Toxicity of the scholarship system
#1

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threa...m.6741149/
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#2

They will lead the system to benefit the elite scholar class while ordinary citizens fend for themselves.

I, being poor, have only my dreams; I have spread my dreams under your feet; Tread softly because you tread on my dreams.
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#3

Rathe lengthy and have pasted 80% of it here

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Broke a Govt scholarship bond - got banned from talking about it in main page
Writing on Singapore Raw as I was banned from AskSingapore for talking about breaking a government scholarship bond. After receiving many messages of support from people who have endured the same thing, I decided to write this from scratch

To cut the story short, I took up a scholarship because I believed it was the best way to contribute to the common good. Totally bought up the sales pitch about serving the nation. Also of course, my parents could not afford university education, so why not since my grades allowed.

But boy am I so wrong. I broke the bond eventually after being harassed for basically having opinions… long story warning ahead

Already through the course, I realised something is so wrong with the scholarship system. Many of my peers on the programme were actually from wealthy families – from being able to afford an apartment in London, to flying home on business class. I remember once at the Singapore Seminar, a round table discussion where they flew in scholars and PS/DS/some official people to discuss issues surrounding Singapore in London. One fellow asked “how do we solve the problem of lowly educated men not getting married and educated women not getting married?”. To which the answer from the speaker I can never forget, was “As everything we do in Singapore, low end import and high end export”.

The toxic things about government scholar system

Bad-egg scholars spoil it for all

Not all scholars are bad eggs and arrogant. But the ones who are, spoil it for everyone else, and makes everyone hate on scholars for no reason sometimes. I remember my manager was a scholar and said manager had basically disdain for anyone who was not manager’s superior. Manager’s treatment of foreign workers was especially bad. Manager once yelled “grab me that bangla”, once asked the workers to sweep rocks (yes, I wonder if scholars have been on construction sites) and banned foreign workers from drinking water from the establishment’s building. Manager would also pick on anyone, threaten anyone with poor performance so long as you step on manager’s tail (sometimes in a completely non-work related way). If you are manager’s favourite, you would get your way. And as I obviously was not (scholar eat scholar, gender hate gender? Or maybe I was just honestly bad, I accept that), I was criticised constantly for being “happy go lucky” and for “smiling too much”…… with that I slowly fell into a pattern of fear of just being myself. Manager had apparently gotten 4 serious complains before, but HR decided to overlook it all because manager was a director favourite. This brings me to the next point

Directors are unfire-able Gods

Unless they commit a legit crime, they cannot be removed. Where I was, we had directors who felt the need to scold people at every meeting, put people down, belittle people (hello all scholars). Some will comment on women’s looks, some text at ungodly hours like 11:30pm. An internal survey actually showed that about 10% of the public service agency experiences harassment, but nothing was done. Because, because … all the directors are good buddies! Who can you complain to, if HR is only going to site with all of management? This made me really upset when I thought that HR was on the side of the employee. Often those who had it the worse were the “lower ranked” employees – because the organisation saw them as expandable. Yet these were the people who knew the day in and day out of the operations. During Covid, we saw that we could fire the directors, but not the technicians. Yet whenever one tries to advocate for the little man, I got treated like I chose to be on the wrong side of the battle. As though I picked the worker’s side instead of the correct “scholar side”.

Culture of silence

Honestly, scholars, you know when other scholars are unreasonable, or being an ass. But you don’t speak up. You never call out the bosses, or even your own camarades….because you hope one day you will become director, you will need their support. Behind their backs you would speak bad of one or the other, but where it matters – when they are unjustly picking on their men, when they are harassing others, you remain silent. You know deep down the scholarship system is unfair, it rewards those already from privilege, those already with connections. But no one wants to speak because why would we poison the own honey we are enjoying?

You also know when scholars are being overworked – sent to work where no one else wants to. Made to do tasks no one else wants to. But when you become the boss, you choose to do the same thing.

You know that scholars get picked for high profile projects, I’m sure you will feel its bit unfair that the others do not? Yet when you become a boss, you will promote the scholar first, you will give that better portfolio to the scholar.

Don’t question

As described above, do not be that scholar. Especially if you are picking battles that no one else sees the benefit in fighting for. In my experience, fighting for technicians and those on the grounds, most other counterparts will just find you are wasting your time as it does not add to KPI, and pisses management off.

Why do we need 5 Mayors and 80 PAP Ministers? 
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#4

there're ofc pros and cons to consider. w/o the scholarships, many wouldn't be able to study overseas at prestigious universities.

the nightmares only start when the studies are over and hv to work at some lousy organisations.

to avoid such circumstances, better dun take if parents can afford. if take, check out the potential work environment first. aso try to save as much as possible in case you want to break bond.
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#5

Foreigners no need pay!
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#6

IT people also know

that Fat Egoistic Mini Chan CS with PSC Scholar who worked in Ascent Consulting

had to be fired years ago

return to Stat Board, liao!

Why do we need 5 Mayors and 80 PAP Ministers? 
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#7

(30-04-2022, 01:52 PM)sgbuffett Wrote:  They will lead the system to benefit the elite scholar  class while ordinary citizens fend for themselves.

Without this system, how can we select future talents? The system is always a number game eliminating most of all.


Smile
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#8

(30-04-2022, 03:53 PM)Niubee Wrote:  Without this system, how can we select future talents? The system is always a number game eliminating most of all.



End up selecting rubbish like JoTeo,  Chan CS. . . . 

Cannot perform. No Talent. No potential after 5 or 10 years

But one thing for sure

Most of them need 20 YEARS of Training.

Why do we need 5 Mayors and 80 PAP Ministers? 
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#9

(30-04-2022, 03:55 PM)Ola Wrote:  End up selecting rubbish like JoTeo,  Chan CS. . . . 

Cannot perform. No Talent. No potential after 5 or 10 years

But one thing for sure

Most of them need 20 YEARS of Training.
Those managing the system is crucial too.


Smile
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#10

Cos of our exttemely limited pop size, almost impossible to attract those with 1st class honours from our varsities.
I know of 2 parents whose kids got 1st class accountancy n engrg from nus donkey yrs ago . They were invited for tea sessions but the parents asked them not to join prata biz ....fast forward 3 decades later, these 2 brilliant fellas were still sitting on the board of MNCs..
U can only find one LKY in every 100 million people.
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#11

Inside there some scholars behave like they are noble and can eat others they eat. They usually form a clique and behave like attack dogs protecting self interest and backside. For most, being politically correct is more important than doing the right thing. That's their culture.
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#12

(30-04-2022, 04:27 PM)Yin yang Wrote:  Cos of our exttemely limited pop size, almost impossible to attract those with 1st class honours from our varsities.
I know of 2 parents whose kids got 1st class accountancy n engrg from nus donkey yrs ago . They were invited for tea sessions but the parents asked them not to join prata biz ....fast forward 3 decades later, these 2 brilliant fellas were still sitting on the board of MNCs..
U can only find one LKY in every 100 million people.



We do not need any more LKY

All PAP Ministers are only YES Men and Soldiers anyway

Just sack the fcking trouble- makers

like JoTeo and Gan KY, lah.

Why do we need 5 Mayors and 80 PAP Ministers? 
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#13

(30-04-2022, 04:51 PM)Instinct Wrote:  Inside there some scholars behave like they are noble and can eat others they eat. They usually form a clique and behave like attack dogs protecting self interest and backside. For most, being politically correct is more important than doing the right thing. That's their culture.

That's right. Being politically correct is more important to them than doing the right thing, because being politically right, you cannot fault them for any wrong and you can only blame the system, not them.

I often ask myself, will this team of leaders be able to carry out the chewing gum ban that was implemented years ago. I think likely not.
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#14

(30-04-2022, 04:58 PM)Ola Wrote:  We do not need any more LKY

All PAP Ministers are only YES Men and Soldiers anyway

Just sack the fcking trouble- makers

like JoTeo and Gan KY, lah.

LKY has the prestige to do many things that current leaders cannot do. We trust that he's the fatherly figure who will do the best for Singapore. Current leaders I have no such confidence.
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#15

The worst aspect of the scholarship system is not that the scholars are not clever, but that they come out of the system thinking that they're entitled to all the good things because they are really capable.

The truth is, the peasants and the scholars are not competing on even ground. HR will prompt the department heads if the scholars are not promoted on time, but peasants can be left alone for years.

When the scholars think that they're entitled to all the good stuff, they will have less empathy for the poorer people because their mentality is that the poor deserve their situation.
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#16

(30-04-2022, 05:41 PM)Blasterlord2 Wrote:  The worst aspect of the scholarship system is not that the scholars are not clever, but that they come out of the system thinking that they're entitled to all the good things because they are really capable.

The truth is, the peasants and the scholars are not competing on even ground. HR will prompt the department heads if the scholars are not promoted on time, but peasants can be left alone for years.

When the scholars think that they're entitled to all the good stuff, they will have less empathy for the poorer people because their mentality is that the poor deserve their situation.

Good as yes man and Carry ball the so call elite and scholar
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#17

(30-04-2022, 05:41 PM)Blasterlord2 Wrote:  The worst aspect of the scholarship system is not that the scholars are not clever, but that they come out of the system thinking that they're entitled to all the good things because they are really capable.

The truth is, the peasants and the scholars are not competing on even ground. HR will prompt the department heads if the scholars are not promoted on time, but peasants can be left alone for years.

When the scholars think that they're entitled to all the good stuff, they will have less empathy for the poorer people because their mentality is that the poor deserve their situation.



The Scholarship system and the PaP hiring system is the same from the same Govt. Having he head without the heart is their one and only criteria. That is why their speeches and policies are largely meant for the Upper Class. They craft it themselves to benefit themselves.

Win the World but lost your Soul. 
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#18

(30-04-2022, 04:27 PM)Yin yang Wrote:  Cos of our exttemely limited pop size, almost impossible to attract those with 1st class honours from our varsities.
I know of 2 parents whose kids got 1st class accountancy n engrg from nus donkey yrs ago . They were invited for tea sessions but the parents asked them not to join prata biz ....fast forward 3 decades later, these 2 brilliant fellas were still sitting on the board of MNCs..
U can only find one LKY in every 100 million people.

LKY did not start as a civil servant.. He is already a lawyer (a big thing during his era) before he 'joined' civil service.

1. I have served the nation in a combat unit for 2.5 + 10 years. I had fulfilled my duty as a citizen, but has the country do it's part for me?
2. I don't know where the threat of CCP is, but I know the threat of CECA is already at my doorsteps
3. I had been called a CCP, JHK, Pinoy, but they never called me a CECA..
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#19

(30-04-2022, 05:16 PM)Blasterlord2 Wrote:  LKY has the prestige to do many things that current leaders cannot do. We trust that he's the fatherly figure who will do the best for Singapore. Current leaders I have no such confidence.

During LKY time, people are mostly uneducated, so we trust LKY to do the best for the people, and he did that most of the time.

Now, people are educated with professional training.. You asked a person whose whole life is in civil service to be MOM minister, how would she understand how is things like outside civil service.. So made a mistake and all the bashing comes in...

Same thing, if someone from civil service background become our leader for COVID task force, of course doctors will have an issue with that..

1. I have served the nation in a combat unit for 2.5 + 10 years. I had fulfilled my duty as a citizen, but has the country do it's part for me?
2. I don't know where the threat of CCP is, but I know the threat of CECA is already at my doorsteps
3. I had been called a CCP, JHK, Pinoy, but they never called me a CECA..
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#20

(30-04-2022, 01:52 PM)sgbuffett Wrote:  They will lead the system to benefit the elite scholar  class while ordinary citizens fend for themselves.



PAP is an elitist party right from day 1..................just that the peasants until today still blur like sotong.................no wonder Lee KILL You said Sinkies descended from coolies.........
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