Dr Ng Li Sa, Director, Public Service Commission Secretariat reply to TODAYonline Forum Letter on "PSC scholarships is not a mission to address inequality in society".
Six candidates have been awarded the 2018 Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship.
Mr Lee Tzu Yang appointed Deputy Chairman, Public Service Commission with effect from 2 May 2018
Five outstanding candidates were awarded the President's Scholarships on 16 August 2017 at The Istana
PSC scholarships are awarded based on merit
We refer to the letter by Mr Francis Cheng Choon Fei (“PSC scholarships is not a mission to address inequality in society”; Jul 16), who suggested that the Public Service Commission (PSC) should award scholarships based on merit and not needs.
We agree that the role of the PSC is to select the best candidates with the potential to be public service leaders, and have a heart to serve the nation.
Given the increasing diversity of our population and the complex challenges we face, we need a Public Service that reflects diversity. We need a Service that has different perspectives and deep expertise in various areas to bring Singapore forward. Thus, the PSC goes out of its way to seek out and select scholarship candidates from different backgrounds.
Our scholarship recipients study a variety of courses in different universities. We also encourage them to enrich and diversify their experiences by venturing to different countries and acquiring new skills that would serve Singapore well.
In striving for diversity, we ensure that our selection process is multi-dimensional and we are able to pick out merit in its different forms. Apart from cognitive ability, we also look at qualities such as resilience and leadership. Most of all, we look for candidates with integrity and commitment. Each candidate is assessed holistically. While the PSC does not discriminate against students from affluent families, we also go the extra mile to search for promising candidates from less privileged backgrounds.
There is no quota for PSC scholarships, and the PSC will continue to maintain high standards by awarding scholarships to those who would make excellent public officers.
Dr Ng Li Sa
Director, Public Service Commission Secretariat
(L to R): Mr Tan Yanquan Ashley, Dr Liu Desheng Isaac, LTC Cai Dexian, Mr Tan Soon Hui.
In commemoration of the significant contributions made by Singapore’s first Prime Minister, the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship was set up in 1991 by the Tanjong Pagar Citizens’ Consultative Committee. It is publicly funded and awarded to exceptional individuals who demonstrate a strong sense of commitment to serve Singapore and her citizens.
In 2018, six outstanding candidates have been awarded the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship to support their pursuit of postgraduate studies. The awardees are as listed:
| S/N | Name/Age | University/Course |
|---|---|---|
|
1 |
LTC Cai Dexian |
Master of Business Administration INSEAD, Singapore |
|
2 |
Dr Liu Desheng Isaac |
PhD in Medicine National University of Singapore, Singapore |
|
3 |
Dr MoYin |
PhD in Clinical Medicine University of Oxford, UK |
|
4 |
Mr Tan Soon Hui |
Master of Education in Education Policy and Management Harvard University, USA |
|
5 |
Mr Tan Yanquan Ashley |
Master in Public Administration Harvard University, USA |
|
6 |
SLTC Sean Wat Jianwen |
Master of Business Administration Massachusetts Institute of Technology, USA |
Applicants for the Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship must be Singapore citizens and have an outstanding track record of leadership and service within or beyond their profession. Lee Kuan Yew Scholarship holders can pursue postgraduate studies overseas or locally in various fields to develop their potential as leaders. The scholarship holders are expected to actively contribute towards the betterment of Singapore, Singaporeans and the community.
Appointment of Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission
1. The President has appointed Mr Lee Tzu Yang (李子揚 ) as member and Deputy Chairman of the Public Service Commission with effect from 2 May 2018.
2. Mr Lee, 63, graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science in 1976. He joined Shell in 1979 and retired as Chairman of Shell Companies in Singapore in 2014 after 35 years of service in operational, commercial and strategy functions in a range of markets.
3. Mr Lee is a member of the Council of Presidential Advisers and the Legal Service Commission of Singapore. He is a Justice of Peace and Vice Chairman of the Board of Visiting Justices and Board of Inspection. He also chairs the board of The Esplanade Company Limited as well as the Singapore University of Technology and Design.
4. For his contributions to public service, Mr Lee was awarded the Public Service Star in 2005, and the Meritorious Service Medal in 2014.
5. Under the Constitution of the Republic of Singapore, the Public Service Commission shall have a Chairman and not less than 5 and not more than 14 other members. With the appointment of Mr Lee, the Public Service Commission will have 13 members assisting the Chairman.
Five outstanding candidates were awarded the President’s Scholarships on 16 August 2017 at the Istana. They were Mr Lionel Oh Wei Hao, Mr Lee Tat Wei, Miss Wee Jin Ting Cheri, Miss Agatha Sacha Lim Lee and Mr Jasdeep Singh Hundal.
