Outstanding student but gov't couldn't care less

Here is another sad story of top-scorer and well-performing student not getting a place in the Public Service Department (PSD) scholarship.

How are we going to stop the brain drain if such incident continue to happen every year? The Singapore Medical Council with effective from 2010 will recognise the Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) offered by University of Malaya (UM) and National University of Malaysia (UKM).

I was told that 80% of MBBS fresh graduates from UM and UKM are likely to be employed by their Singaporean employers. This means there will be further brain drain for our beloved nation.

What is the Prime Minister going to do? I wonder if he has the answers.

Outstanding student but gov't couldn't care less

Parents of A | Jun 9, 10 5:04pm

Malaysiakini.com

Let me give you an example of the education system of this country. My son - and I name him as just 'A' - finished his schooling and sat for his SPM exams in 2009 Here is a short note on him. In his Standard 6 exams, he scored all As except for Bahasa Malaysia which he scored a B.

In his Form 3, he scored all As except for BM which he scored a B. In his Form 5 (SPM) he scored 9A's and a B+ for his Moral Studies. He studied at the Kelana Jaya secondary school and his primary at the Kampung Tunku primary school.

I wish to say here that the Kelana Jaya secondary school is an excellent school from what I know. The Principal and her team of teachers are incredibly dedicated. I truly wish every school had this same breed of teachers.

Our son 'A' was the winner of the Vijaya Shankar Paramsothy Trophy which was named after the son of an ex-school mate who perished in the Sept 11 World Trade Centre tragedy in the US. This trophy is awarded to the top most students of the year. 'A' also had an excellent track record in school having been an active student in extracurricular activities be it debating, sports etc.

He was also the assistant head prefect of this school. He has an excellent persona in the sense he is well-liked by every schoolmate and teachers. He equally shows deep love for his schoolmates and teachers.

Having said the above, what distressed us most was that he was rejected by the PSD for his dentistry course of study. Is this how a child is appreciated at the end of the day after having been an outstanding student in school?

What steps are taken to show a deep appreciation for good students in this country? Or is the said ministry merely dependent on their computer to pick out some names based on some criteria? What happens to the student who in real life exhibited the perfect criteria for a future talent useful to this country?

Let me add here we applied to TAR college for his A-level admission and most surprisingly, he was admitted with a full scholarship. If TAR college could identify a promising student irrespective of caste, creed or community then what ails our own government from doing the same? Over now to the minister of education.