As a former government official, the truth is that the idea that NUS, NTU are great unis, is pretty much a lie to pacify the masses.

Sure, if you want to get into local companies, into the government, local unis are great. But then ask yourself why we are spending money to send the top scholars overseas?

And ask why a lot of well-connected top civil servants are sending their children to school overseas.

This is because on a global scale, regardless of what the who-cares ranking says, hailing from a big name like U of Edinburgh still means more than some unheard U of Boon Lay/Clementi.

Having a foreign degree opens up the chance to migrate overseas, something that a lot of well-to-do, well-connected men try to make their children do.

In my time in office, I saw the top-gun send his own kids abroad, and saw top doctors who could surely get their kid into NUS, prefer to send their kids to the likes of Imperial.

In my personal life, I saw people so desperate to leave SG that they took on courses like Nursing because it would guarantee PR in some other countries.

And surprise, surprise! Their life turn out better than those who got into so-called top courses in NUS.

Think about it, engineering in NUS for e.g., is there even enough interesting jobs in engineering in SG? Or are most HQs like Boeing, Airbus, abroad.

The truth is, for a good life, work hard to get into NUS or NTU. For a great life, do all you can to move abroad.

For those who are always criticizing those who moved overseas, feels a lot like a sour grape phenomenon.

In reality, driving taxi here in a nordic nation is way better than life back in the government. I guess despite me trying to share for the sake of awareness, haters gonna hate

Netizens’ comments

The British unis are also a lot easier and less stressful, because they don’t use the bell curve.In my exchange at King’s, I only mugged the week before exam and I travelled a lot during the semester, and I still got the highest grade. In NUS, I mugged almost everyday, yet it was a challenge to get an A.

I agree so I’m now saving for my kids. I’m low ses. Very low. But I will try so they can have the opportunity I didn’t have