In a fast-paced economy like Singapore’s, attaining a degree is vital to securing employment with a reasonable income. It would seem absurd to suggest otherwise, especially in our highly competitive economy. Yet, that is what Minister Ong Ye Kung seems to have suggested. In an interview with the Straits Times in May 2018, Minister Ong raised the possibility of having a Prime Minister who didn’t possess a degree. He added on that there’s nothing inherent in a minister’s job that requires a degree. It that even possible?
For a start, here are the education credentials of every PAP MP currently serving in Parliament:
- Ang Hin Kee, NUS
- Amrin Amin, NUS, Columbia University
- Ang Wei Neng, NUS, NTU
- Baey Yam Keng, University College London, Imperial College London
- Cheryl Chan, NTU, Macquarie Graduate School of Management
- Chan Chun Sing, University of Cambridge, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Chee Hong Tat, University of California Berkeley, University of Adelaide
- Cheng Li Hui, NUS, Macquarie University
- Chia Shi-Lu, NUS, Imperial College
- Charles Chong, Sydney Technical College
- Chong Kee Hiong, NUS
- Desmond Choo, University of Chicago
- Darryl David, NTU
- Fatimah Lateef, NUS
- Foo Mee Har, University of New South Wales
- Grace Fu, NUS
- Gan Kim Yong, University of Cambridge
- Gan Thiam Poh, NUS
- Goh Chok Tong, University of Singapore (now NUS), Williams College
- Heng Chee How, University of Cambridge
- Heng Swee Keat, University of Cambridge, Harvard University
- Indranee Rajah, NUS
- Intan Azura Mokhtar, NUS, NTU
- S Iswaran, University of Adelaide, Harvard University
- Janil Puthucheary, Queen’s University Belfast, Royal College of Physicians
- Khaw Boon Wan, University of Newcastle, NUS
- Amy Khor, NUS, San Jose State University, University of Reading
- Koh Poh Koon, NUS, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Henry Kwek, Stanford University
- Lam Pin Min, NUS, Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Lee Bee Wah, NTU, NUS, University of Liverpool
- Desmond Lee, NUS, Oxford University
- Lee Hsien Loong, University of Cambridge, Harvard University
- Lee Yi Shyan, NUS
- Liang Eng Hwa, University of Melbourne
- Lim Biow Chuan, NUS
- Lim Hng Kiang, University of Cambridge, Harvard University
- Lim Swee Say, Loughborough University, Stanford University
- Lim Wee Kiak, NUS
- Low Yen Ling, NTU
- Masagos Zulkifli, NTU, NUS, University of Southern California
- Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim, NUS, University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology
- Murali Pillai, NUS, University of California Los Angeles
- Lily Neo, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
- Ng Chee Meng, United States Air Force Academy, Tufts University
- Ng Eng Hen, NUS, University of Texas
- Louis Ng, NUS, Oxford Brookes University
- Ong Teng Koon, London School of Economics, Princeton University
- Ong Ye Kung, London School of Economics, International Institute for Management Development
- Joan Pereira, NUS
- Denise Phua, NUS, Golden Gate University
- Rahayu Mahzam, NUS
- Saktiandi Supaat, Murdoch University, University of Melbourne, NUS, University of Cambridge
- Seah Kian Peng, University of New South Wales
- K Shanmugam, NUS
- Sim Ann, Oxford University, Stanford University
- Sitoh Yih Pin, NUS
- Sun Xueling, NUS, London School of Economics
- Tan Chuan Jin, London School of Economics, King’s College London
- Jessica Tan, NUS
- Sam Tan, NUS
- Patrick Tay, NUS
- Teo Chee Hean, University of Manchester, Imperial College London
- Teo Ho Pin, NUS, Heriot-Watt University
- Josephine Teo, NUS, London School of Economics
- Teo Ser Luck, NTU
- Tharman Shanmugaratnam, London School of Economics, University of Cambridge, Harvard University
- Tin Pei Ling, NUS
- Edwin Tong, NUS
- Vikram Nair, University of Cambridge, NUS
- Vivian Balakrishnan, NUS, The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
- Lawrence Wong, University of Wisconsin, University of Michigan, Harvard University
- Yaacob Ibrahim, University of Singapore (now NUS), Stanford University
- Alex Yam, University of Kent
- Yee Chia Hsing, NTU
- Melvin Yong, NTU, University of Leicester
- Zainal Sapari, NTU
- Zaqy Mohamad, NTU
Virtually every PAP Minister (and almost every MP) possesses at least a Bachelor’s Degree. If Singapore wants to see a PM without a degree as what Minister Ong boldly prophesies, change has to start at the top.
hello i agree