ADMISSION OF JUNIOR COLLEGE AND PRE-U CENTRE STUDENTS INTO THE UNIVERSITIES (Figures)

Dr Ow Chin Hock asked the Minister for Education (a) how many per cent of the 1984 and 1985 cohorts of junior college students were admitted into the two local Universities; and (b) how many per cent of the 1983 and 1984 cohorts of Pre-University centre students were admitted into the two local Universities.

The Minister of State for Education (Dr Tay Eng Soon) (for the Minister for Education): Mr Deputy Speaker, Sir, I am answering on behalf of my Minister.

54% and 55% of the junior college final-year students in 1984 and 1985 respectively were admitted to the two universities in the following year.

18% and 16% of the Pre-U centre final-year students in 1983 and 1984 respectively were admitted to the two universities in the following year.

Sir, these figures taken as a whole could be misunderstood and therefore I would like, with your permission, to elaborate a little on them. From the average it appears that junior college students and Pre-U centre students have a 50% chance of going on to university. But this does not mean that every junior college student or Pre-U centre student has a one in two chance of joining university. It depends very much on what grades they obtained at their 'A' levels. Sir, we have found from past experience that '0' level results of students is a reliable predictor of how well they would do at their 'A' levels. Therefore those who do very well at '0' level, with five to 10 points for their best five subjects, do go on to do well at 'A' levels and have a high chance of going on to the university. But those with average '0' level results, between 15 and 20 points, do not do so well at 'A' level generally, and only one in five or less go on to the university; 80% do not. Students with average '0' level results, namely, 15 to 20 points, should instead consider other alternatives such as joining the polytechnics where their chances of completing their course will be much higher. In the case of the polytechnics, students with 15 to 20 points have more than a 90% chance of completing their diploma.

Dr Ow Chin Hock (Leng Kee): Supplementary question, Sir. How many per cent of the cohort of students had 15 to 20 points?

Dr Tay Eng Soon: Sir, I do not have the figures with me but I can supply this to the Member.