NUS students invited to ‘mentor’ newbie PRC MOE scholars like Sun Xu
Posted by temasektimes on March 6, 2012
NUS students have received an email from the university inviting them to ‘befriend’ 17 year old students from China and to serve as their ‘mentors’ for 1 or 2 semesters:
Though it was not mentioned explicitly, the students are likely to be PRC college students who are coming to NUS to study under MOE scholarship, according to one NUS undergraduate familiar with the mentorship.
“The PRC students were recruited by MOE officials from China’s colleges the previous year and they are probably now staying with their foster families while attending an English immersion course.”
The applicants are required to attend a 1-week compulsory training in NUS to equip them with essential knowledge and skill to take up the post after which they are required to look after and mentor up to 6 PRC scholars together with the Block Adviser (NUS staff). In return, they will be given free lodging and meals at Ridge View Residences.
Like Sun Xu, the new PRC MOE scholars will have their tuition fees at NUS paid for entirely by Singapore taxpayers on top of a generous living and housing allowance as well as a to/return ticket back home to China each year.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Law Ms Sim Ann revealed recently in Parliament that the Singapore government spends some $36 million dollars on scholarships to over two thousand students each year, or about S$174,00 per scholar.
THE TEMASEK TIMES 
KeenCompetitor said
Our very own NUS students had better think twice before volunteering to mentor these new PRC MOE scholars. They will one day be in keen competition with our very own students for jobs and a place in Singapore. If you are compelled to volunteer, do so perfunctorily and show them the wrong path that eventually they are worst off than ourselves. That’s the way to compete, it’s no mercy in this “dog eat dog world”. I would rather see our own people make it than some free loaders from elsewhere. These PRC scholars have the inclination to bite the hands that feed them like Sun Xu. His apologies ring hollow, a way to save his own skin for the time being. If he is allowed to get away, he will be the one having the last laugh and we would land up being suckers for it. Make no miskate about it. I had been working with these PRC scholars in my workplace, underhand tactics abound.
Justice? What Justice? said
Crude, but aptly put
Elaine said
Free lodging and meals for Singaporean “mentor” but free education, lodging, meals and $$$ for the “PRC student” ? BRAVO!!
Afterall, a place to sleep and some food are what you need to give to dogs right?
Nice job MOE