Debated in Parliament on 11 May 2015.
Prof Tan Tai Yong asked the Prime Minister (a) to date, how many honorary scholarships (scholarships with no funding) has the Public Service Commission given out; (b) when was the last occurrence and what was this scholarship given out for; and (c) what are the reasons for this class of scholarships and whether these reasons can apply to a wider range of students.
The Deputy Prime Minister (Mr Teo Chee Hean) (for the Prime Minister): The Public Service Commission (PSC) does not currently award honorary, or otherwise called nominal scholarships, with no funding for the students. Between 1968 and 1992, PSC awarded nominal scholarships to 10 President's Scholarship recipients. These scholarships, at that time, did not come with funding and had no bond. They recognised individuals who wanted to pursue courses overseas which PSC had decided not to fund.
Currently, PSC scholarships are awarded to outstanding men and women with the passion, capability and clear commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans through a career in the Public Service. Hence, today, all individuals awarded PSC scholarships are provided full funding for their university studies and are expected to commit to work in the Public Service. Under this framework, PSC thus no longer awards nominal scholarships.
Prof Tan Tai Yong.
I thank the Deputy Prime Minister for his answer. I am just wondering, as more students come from families which may not need financial support of the sort that scholarships give, but yet would want the recognition that scholarships acknowledge, does the Deputy Prime Minister see the possibility of more honorary scholarships being awarded as a way of acknowledging academic excellence but not taxing on the resources that the scholarships would entail by giving financial support?
Mdm Speaker, I described the purpose of PSC scholarships. The purpose of PSC scholarships is not merely to recognise the academic attainments of a particular individual. They are designed to have outstanding men and women with a passion,
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capability and clear commitment to serve Singapore and Singaporeans in the Public Service.
Hence, if there are such Singaporeans of ability who want to apply for a PSC scholarship, we would be happy to award it to the student. But if they are equivalently bright, young and able people who have decided that, "No, this is not what I want to do", then, this does not come under the ambit of the PSC scholarship and it would not be appropriate to do so.
PAPERCUTS