Students Taking Polytechnic Route to University

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) (a) in the past three years, what is the trend of students entering polytechnics versus junior colleges; (b) what percentage of polytechnic graduates has gained admission to local universities; and (c) whether there are plans to make more university places available for polytechnic students.

In the past three years, the proportion of Primary 1 cohort admitted to polytechnics and junior colleges (JCs) has been about 47% and 28% respectively.

The proportion of polytechnic graduates gaining admission to local universities has been increasing, in tandem with the expansion of university places to raise the university cohort participation rate. As a number of polytechnic graduates enlist in National Service after graduation, or choose to work before furthering their studies, we would not have the latest years' figures on the proportion of the cohort that gained admission into university until a few years from now. However, if we compare the number of university places taken up by polytechnic graduates and the size of the polytechnic graduating cohort in a given year, this ratio was 25 polytechnic graduates in the universities to 100 polytechnic graduates, up from 23 to 100 in 2014.

The profile of students admitted to the universities will continue to depend on student interest and quality. Whether you take the JC or polytechnic route, admissions to universities are based on merit and open competition among students.