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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

The Straits Times

24 September 2013

PSC Scholarships: How Candidates are Assessed

We thank Mr Devadas Krishnadas for his letter ("PSC scholarships: Tackle larger issues"; last Friday).

We agree that students from less privileged backgrounds should be helped. There are government bursaries and financial assistance schemes to help them get a good education and enhance their social mobility.

A Public Service Commission (PSC) scholarship has a different purpose. It is meant to help the Singapore Public Service get its fair share of talent.

As the scholarship is awarded based on merit, there are no quotas. What this means is that all deserving candidates, regardless of their family backgrounds, are awarded the scholarship.

In assessing applicants for scholarships, the PSC looks not just at their capabilities, but also their commitment and passion to serve Singapore and Singaporeans.

PSC scholarships are awarded only to Singaporeans. A permanent resident is required to take up Singapore citizenship before his award is confirmed.

Mr Devadas said a scholarship should provide only the benefit of education, and that career progression and access to development opportunities should be based on performance.

The Civil Service appraisal system rigorously assesses an officer's potential to do a bigger job as well as his performance in his current job.

Officers with good performance and potential are identified and groomed, regardless of whether they are scholarship holders or not.

This is why a good number of public service leaders, including permanent secretaries and chief executive officers of statutory boards, did not start off as scholarship holders.

Terence Chia
Director
Public Service Commission Secretariat

The Straits Times
05 May 2013

Selecting public officers: Academic results not the only factor

We thank political correspondent Jessica Cheam for her comments and agree that the selection of scholarship recipients and leaders should not be based on a narrow definition of success ("A vision for a society of equals"; last Sunday).

When we select public officers, we consider a broad range of indicators and factors to find a good fit for service, so academic achievement is but one factor.

For instance, in awarding Public Service Commission scholarships, we assess the candidates' fit for a public service career based on whole-person qualities, which include their character, integrity and commitment to serve the public.

All deserving candidates, regardless of their school, family or economic backgrounds, will be awarded a scholarship if they are found suitable.

Similarly, in selecting candidates for appointment in the Public Service, qualities such as leadership, teamwork, project management, customer orientation and technical know-how are considered in relation to the nature of work and the positions they apply for.

Likewise, once the officers are hired, they are assessed and promoted based on their job performance and potential to contribute. Academic qualifications do not figure in the appraisal process. They are evaluated holistically not just on their intellectual qualities, but also on their ability to understand, listen to and connect with people.

All deserving officers who have proven themselves in their careers will be considered for leadership and key positions in the service.

In a selection process, it is inevitable that there will be disappointed applicants. This said, we will continue to improve our processes and cast our net wide to reach out to and consider candidates from different backgrounds for our positions and awards, and assess them fairly based on relevant skills and attributes.

In this pursuit, we will keep in mind our fundamental aim of having a merit-based selection and appointment process, one that can help us find the most suitable people for the different jobs in the Public Service.

James Wong
Secretary
Public Service Commission

The Straits Times
08 December 2012

No guaranteed path to the top

We thank Mr Harvey Neo ("Repercussions of meritocracy: Prized scholarships bear examination"; Wednesday), Mr Bryan Chow ("Meritocracy's about, well, merit"; yesterday) and Mr Ong Soon Leong ("Enough scholarships for deserving students"; yesterday).

We agree fully that success is not defined by winning a prestigious government scholarship.

The Public Service Commission (PSC) looks for people with the passion to serve Singapore, not those who want a scholarship just to get another award.

It assesses applicants based on whole-person qualities, and looks beyond grades and co-curricular achievements.

It looks for people with the character, commitment and capability to contribute to the public service.

Scholarship recipients have to serve out a bond in the public sector, and not all students find this an attractive prospect, given the many competing opportunities in the private sector.

For those keen to join the public sector, we would like to highlight that a PSC scholarship is but one of many routes. There are many other opportunities to join the public service, including after graduation and in mid-career.

Career advancement in the public service is not based on academic achievements.

All officers are rigorously assessed based on their performance and potential before they are promoted. Our scholarship holders know that potential alone, without performance, will not get them far.

Through this merit-based system, able and promising non-scholarship holders have joined the Management Associates Programme and the Administrative Service, and others have risen to top positions in the specialist services.

In summary, scholarship holders have no guaranteed path to the top.

They must demonstrate both potential and performance in actual work.

And officers who did not start as PSC scholarship holders but have performed well have equal opportunities to advance and develop themselves, often through scholarships in mid-career.

Basic to all this is the principle of meritocracy, which gives all Singaporeans equal opportunities to realise their potential and advance in life.

James Wong
Secretary
Public Service Commission