PSC Scholarship

You may score A1s for all your test in secondary school, A* for all your exams in primary, and graduate with first class honours from Cambridge University, but you may not qualify for the PSC Scholarship.

In a speech by Public Service Commission Chairman Eddie Two addresing core issues about scholarship system in the civil service, he stated that scholarship holders must not only have good academic results, they must be also be able to think and do.

Scholarship holders must identify with the ground, have a realistic view of circumstances, and most importantly have to ability to empathize and mix well with others of different backgrounds, culture and callibre.

This came after many concerns that scholarship system risked breeding an isolent group of people that bore little correct moral values and communication abilities.

The concerns seemed to be sparkled by the recent incident of a PSC scholar repeatedly abusing his wife, with sentences like "Why are you so stupid?", "Can't you even understand a simple instruction?", finally resulting in a divorce.

Many Other PSC scholarship holders have also committed atrocious acts that have repeatedly embarassed Singapore in front of other countries, especially when these scholars are regarded as future leaders of Singapore as well as role models. In fact, upper management in public service is mainly staffed by them.

Why is this happening, it could be due to the overlooking of communication and empathy (EQ) or the neglecting of basic moral cultivation in past PSC scholarship qualification criteria.

The government would most likely start taking action in altering scholarship selection criteria as well as procedures to make sure that future leaders not only possess IQ, but also the ability to communicate and socialize, and have correct moral values. Only then would Singapore's future be in good hands.