Singapore Government Press Release

Media Relations Division, Ministry of Information, Communications and the Arts,

MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2nd Storey, Singapore 179369

Tel: 6837-9666

 

SPEECH BY GEORGE YEO, MINISTER FOR TRADE AND INDUSTRY, AT "SINGAPORE – THE GLOBAL SCHOOLHOUSE" ON 16 AUG 2003 AT 11.05 AM

Distinguished Guests

Ladies and Gentlemen

Introduction

We are here today to launch an initiative to make Singapore a "Global Schoolhouse" for students from all over the world, especially Asian students.

Asians are on the move. With the end of the Cold War and the re-entry of China, Vietnam and India into the global marketplace, the Asian landscape is changing dramatically. Over two billion people want a better life for themselves and their children. They are prepared to work very hard for very low wages. Every year, millions stream from the countryside to the cities, picking up what skills they can, and adjusting to the demands of industrial and post-industrial society. They in turn want their children to be better educated so that their lives will be improved.

This hunger for education is creating a huge flow of knowledge from the developed countries to developing Asian countries, a process which will go on for many years. Because state education systems are often under-funded and inadequate, the private sector for education and vocational training in Asia is expanding very rapidly. By tradition, Asians know that a good education can alter decisively the life chances of a child. Many are therefore prepared to pay large amounts to secure the best education for their children.

Meeting this enormous demand for education efficiently requires a proper-functioning market that facilitates investment, trains teachers, permits the free flow of teachers and students, and sets standards.

Because of Singapores position between the First and the Third World, our multi-lingual facility and our excellent public education infrastructure, this growing education market in Asia is a major economic opportunity for us. We can play a major role in providing a wide range of educational services both in Singapore and in other parts of Asia.

 

Growing the Education Industry

Last year, the Economic Review Committee identified several new sources of growth for the Singapore economy one of which is Education. Building on the strengths of our public education sector, we will nurture the growth of the private education sector and make education an important contributor to our economy. Education today constitutes 3.6% of our economy. Much of this is presently generated by government subvention in the public sector. We hope that with the development of the private education market, the total education sector can grow to about 5% of the economy in the next decade or so. Our objective is to make Singapore a "Global Schoolhouse" providing educational programmes of all types and at all levels from pre-schools to post-graduate institutions, and that attracts an interesting mix of students from all over the world.

Today, at least 1.8 million international students pursue higher education outside their home countries. 45% of these students are from Asia, mostly from China, India, Japan, South Korea and Malaysia. These numbers will grow by an order of magnitude in the future as parents seek to place their children in schools which provide high-quality education. A large part of this demand will be met in Asia itself in advanced cities like Singapore.

Some analysts forecast that the global demand for international higher education will exceed 7 million students by 2025. Asia will dominate, accounting for 70% of this future demand; about a six-fold increase in demand from the year 2000.

Singapore will increasingly become a global player in this education market. The quality of our public education system has attracted attention worldwide. Our private schools already teach significant numbers of international students. The standard of living in Singapore is relatively high. Our streets and subways are safe. We have a cosmopolitan outlook that welcomes talent from all over the world. Our reputation for high standards and reliability serve us well.

To build this "Global Schoolhouse", we need three components. First, we have to attract good foreign institutions into Singapore. Second, we need to develop our own local institutions and enterprises. And, third, we need to bring in large numbers of international students.

The Economic Development Board (EDB) has been attracting leading universities to Singapore. These universities are engaged in research and postgraduate education here. Among them are Johns Hopkins, INSEAD, MIT, and the Technical University of Munich. EDB is also in serious discussion with various private universities and secondary schools to set up shop here as well. It is possible that a comprehensive, privately-owned, privately-funded foreign university will be established in Singapore. We are also likely to have a few privately-owned secondary schools catering to both local and international students. Rounding out this mix will be schools specializing in areas like the arts, design, hospitality and culinary science.

At our core, however, we must have strong local institutions and enterprises. This is the second component. Our 3 local universities are gaining in international reputation, as also are our Polytechnics, Institutes of Technical Education, junior colleges, secondary and primary schools. Today, these institutions cater mostly to local students. Looking ahead, some of them might find it useful to establish branches overseas. Schools such as Chinese High, Nanyang Girls, ACS and RI are already well regarded in the region. EDB will work with interested schools to see if they could establish completely private entities overseas.

We need to strengthen and upgrade our private, for-profit sector as well. Working closely with other government agencies, SPRING launched the Singapore Quality Class for Private Education Organisations Scheme (SQC for PEOs). This scheme helps private education organisations achieve a higher standard of business excellence based on the Singapore Quality Award framework. Today, 16 private education organisations will receive their awards at the first SQC for PEOs Award Ceremony. Membership has its privileges. For example, SQC for PEOs awardees enjoy faster processing of student passes by our immigration authorities and receive special support by IE Singapore and the Singapore Tourism Board overseas. The Government is also considering allowing degree and diploma students from certain qualifying SQC for PEOs schools to work part-time while they are studying.

Today, more than 50,000 international students are studying in Singapore. We will attract many more. The Singapore Tourism Board will lead this effort. STB will use "Singapore Education" as the brand to market Singapore as a premier education hub in Asia. STB is looking at establishing Information Centres in key markets such as China and India. To welcome and settle in international students, STB is working closely with other public and private agencies to provide better care for them. STB will also establish facilities for international students to seek assistance and provide feedback.

Conclusion

In the short time since the Government’s acceptance of the Economic Review Committee’s recommendation to position Singapore as an Education hub, many individuals and organizations have been working hard to make this happen. This will be a growth market for us.

If we can double or triple the number of international students in Singapore to 100,000 or 150,000, there will be all kinds of spin-offs for our economy. Our shops, restaurants and housing rental market will all benefit. More than that, these students when they return home will expand our international network. We must make sure that they have a good experience in Singapore. Then they will always feel fondly for us. Although it will take time for us to develop fully the Singapore Education brand name, the fire has been lit.

Yeats once said that: "Education is not about filling a pail; it is about lighting a fire". Because of Singapore’s success as a city-state, what we have achieved has inspired many other cities in Asia and beyond. For some, we are a model. Singapore Education will build on this reputation and help light many fires in Asia. In this way, we will also make our contribution to the transformation of this great continent in the 21st century.