APEC 2024 Peru. Biden shafted to a corner in the back row. Xi in front row next to Peru's President
8/18/2014
There was a time when a degree meant so much
There was a time when a graduate could aspire to be a manager or a senior civil servant, as one of the elites. Today, our graduates can aspire to be a fast food stall manager, but mostly as salesmen, or even temp staff, hopping from one job to another on a needs basis. And he is expected to commit to a 30 year mortgage for a home, get married and make babies.
What is the point of having so many universities producing so many graduates but could not find a decent job even at mid management level? And it is not that there are no jobs available. We have half a million foreign PMEs here which translate to half a million middle management jobs that could be given to our graduates. Why not? Why do we have to import foreigners, many are the average joe or street punks with questionable paper qualifications and our graduates are not gainfully or justifiably employed in full time jobs?
We do not need a single foreign PME more as long as one of our graduates is half employed or unemployed. We need to give jobs to our graduates to put food on the table. Now someone is asking why is there a divide between govt and people, a distrust, and the people losing faith in the govt?
When the govt thinks it is its duty to employ foreigners than citizens, that it is ok to employ foreigner and does not bother if our graduates are losing their jobs, the govt has lost its way, has lost its mandate to be the govt. The govt must be for the citizens first. If the govt does not think so, don’t expect the people to respect the govt and want to be ruled by such a govt. It is elementary, Watson. No need to crack your head to understand why. If you have to do that and still cannot understand why, you don’t deserve to be the govt.
Kopi Level - Yellow
Most MNCs in Singapore would opt to employ foreign graduates because they are cheaper, less demanding and do not have to go for NS duties. They do not go for too many MCs and they are more hard working because they know that their families back home depend on their salaries for survival. If they step out of line and if they lose their jobs, their families will starve. Hence they are more obedient and will work harder and contribute more. If I were an employer I would also go for the foreigners because at the end of the day, I want to make profit. Lets face it, you too would do the same. Am I right RB?
ReplyDeletevery very simple and neat education system.....
ReplyDeletedo away with JCs.....
straight to diploma level from O level....
those want to further to degrees can proceed....
those graduated from ITE can join diploma courses.....
You people must removed your blinkers. You have been told Singaporeans are lazy, expensive and choosy? Are these true?
ReplyDeleteYou are also told foreigners are hardworking and cheap and good. Are these true?
What is happening is that they have stuck a lazy and expensive tag on the daft Sinkies. And they also stuck a cheap and hardworking tag on the foreigners.
And daft Sinkies just accept these taggings unquestioning. The middle and senior management positions for foreigners are NOT CHEAP.
Han Hui Hui just posted some data to prove that this cheap stuff is a lie. Go to TRE to look at the data and stop repeating them like unthinking parrots.
@Anon10:38
ReplyDeleteThat is precisely why the government has to play a part to look after the interests of the citizens. I don't see that having a problem with Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, EU, US, etc.
The labour laws are pretty straight-forward, only if the job can't be filled with a local that the company can source elsewhere.
Hence the companies who are in the country have to think creatively and optimise their workforce to produce the dollar worth of productivity and output. Going the cheap labour force way is quite a 3rd-world mentality.
Working harder, longer hours do not equate a smart worker. You pay peanuts, you can monkeys. But then, because of the SG FT laws, some overpaid FTs are just monkeys, who act like an animal in the zoo. I can bet my bottom dollar they will not even think about their attitudes back in their home countries.
My advice is to stop thinking about bottom dollar because that is a slippery road.
Kaffein
AnonymousAugust 17, 2014 2:14 am
ReplyDeleteThe past, the present, the future.
They are all interconnected.
The earlier generations had worked very hard and put in tremendous sacrifices to bring us to 1984 economic development and progress.
Between 1984 to 2004, were we on the right track in economics and social policies?
How about from 2004 till present?
It is indisputable some very small minority has benefited from the economic development.
But, and it is a big BUT, is this the CORRECT way and the ONLY way to build a society sustainably?
With the NET erosion of trust happening and unlikely to change course in the foreseeable future given the situation and the MOUNTING "volcanic stress" due to "ill conceived and wishful thinking governance " and constantly BUILDING UP underneath the surface, how long would the present last before tumultuous circumstances emerge like "earthquakes and volcanic eruptions" inevitably and eventually?
Going by present ground development, it does not appear optimistic situations would get considerably better to reverse course or halt the downward spiral.
The glorious past may sooner or later be replaced by painful and uncomfortable events down the road if present development continues on its self-generating vicious cycle and unsustainable mode.
"Now someone is asking why is there a divide (widening too) between govt and people"
ReplyDeleteAs if that someone does not know why?
Kay Puak Toh!
When on top always think of grandeur, it is a slippery road ahead
ReplyDelete"If the govt does not think so, don’t expect the people to respect the govt and want to be ruled by such a govt."
ReplyDeleteRB
Then why did 60% in 2011 still wanted to be ruled by such a govt?
Was the govt in 2011 much better than the current govt, u tell me lah?
"Today, our graduates can aspire to be a fast food stall manager, but mostly as salesmen, or even temp staff, hopping from one job to another on a needs basis."
ReplyDeleteRB
Tiok. But only 40% tiok.
Because 60% graduates are able to find jobs befitting their status as graduates.
To the one who keeps day dreaming that the 60% is for the govt, Rip Van Winkle is still asleep when the world slipped past him.
ReplyDeleteKeep believeing that the world has not changed. Good luck to you and all the believers.
Go and read what Goh CT said. That is the new truth.
A degree doesn't count as much nowadays -- unless you are planning on a profession "controlled" by The State: like Law, Medicine -- where you have no choice.
ReplyDeleteDegrees don't mean much also because no one really knows FOR SURE how the job market will evolve or what new jobs and industries will pop up.
Arts degrees are almost totally USELESS as well as other qualifications which do not have emphasis or components of STEM (Sci Tech Engineering Math) -- which included most business and commerce studies, liberal arts, social science, etc.
Learn science or math, or fuck off into extinction like the dinosaurs.
Most bosses these days are UNIMPRESSED by paper qualifications, with good reason. They want RESULTS not self aggrandisements. Any bloody fool with half a brain can get a degree now -- no big deal, therefore if it is so common, there is no more "value in scarcity".
Bosses are looking for "entrepreneurial streaks" in their potential hires -- people with "can do " attitude. Very soon robotics are going to replace the low to semi skilled work -- i.e. the "cubicle jobs" are going to go -- really fast and quite soon.
if you think the job market is tough now, you're way too soft. It is going to get tougher and brutal in just a few years.
This mati talked until so BIG but himself quitter in Kangaroo land.
ReplyDeleteApparently he doesn't look into the mirror.
Otherwise whatever he painted is exactly the image in the mirror.
Where is the zookeeper?
Neber check got discarded and rejected IMH patient missing?
Jiak Lat, even the zoo also reject and purposely let him escaped?
Just ignore him lah. He is good as a jester here.
ReplyDeleteDegrees are created and emphasized to make sure professors have a job at the end of the day else they will rebel against their rulers.
ReplyDeleteSingaporeans are not lazy & expensive.
ReplyDeleteIt is the PAP government that is lazy & expensive.
The PAP government is making Singapore an expensive place for business.
High rental costs.
Bloated civil service
Expensive cars.
National service for Singaporeans.
The only costs the PAP government wants to reduce is salary of Singaporeans.
If you are a Singaporean, why would you want to vote PAP?
If you are a new citizen, why would you vote PAP?
I recall that the 'ideal' road to success was getting good O level grades/good university degree which transitions into a decent job back in my primary school days. This marketed path of success resulted in discrimination between students (Primary school streaming/ITE = It's the end etc) and Singapore becoming a tuition nation. Right now, I'm currently taking my university degree and I realize that the ball game has completely changed. Even having a degree might not even guarantee an even playing field in job hunting. I'm not sure whether our G should be blamed for this marketing miscommunication or perhaps I was simply unlucky enough to be born in this generation.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely under the current sinkie job market, never get an overseas degree that cost 500 k. U will never be able to earn back that investment. Just get a local degree or take one under SIM. Lower your degree cost as low as possible cause u will never be able to recoup. Some mire those from India cheap cheap cost degree u can't compete lar. If can not go be taxi driver better.
ReplyDelete/// Just get a local degree or take one under SIM. Lower your degree cost as low as possible cause u will never be able to recoup. Some mire those from India cheap cheap cost degree u can't compete lar. If can not go be taxi driver better.
ReplyDeleteAugust 18, 2014 10:28 pm
Simplify the solution.
Just vote Opposition.
With a better government, more MNCs will want to invest in Singapore.
i.e. more & better jobs will be created.
i.e. your university degree will have more value.
Under a PAP government.
A Singaporean can only aspire to be a taxi driver or contract worker.
If we want better jobs - better vote Opposition
RB
ReplyDeleteNot every graduate should be in middle managament considering how miserable they make people under them.
the times you are talking about, only 1- 5% are graduates, at that time, the highest most common qualification was primary school and 0 levels.
Now at least 40% are tertiary level graduates or people are clamouring for more, wow, is there not such a thing as demand and supply.
Anon 8.07,
if the opposition comes in, you will get a big financial shakeout which should make RB happy since a lot of people are out of jobs and the property price will come down.
If you expect the MNCs to come in (in your fantasy), they will demand the same things and even more from the present Govt in more.
But you should be happy, yet may be able to get apartments at 100K again.
/// Not every graduate should be in middle managament considering how miserable they make people under them. ///
ReplyDeletetheonion @ August 19, 2014 9:55 am
ANSWER:
Not every SCHOLAR/GENERAL should be in PAP-POLITICS considering how miserable they make people under them.
/// if the opposition comes in, you will get a big financial shakeout which should make RB happy since a lot of people are out of jobs and the property price will come down.
ReplyDeleteIf you expect the MNCs to come in (in your fantasy), they will demand the same things and even more from the present Govt in more.
But you should be happy, yet may be able to get apartments at 100K again. ///
theonion @ August 19, 2014 9:55 am
Uncle Lee Hsien Loong must have read the PAP Fairy Tales to theonion last night.