going-down/

You sure FT make up 40%? Above from TRE. It say FT make up 16%.

Simple facts also get wrong, how you go uni? Standard sure drop like sotong ball.

[dannysuz]

This is a warning. Recession may be coming....

[MobyDick]

If I can earn as much as a uni grad with a ITE cert, I wouldn't want to go uni. I will be convinced if we have a PAP MP whose highest qualification is ITE or diploma.

[Guest Guest]

Are you implying that if there are more grads means standard is low?

 

YES.

 

With an increased number of peasant stock gg to the U, u can almost see the proliferation of Singlish over the years.

Not becoz they prefer Singlish, but many just do not and cannot have a good grasp of the language.

So the answer is YES.

[Guest Guest]

The problem would lie on the university for letting these peasants graduate!

[Guest Raiden Alpha]

Retards...^^^

[Guest SG]

You are lucky that this time round he didnt suggest Singaporean to take up Uni in Malaysia.

[abang]

Well having a uni qualification does not necessary equate to success.

However without it, more doors are locked.

 

To all the employees out there

If you want to get a decent wage, yes, a suitable paper qualification is expected.

A transcript with good grades will get you that interview.. the rest is still your work performance/attitude.

 

To all the potential and current employers/businessman:

No you need good judgement and management - things they dont teach you in the uni.

 

Back to square one.. are we ever satisfied with what we have?

[abang]

This is a warning. Recession may be coming....

Recession is inversely proportional to the need to upgrade.

Evey time when the economy slows down, there are more people returning to books.

 

Once the employees are retrenched, instead of waiting for the next offer, most would want to take the time to do something/to get a higher qualification so that when the next wave of employment comes, they are in a better position.

[Guest Guest]

Well having a uni qualification does not necessary equate to success.

However without it, more doors are locked.

 

To all the employees out there

If you want to get a decent wage, yes, a suitable paper qualification is expected.

A transcript with good grades will get you that interview.. the rest is still your work performance/attitude.

 

yes a degree definitely opens more doors for you. how many of us can be son or daughter of so and so where you have everything planned for? even if you are not able to get a degree, getting a relevant skills or professional certificate is good too.

 

having said that, getting a degree is one thing, whats more important is that you are able to apply what you have studied and hone your analysing, problem-solving skills etc up to another level. nowadays employers value any industry or relevant experience you have during your studies. some degree grads enter the workforce as a blur sotong and cant perform even after training or guidance for awhile. thats why government is placing more attention and moving towards applied degrees now. applied degrees are prevalent in US, Aust etc. learn the relevant skills, gain soft skills and get a paper qualification altogether.

[Guest Guest]

having said that, getting a degree is one thing, whats more important is that you are able to apply what you have studied and hone your analysing, problem-solving skills etc up to another level. nowadays employers value any industry or relevant experience you have during your studies. some degree grads enter the workforce as a blur sotong and cant perform even after training or guidance for awhile. thats why government is placing more attention and moving towards applied degrees now. applied degrees are prevalent in US, Aust etc. learn the relevant skills, gain soft skills and get a paper qualification altogether.

 

 

dun just blur blur get a degree. change the mindset of 'i just need a paper qualification'. make full use of your degree and the opportunities given to help you in your career.