More now able to pursue higher education here I REFER to the articles, "Let Singaporeans pursue higher education here" and "A degree is fine but would it have helped Sim Wong Hoo?", by Sandra Davie (ST, Nov 20 & 21), on the issue of access to higher education in Singapore. As a result of the improvements made to our education system since Singapore achieved self-governance in 1959, a much larger proportion of students is able to pursue higher education in our local institutions today than in previous generations. In meeting the aspirations of Singaporeans to obtain post-secondary training and qualifications, opportunities for higher education have been expanded significantly. From 1980 to 1998, the university intake participation rate of student cohorts increased from 5 to 21 per cent, a four-fold increase, and that for the polytechnics rose from 5 to 40 per cent, an eight-fold increase. This has been achieved while maintaining high standards in our universities and polytechnics. The revised university-admission system due for implementation in 2003 is recognition of the value and importance of a broader basis for assessing the suitability of students to pursue university education in NUS and NTU. Even under the existing system, nearly 1,400 top polytechnic graduates were admitted into full-time and part-time degree programmes in NUS and NTU last year. With the establishment and future development of the Singapore Management University, more university places will be made available. Our higher education participation rate is among the highest in the world. For example, when Britain converted its polytechnics to universities between the late 1980s and early 1990s, its university participation rate increased to around 33 per cent, but this resulted in the removal of polytechnic places. In comparison, Singapore has a greater overall higher education participation rate, with 61 per cent of each cohort of students entering our universities (21 per cent) and polytechnics (40 per cent). While we are not in a position to make comparisons between overseas universities and our own universities and polytechnics, it is clear that the standards of our higher-education institutions are well-regarded in other countries. The fact that many overseas universities are prepared to admit our polytechnic graduates directly into the second or even third year of their degree programmes is clear indication of the standards of our polytechnics and the qualifications they award. What is important is that graduates from our higher-education institutions are well-accepted by employers and do well in their jobs. This is the critical test and endorsement of the quality of our universities and polytechnics and their graduates. JOHN LIM (Dr) Director, Higher Education and Public Affairs Ministry of Education