Debated in Parliament on 18 Aug 2015.
Mr Png Eng Huat asked the Minister for Education of the 7,000 foreign students at secondary and junior college levels who were granted PR status between 2001 and 2014 (a) how many of them were on scholarships or tuition grants and what was the amount of tuition grants given; and (b) how many did not complete their scholarship or tuition grant obligations.
The Senior Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Education (Mr Hawazi Daipi) (for the Minister for Education): Madam, between 2001 and 2014, of the international students at secondary and junior college levels who were granted permanent residence (PR) on their own merit, around one-quarter were on scholarships, such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) scholarship, for their studies. There is no tuition grant at the secondary and junior college levels.
The scholarship holders are required to attain the GCE "A" levels or equivalent, as part of their scholarship obligations. Almost all – more than 99% – of them attained the "A" levels or equivalent.
Madam, I just want to clarify with the Senior Parliamentary Secretary. This means that there is no scholarship obligation. Once they attain their "A" levels, that is it. That is their so-called scholarship obligation for the students. This means that they do not have to serve or work for any companies in Singapore. Is that the condition of the scholarship for the students?
Madam, we are aware that these are secondary and pre-university students who are not likely to start working immediately after they have completed their "A" levels. So, we do not require them to work in Singapore. It is separate from the university-level scholarships.
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