I can't say Singapore government is evil but they are really the smart-ass type of government. Let me start off with a simple bed time story:
Ah Seng is a younger brother of Ah Meng in the family. He was bullied by Ah Meng eversince he was born and he actually had a quite bad intention (cruel intention). We can't blame on Ah Seng to get out from the family because if you are bullied everytime in the family, you will not get sense of belonging. By the way, actually Ah Meng is also not that bad. He is not a bad bully, he is just act like that because he is the older brother and of course after his father died, he got a bigger land from the will.
So after both of them actually separated into two families, Ah Seng was struggling damn hard because his piece of land is damn small compared to Ah Meng's land. Not even a grass can grow out from Ah Seng's land so he is about to die. All because the need of survival, he had to evolve into another form. Ah Seng asked Ah Meng to let him sell some of Ah Meng's crop in the market. Ah Meng agreed since he is too lazy to walk to market to sell his crop afterall he can get money from Ah Seng who carries his crop to market to sell. All Ah Meng do on this period of time is to stable down his family and feeding his elder son. Ah Meng got three sons - Ah Mak, Ah Chai and Ah Ik. His second son is the brightest son of all three and his third son is very well as well but his eldest son Ah Mak always making trouble for him. Ah Mak wanted to get better claim out of everything just because he is older and larger in size.
So back to Ah Seng because today's main character is Ah Seng. After working so hard to sell crops for Ah Meng, he finally able to build up his family. I can say that time he was struggling very hard. If not for Ah Meng, Ah Seng would died. So, as Chinese proverb goes "Feng shui exchange its formation every now and then", now Ah Seng is richer than Ah Meng. To make it short, Ah Meng's second and third son had problem with the family too, they wanted to get out of the family to venture outside. So Ah Seng employed both of them. Ah Meng is silly enough not to ask both of his son to stay and let them go.
Story end.
I guess it is a boring story but all I wanted to convey is the history behind two families. Now, back to Singapore government. Some people said that, Singapore government even though they encourage entrepreneurship, they never actually wanted their citizen to start business. They want good and obedient worker. This is what they wanted at the beginning of 80s. You work, you pay Central Provident Fund Board (CPF) and you retire rich. You can save your problem cracking your head to think about your retirement.
After 15 to 20 years, they realised that there are a lot of Singapore business is not owned by their own citizen. So they started the entrepreneurship idea and encourage more youngster to do business. However, not too much people go for business because they need professional workers to work for their country as well.
With this small mass of land, you can't get so much talents. Therefore, ASEAN scholarship plan is started to promote interaction, broaden your mind and blah blah blah. It is true that the purpose of the scholarship is met and you who study here actually "boarden" your mind. The another purpose of the scholarship actually to "harvest" talents from ASEAN.
Why I use the word "harvest" here? When you plant something, you need seed. But Singapore does not need seed to get the final product. You only need to "harvest" what someone has been growing for many years. Of course, it is not really evil because first of all ASEAN scholarship does not bond student, and secondly one to willing to be "harvested" in order to make the plan works. After these scholarship things, people will feel there are greater opportunity here so some of us will take loan to study here. (I am not speaking for Singapore government, it is just the truth behind everything.)
For example, Malaysia spent 12 years education for a student to reach STPM (Higher Malaysia Certificate of Education) equvailent to 'A' Level (if you study private school then it is exceptional for you). Singapore government promotes "gathering foreign talent" campaign and here you go, a bunch of talents are harvested.
In order for a poor student to study in Singapore, first you need to get Tuition Grant, Tuition Fees Loan and Study Loan.
MOE Tuition Grant
MOE Tuition Grant is applicable to undergraduate students at universities and diploma students at polytechnics.The cost of University education is highly
subsidised by the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE). The high subsidy is provided in the form of a Tuition Grant (TG). The TG is the difference between the full fees (cost of training at the University) and the tuition fees payable by the student (i.e. direct payment). The TG is offered to all admitted full-time undergraduate and polytechnic students. Students who accept the TG need only pay the portion of the fees not covered by the TG. The TG is very substantial and works out to be about 65% - 80% of the full tuition fees. E.g. (Business Bachelors course in NUS without TG is S$19,350/annum, with TG is S$6,220/annum).
Tuition Fees Loan actually covers everything up to 80% of the school fees (remaining from Tuition Grant). This is the mother of all loans for fresh graduate. Now look at the term:
Terms of the loan
Interest Rate
An interest rate at the average of the prime rates of the following banks, DBS, OCBC and UOB, prevailing on the first day of each quarter or such other rates as may be determined from time to time will be charged upon graduation.Interest will commence on 1st February of the year following graduation for students who graduate at the end of Semester 1 and 1st August in the year of graduation for students who graduate at the end of Semester 2.Interest will be accrued on a monthly basis.
Repayment
The following repayment terms are applicable:(i) Repayment of loan can be in one lump sum or by equal monthly instalments commencing not later than two years from the date that interest is first chargeable on the loan.
(ii) The minimum amount of repayment is $100 per month and the maximum repayment period is 20 years.
(iii) In the event that the student leaves the University without completing the course of study, the loan outstanding will immediately become due and payable. He may, however, repay the outstanding sum by monthly instalments on such terms and conditions as the University may allow depending on the circumstances of each case.
(iv) Early repayment of the loan in full or in part will be allowed after 7 working days' written notice has been given. Partial repayment may be made in multiples of $1,000.
Guarantor
One guarantor above 21 years but below 60 years is required. There is no income qualification. Non-Singaporean guarantors are acceptable for foreign students.
Late Payment Charge
Penalty interest will be levied at the rate of 1% per month on instalments in arrears.
Another loan is study loan which is optional. It actually supplies you with $3,600 per year after paying the remaining sum from Tuition Fees Loan. So, if you don't have money and you want to study in Singapore, this is the route you have to take. This is also as heavy as Tuition Fees Loan.
As I mentioned in Part I, the loan for one year is $10,000.
How Singapore government "tie" you down with loan? You are not poor even if you got bunch of loan because the purpose of these loan is to "tie" you down and continue to work for Singapore so some period of time. From what I have analyse in Part I, you need about 10 years to finish everything if you are paying minimum sum. So you still have 10 years here. (A bit different from the terms but this is what I heard it from a bank officer lately.)
If you wish to leave, you can leave anytime after the 3 years bond from Tuition Grant but I am so doubtful of people want to go back to their country empty-handed. So, you will work at least 5-7 years here for building up your financial capability.
Now you will start your life here in Singapore. Staying in HDB flat (maybe with your mate who you met here), taking bus/mrt to work and eating in hawker centre. This is life you have to go through and I believe there are dreams among us and there are hopes among us. It is not a bad life either, it is just a beginning for an adult life. Just that the lifestyle is different from Malaysia.
My next part will be on 5 to 10 Years Plan. For now while waiting for me, please read ming's article if he posted something here. Please support by donating us some cash or visit more often because without these advertisement banner, this site would be dead.
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