There has been much discussion - both for and against - on the issue of limiting the number of university graduates. But some points seem not to have been raised.

First, the reason for capping the numbers is to prevent a situation where there are insufficient jobs for our graduates.

However, Ministry of Manpower statistics show that, as of December last year, there are a total of 372,000 Employment Pass and S Pass holders working here. This is a very significant number working in graduate-level jobs.

Second, there was a time when Singaporean students had to pass their Mother Tongue in order to qualify for entry to Singapore universities.

The rules are more flexible now. But back then, it did result in a few families sending their children overseas for schooling, with some of them not returning home.

Would capping the number of Singaporeans entering university see this happening all over again, with the possibility of the children once again not returning from abroad?

Clearly, limiting access to university education in Singapore will cap the aspirations of Singaporean families.

More than that, we are, in the same stroke, capping the long-term future of Singapore.

Tan Soon Hock