Review of ASEAN Scholarship Criteria

Mr Speaker, Sir, Singapore enjoys close ties with our ASEAN neighbours. The ASEAN scholarship is offered to promising pre-tertiary and tertiary ASEAN students to promote mutual understanding and goodwill in the region.

ASEAN students add diversity and vibrancy to our educational institutions. Singaporean students interacting with international students enjoy the opportunity to learn from other cultures and experiences and become more prepared for the global marketplace.

Scholars are selected based on their academic and non-academic achievements, as well as their conduct and character at the point of application. Shortlisted candidates are interviewed by a panel comprising senior management and experienced educators, including school principals.

Sir, I thank the Minister for his answer. May I ask the Minister what are MOE's views on the recent character lapse of an ASEAN scholar who had posted inappropriate content of himself on his own blog in so far as how his character is assessed at the point of time of issuing the scholarship to him? The second question is whether MOE would consider regular reminders to all scholars, regardless of whether it is ASEAN scholar or otherwise, of their obligation to conduct themselves in a manner befitting their status as recipients of a publicly-funded scholarship. My final question for the Minister is that in the interest of transparency, whether MOE would be directing NUS to either disclose the punishment given to errant students or to perhaps send circulars to their students to inform them of the punishment meted out for wrongful behaviour.

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I thank the Member for the questions. I share the concern and disappointment of Members, as well as of the public, on the conduct of the student in question. The conduct of the student is reprehensible and unbecoming of a scholar. The Ministry does not condone this, nor does NUS. I am confident that NUS takes the matter seriously and will do the right thing.

The Member has asked about the selection process. Every panel selecting individuals for particular positions, whether it is for employment, scholarship or entry into professional areas, exercises the best judgement at the point of entry. From time to time, despite the best care that is exercised at that point, lapses do occur. So, companies have to terminate employees and professional bodies from time to time have to take disciplinary action. In the same light, it is important for a proper disciplinary process to be undertaken and for action to be taken and punishment meted out.

The Member has asked whether regular reminders should be provided to students. Indeed, this is something that Universities will do. The Member has also asked about the transparency of the process. NUS has convened a Board of Discipline. The proceedings are governed by the NUS Statutes and Regulations to safeguard the integrity of the disciplinary proceedings. NUS has explained its policy on the confidentiality of the proceedings.

Minister, just to follow up on the Member's question earlier, will the Ministry consider reviewing or terminating, or at least put through a probation period for such ASEAN scholars found involved in undesirable acts that question the character or morals of such scholars because they are looked up to as role models? They are expected to adhere to a certain code of ethics as expected of the scholarship.

I thank the Member for the follow-up question. The punishments that are meted out to specific cases are governed by what is in the University statutes. Therefore, we must respect what is done. At the same time, the Board of Discipline has been convened to deal with such matters and, indeed, those are serious matters which the Board would then have to take into account and, as I said before, I am confident that the university management takes matters seriously and will do the right thing.

Mr Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister to share under what circumstances will scholarships be terminated, and what scope does MOE have under its terms of scholarship to recover monies from scholars for bad behaviour or poor academic performances.

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Mr Yee has asked about the circumstances in which the scholars may have the scholarships terminated. International scholars have had their scholarships terminated or had to pay liquidated damages mainly because many of the scholars were not able to meet the stringent scholarship renewal criteria, and a small number of scholarship holders had been terminated for misconduct.

I would like to thank the Minister for the answers. With regard to NUS' statutes which govern how it disciplines individual cases, I think there is some concern why in one particular case the NUS came out with an explanation as to the disciplinary procedure that it had decided to proceed with against a PRC student who made certain disparaging remarks about Singaporeans. But in this case, NUS has decided to not reveal what disciplinary action had been taken against another student. So, would the MOE consider getting some clarity from NUS as to whether there will be any consistency about the interpretation of these statutes?

I believe NUS has earlier explained the position. In the earlier case, NUS had sent out an internal circular to its students warning the students about the severity of making inappropriate remarks and, in that context, had made mention about what happened to a particular student. So, these are two different cases because the statutes and the way the NUS has been dealing with disciplinary offences is to ensure that sufficient measures are put in place to safeguard the integrity of the proceedings.

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