While private schools are immensely popular in Singapore, a recently released study from the Council for Private Education shows that students enrolled in these schools fared much poorer than their publicly educated peers.
The CPE interviewed more than 4,200 individuals of the 12,600 who graduated in 2014 from different private schools. Here are some key findings:
- 58 percent found full-time jobs within six months of graduating.
- The full-time employees started at a median salary of $2,700 each month.
On their own, these statistics are low. However, they are much lower results when compared to graduates of the Nanyang Technological University, National University of Singapore, and Singapore Management University.
While neither the privately educated nor publicly educated students surveyed had prior work experience, statistics show greater employment opportunities from the public universities.
- 83 percent of students found a full-time job within six months of finishing their coursework.
- These graduates had a median full-time starting salary of $3,200 per month.
A Closer Look At The Differences Gives Rise To Two Questions.
- Are all of the private schools providing the same quality of education? Which are the better ones?
- Who are the students attending the private schools, and are they making the best decisions for their future education?
There are about 70,000 Singaporeans enrolled in private universities, as well as 30,000 students from other countries.
Digging Deeper on Private School Data
An issue that most likely influenced the results of this study was the fact that the private universities don’t have the most specific, detailed data available to help students make informed choices.
There are more than 300 private schools, some with outstanding programs, but many that lack the ability to provide the necessary educational levels.
Students who are interested in furthering their education are strongly encouraged to research their options carefully, and assess if the course will help them acquire relevant skills for future employment, the CPE wrote in a press release. Beyond immediate employment outcomes, it may be useful for students to adopt a more long-term view of their career and education pathways, to ensure that the skills and knowledge obtained will provide a strong foundation for them to build on.