Only one bite of the cherry A LOT has been said about "equal opportunity" for both A-level holders and diploma-holders. Some seem to assume that junior colleges and polytechnics are directly comparable. The decision to enter a JC instead of a polytechnic can be viewed as a kind of gamble. A JC student "wins" if he qualifies for NUS or NTU and "loses" if he graduates with only an A-level certificate. Others might choose a polytechnic, because if they do not make it to NUS/NTU, at least they would have a diploma. There can never be equal opportunity. Some preferences must be given to JC students to ensure demand for JC education. Some polytechnic graduates are quick to criticise the system for denying them the subsidies those in NUS/NTU enjoy. But the polytechnic is considered tertiary education, while JC is considered as secondary education. Diploma-holders already enjoy a subsidy for tertiary education while in the polytechnic, and I would think a polytechnic education costs much more than a JC one. Thus, making it more difficult for diploma-holders to enter university reinforces the principle that you are subsidised only once for tertiary education. If you view a degree as your final goal, you should not enrol in a polytechnic, which is not meant to be a stepping stone to university. Are diploma-holders prepared to pay the full cost of a university education or accept a lower subsidy? They have already had a slice of tertiary subsidy and hence cannot compare themselves to A-level holders. KELVIN TAN TUAN WEI