Many more articles were written in response, and a number of them were directed at the comments left by angry netizens. Here are a few of them, in case anyone is interested -
There are many more, and you can read them at the ST Discussion Board if you would like to.
Personally, I feel that the current system is fine and this saga is only caused by misinformed polytechnic students (and a number of incredibly obnoxious JC students).
Firstly, I find that too many polytechnic students assume that their GPA is good enough for university admission and therefore should definitely secure them a place in a university when it is not, as admission is dependent on factors that change each year.
I was appalled when I read that the author of the article "Don't let poly graduates fall through the cracks" considered his GPA of 3.4 "above average" and felt that he was shortchanged when he was rejected by the universities. Is a 3.4 really above average?
Take a look at the most recent IGPs of the universities -
National University of Singapore
http://www.nus.edu.sg/oam/gradeprofile/sprogramme-igp.html
Nanyang Technological University
http://www3.ntu.edu.sg/oad2/website_files/AY09-10_IGP.pdf
Singapore Management University
http://www.smu.edu.sg/admissions/docs/2009GradeProfile.pdf
How can anyone consider 3.4 as above average when it is around the 10th percentile for most courses, and for many other courses, not even close to the 10th percentile? Unless your cohort's performance is close to that level, and that 3.4 can secure a DwM, a GPA of 3.4 is only average if you consider the IGPs. Whether or not your GPA is "good" is relative to the IGPs and the performance of your cohort. You cannot blindly claim a GPA of 3.4 as above average, and then complain about the system when the universities reject your application for admission.
Secondly, I agree with many of the articles that by choosing to go to a polytechnic, you should know very well that you have less of a shot at university as compared to the JC students - the controlled intake number, the competition and the fact that your 'O's still matter.
Many feel that considering 'O's as part of their application is unfair, but it is not without reason. In order to determine the suitability of polytechnic students for higher education, the universities have to look at your 'O's to have at least a common standard for assessment. I thought this should be common sense, but apparently not after reading comments on the articles and multiple forum threads on university admission by polytechnic students.
The fact is that you still have a chance, even if 'O's still count. You simply have to secure a high enough GPA. There are many cases of top polytechnic students securing places in universities despite having lackluster 'O's. Do a search on Google. It will return many results from forums and blog entries.
In that sense, it is harder to enter a university as polytechnic student. Is that not, however, prior knowledge already? How can anyone possibly think that they should not suffer repercussions of their 'O's if they have not attained a good enough GPA? Why, could you share, if you did think so? It would be incredibly unfair to students, from both polytechnics and JCs, who have done well for their 'O's, do you not think so?
The formula is this - the worse your 'O's, the better your achievements and higher your GPA must be. It is best, of course, to have your GPA as high as possible no matter how you fared for your 'O's.
... I wanted to write more, but I lost the mood. I might continue this on a later date.
At any rate, all this whining is giving the rest of Singapore a very bad image of us polytechnic students. This saga best be over soon.
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