The Minister of Education, Ong Ye Kung, encouraged students to consider an alternative to pursuing a degree. He said that a degree is not necessary for many jobs. He is repeating an advice that has already been given by several other ministers.
His statement is not accepted by a large segment of the community. They considered that the minister is hypocritical. They argued about the importance of having a degree and that the future is bleak for non-degree holders.
Let me share my views on this matter:
a) I degree is important for many jobs, but it is not necessary for many other jobs.
b) Some young people are suitable to pursue a degree, but this is not a good choice for those who are not academically strong.
c) It takes three years and a lot of money to pursue a degree in a private university. For many people, this could be a bad investment of time and money.
I encourage young people who are not academically strong to pursue a career that does not require a degree. They can start work earlier and get the work experience and skills that are relevant to their careers.
It is important for the government to stop its discrimination of non-degree holders. The public sector should give good career prospects and promotions to non-degree holders who are capable of doing their jobs well. They should judge employees on their work competence, rather than on having a degree.
The public sector should also pay good salaries for employees who hold non-degree jobs. Why should the airport employ foreigners? They can get locals to do these jobs, if they pay an adequate salary, say $2,500 monthly after two years of experience.
Similarly, nurses should be paid $2,500 monthly after two years of experience.
If the public sector can pay an adequate salary, many locals will be happy to take up these jobs. We do not need to get foreigners to take these jobs.
If the public sector sets a benchmark salary of $2,500 after two years of service, the private sector will have to follow these benchmarks. Small companies need to have some financial assistance, in the form of a wage subsidy, to meet this higher cost.
This wage subsidy can be funded from the wage levy that employers have to pay for employing foreign workers.
This system will make it more attractive for employers to employ locals, and ensure that the locals can get jobs with adequate pay, without pursuing a degree.
If we do not make it attractive for locals to pursue non-degree jobs, we will have a bad outcome. Too many locals will spend time and money to pursue a degree. There will be too many degree holders and inadequate jobs to meet the supply. Many will have to accept non-degree jobs at low pay, after investing (i.e. wasting) so much time and money.
We need more than admonition from the government. They have to change the employment policy in the public sector and set the right benchmark for the private sector as well.
His statement is not accepted by a large segment of the community. They considered that the minister is hypocritical. They argued about the importance of having a degree and that the future is bleak for non-degree holders.
Let me share my views on this matter:
a) I degree is important for many jobs, but it is not necessary for many other jobs.
b) Some young people are suitable to pursue a degree, but this is not a good choice for those who are not academically strong.
c) It takes three years and a lot of money to pursue a degree in a private university. For many people, this could be a bad investment of time and money.
I encourage young people who are not academically strong to pursue a career that does not require a degree. They can start work earlier and get the work experience and skills that are relevant to their careers.
It is important for the government to stop its discrimination of non-degree holders. The public sector should give good career prospects and promotions to non-degree holders who are capable of doing their jobs well. They should judge employees on their work competence, rather than on having a degree.
The public sector should also pay good salaries for employees who hold non-degree jobs. Why should the airport employ foreigners? They can get locals to do these jobs, if they pay an adequate salary, say $2,500 monthly after two years of experience.
Similarly, nurses should be paid $2,500 monthly after two years of experience.
If the public sector can pay an adequate salary, many locals will be happy to take up these jobs. We do not need to get foreigners to take these jobs.
If the public sector sets a benchmark salary of $2,500 after two years of service, the private sector will have to follow these benchmarks. Small companies need to have some financial assistance, in the form of a wage subsidy, to meet this higher cost.
This wage subsidy can be funded from the wage levy that employers have to pay for employing foreign workers.
This system will make it more attractive for employers to employ locals, and ensure that the locals can get jobs with adequate pay, without pursuing a degree.
If we do not make it attractive for locals to pursue non-degree jobs, we will have a bad outcome. Too many locals will spend time and money to pursue a degree. There will be too many degree holders and inadequate jobs to meet the supply. Many will have to accept non-degree jobs at low pay, after investing (i.e. wasting) so much time and money.
We need more than admonition from the government. They have to change the employment policy in the public sector and set the right benchmark for the private sector as well.
Tan Kin Lian
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