Forum: What about a safety net for local students wanting a place in university?

UPDATED Jun 10, 2025, 05:00 AM

Thanks for sharing!

I was heartened to learn that our Government is extending support to the 151 Singaporean students at Harvard (, June 6).

I am sure the Government will similarly extend support to Singaporean students at other elite US universities if the situation deteriorates there.

I sympathise with the Singaporeans studying at Harvard, but I wonder if the message is that our local universities do in fact have the capacity to take in more local students. Or is it that our local universities will reduce the number of places available to local students, to accommodate the returning US students?

Many local students do not have the financial resources to seek an overseas education, and universities at home are their only option. But due to limited capacity, not every eligible applicant is accepted.

So, I was surprised to learn that local universities are able to accommodate the affected Singapore students at Harvard. Wouldn’t this be at the expense of eligible local applicants?

Finally, these Ivy League students no doubt have the ability and resources to study in the US. They took the decision to study abroad willingly. In the face of adversity, is our Government expected to offer a safety net back home? What about a safety net for local students?

Roy Tan Choon Kang

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Thanks for sharing!