GRADUATES OF NANYANG UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF SINGAPORE AND SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC (Employment in Government Service)

Mr Chia Thye Poh asked the Minister for Finance how many graduates of Nanyang University, the University of Singapore and the Singapore Polytechnic respectively, who graduated in 1963 and 1964 respectively, are employed in the Singapore Government Service.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: In a fair comparison of employment opportunities open to graduates of these three institutions, we must exclude from consideration employment of medical, dental, law and pharmacy graduates as these courses are taught at one institution only.

The figures are as follows: 1963 graduates employed in the Government service: Nanyang University 70 University of Singapore 70 Polytechnic 15 1964 graduates employed in the Government service: Nanyang University 28 University of Singapore 82 Polytechnic 15 The total for 1963 graduates is 155. The total for 1964 graduates is 125.

I want to make it clear that these figures are classified by the year of graduation of persons employed in Government service. It does not refer to the number of graduates employed in any given year, either 1963 or 1964. Therefore, as you will note the figures for 1964, the Nanyang graduates are rather less compared with 1963 graduates. That is because for any given year there is a back-log of graduates to be absorbed. For instance, in 1964 the total number of Nanyang graduates of all graduation years employed by the Government was 64.

Mr Chia Thye Poh (Jurong): (In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister for Finance why so few graduates of the Polytechnic were employed. Fifteen each year for 1963 and 1964, respectively.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: Mr Speaker, Sir, the reason is that the Polytechnic runs courses in different professions, and most of the graduates would rather find employment in private industry than in Government service.

Mr Chia Thye Poh: (In Mandarin): I would like to ask the Minister for Finance whether he could tell us what is the general salary scale for these graduates.

Mr Speaker: That is not a supplementary question which arises out of the answer. But if the Minister feels inclined to answer it, he may do so.

Dr Goh Keng Swee: There are in the Government service something like 380 salary scales, and off-hand it would be very difficult for me to say which particular salary scale goes for what qualifications. If the Member is interested in these details, I would be glad to provide him with an Establishment Manual which sets out all the details.