Singapore - No ethnic quota for entry to local universities

SINGAPORE - There is no ethnic quota for entry to local universities, said Minister for Education Heng Swee Keat, in a written parliamentary reply to Workers' Party Member of Parliament (MP) for Aljunied GRC, Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap.

Mr Manap also asked for a breakdown of the undergraduate population at the local publicly funded universities by nationality and the four main ethnic groups.

According to Mr Heng, 18 per cent of undergraduate intake last year was made up of international students. This is within the 20 per cent limit set for intake of foreign students per year.

The proportion of Chinese, Malays and Indians among Singapore citizens admitted were 89 per cent, 5 per cent and 4 per cent respectively in 2011. The corresponding proportions in 2001 were 93 per cent, 3 per cent and 3 per cent.

Below is the written reply, in full:

PROFILE OF UNDERGRADUATE POPULATION AT LOCAL PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES

Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Education (a) if he can give a breakdown of the undergraduate population at our local publicly funded universities by nationality and the four main ethnic groups for 2001, 2006 and 2011 in absolute numbers and percentages; and (b) whether there is any ethnic quota for entry to our local publicly funded universities and, if so, what is the rationale for such a quota.

Mr Heng Swee Keat:

For the past ten years, the Ministry of Education has capped the number of International Student (IS) at 20 per cent of the total intake. In AY2011, IS comprised 18% of undergraduate intake. Most of the IS are from the ASEAN countries, China and India.

Entry to all our institutions is by merit and there is no ethnic quota. The proportion of Chinese, Malays and Indians among Singapore citizens admitted were 89 per cent, 5 per cent and 4 per cent respectively in AY2011. The corresponding proportions in AY2001 were: 93 per cent, 3 per cent and 3 per cent.

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