Debated in Parliament on 4 Oct 2022.
Mr Leong Mun Wai asked the Minister for Education (a) to date, among the foreign students who receive tuition fee grants or scholarships at the secondary school level and university level respectively, how many have subsequently become Singapore citizens; and (b) how many have performed full-time National Service.
The decision to take up citizenship may occur from the time they are in school till much later in life. Our experience suggests that many do so progressively.
As illustrated, among those who graduated from university from 2014 to 2016, around 75% of scholarship holders and 60% of tuition grant recipients became Permanent Residents within five years of graduation. Around 10% to 15% converted to Singapore citizenship within the same time.
These figures include scholars who studied in our secondary schools, as the majority of them progressed to our autonomous universities. For those who eventually choose to leave Singapore, they continue to be part of our valuable global network, through the friendships and links forged during their studies.
The Ministry of Education (MOE) does not track whether they perform National Service. National Service eligibility will be in accordance with our national policies.
PAPERCUTS