“No need degree”: 34 vs 78%?

Photo: fivestarsandamoon.com

February 26, 2018

“No need degree”, but statistics show otherwise?

I refer to the article “Higher starting pay for university graduates, more in freelance work: Survey” (Straits Times, Feb 26).

It states that “But the proportion of graduates who secured full-time permanent employment fell from 79.9 per cent in 2016 to 78.4 per cent last year.”

In contrast, only 52.8 per cent of polytechnic fresh graduates had full-time permanent jobs” (Today news report, Jan 13).

Since the proportion (%) of ITE Higher Nitec graduates in full-time permanent employment was only 41.8 per cent in 2016 and for Nitec (Engineering) was only 33.6 per cent – how do we reconcile the consistent rhetoric of “no need degree” in the light of these apparently conflicting statistics?

Leong Sze Hian

About the Author

Leong

Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional qualifications.