Young S'poreans split on getting degree or working first

While there will be more opportunities for younger Singaporeans to get university degrees later in life, they are split on whether to continue studying or enter the working world.

On March 7, Education Minister Chan Chun Sing told Parliament during the debate on his ministry's budget that the Ministry of Education (MOE) is considering allowing more working adults to get places in government-funded degree programmes.

This gives more options to learners looking to gain work experience before pursuing a degree, said education research scientist Betsy Ng from the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).

Said Dr Ng: "Some of us may need a longer learning process to find our career identity and choice of a profession."

Some, such as Jacob Tseng, 18, a second-year junior college student at Hwa Chong Institution, said the move will allow people to explore their passions instead of being pressurised to pursue a degree immediately after leaving school or completing national service.

Others are like Mr Ezra Ho, 20, who will graduate from Ngee Ann Polytechnic this year. He said he plans get a university degree straight after completing national service.

Mr Ho said the difference in starting salaries for a diploma holder and a degree holder is his main motivation for getting a degree. He said that for cyber security - his field of study - the difference is more than $1,000 a month.

Parental expectations also affect the young adults' decisions.

Ms Su Thet Hnin San, 21, a second-year student at Wee Kim Wee School of Communication and Information at NTU, said: "I would be open to working first before going to university if it was more beneficial than going straight to university.

"But... my parents might feel like I am wasting my time."

Still, digital film and television student Tian Sundermann, 18, said MOE's move to allow more working adults to take up places at Singapore's universities sends an important signal to society.

The first-year Temasek Polytechnic student said: "It is a positive shift because the default decision for Singapore's middle class is to get a university degree."

Ang Qing, Ng Wei Kai