It is reassuring that the six autonomous universities have stepped up to offer around 2,000 more places this year, in part for those whose plans to study abroad have been disrupted by the pandemic. The economic contraction caused by Covid-19 already has far-reaching consequences here. That will be so particularly if the pandemic turns out to be a prolonged crisis marked by recurrent appearances of the disease, of varying severity and geographical scope. In preparing for a range of scenarios, Singapore must enjoy the flexibility to respond credibly to fast-changing situations. The organisation of the labour market, in particular, will play a crucial role in the ability to adapt to change. Yet, even as the economy and society prepare themselves for disruption, certain fundamentals must continue to hold sway.

Education clearly is one of them. From primary, through secondary, to tertiary education, the need to have an educated workforce has been central to developmental efforts, along with public housing and defence. Sustained improvements made at earlier stages of the education process have raised standards and expanded the scope of the tertiary sector. Higher education provides an index of how far the country has come as a whole.