PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND FIREFLY SCHOLARSHIPS

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PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION AND FIREFLY SCHOLARSHIPS: The following Question stood in the name of Mdm Ho Geok Choo -

13. To ask the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance (a) how many of our students on PSC and Firefly scholarships have guarantors who are not their parents and what are the reasons for their parents being disqualified as guarantors; and (b)

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how many incidents of non-fulfilment have led to guarantors being liable subsequently.

Mr Charles Chong: Question No. 13, Sir.

The Minister for Defence (Mr Teo Chee Hean) (for the Prime Minister and Minister for Finance): Mr Speaker, Sir, students on PSC scholarships and MTI's Firefly scholarships would need to nominate two sureties or guarantors to execute the scholarship agreements. Anyone, including their parents and siblings, can stand as surety as long as he or she meets certain conditions with regard to citizenship, age and income.

We do not keep track of the number of scholars who asked people other than their own parents to stand as guarantors. Nor do we ask for the reasons why they did so. Nevertheless, based on the number of PSC and MTI's Firefly scholarships awarded between 2002 and 2004, out of 237 scholarship agreements executed, 70% were signed by at least one parent of the scholars.

It is very rare that PSC and Firefly scholars who break their bonds do not pay their liquidated damages (LD). Of the PSC and MTI's Firefly scholars who broke their bonds between 2002 and 2004, only the guarantors of one scholar disputed the settlement of the liquidated damages. The other scholars paid up the liquidated damages promptly.