MOE to review intake guideline for polytechnics through aptitude-based admission, after record number of successful applicants

SINGAPORE — With the highest number of students set to enter polytechnics next year through aptitude-based admission, the Ministry of Education (MOE) will review the intake allowance for polytechnics under the Early Admissions Exercise (EAE).

Close to 20 per cent of admissions to the five polytechnics for next year — or 4,600 students — is expected to come via EAE, said Education Minister Ong Ye Kung on Wednesday (Oct 3).

The scheme, which allows schools to admit students based on their skills and talents apart from grades, currently has a 15 per cent intake allowance guideline, though polytechnics have the discretion to vary their intake accordingly.

Calling it "an encouraging development in our efforts to match interest, talent and course of study", Mr Ong told reporters on the sidelines of the Singapore International Technical and Vocational Education and Training Conference that MOE will review whether to raise the allowance guideline gradually.

He added that next year's record intake comes on the heels of the highest number of applicants under the EAE (13,900), which saw a 13 per cent jump from last year.

And the polytechnics also made the highest number of offers — 6,250 — which represented a 14 per cent spike year on year.

First introduced in 2016, the EAE is part of a concerted move by the MOE to recognise students' achievements beyond academic grades at the tertiary level, spanning across the Institute of Technical Education, polytechnics and universities.

From an initial intake guideline of just 2.5 per cent, the ministry raised the figure to 12.5 per cent for last year's batch, before increasing it further to 15 per cent for this year's intake.

Adding that the EAE was started as a pilot project, Mr Ong said: "We have to see what is the demand, how do we administer and over time look at it year by year."