Choo Zheng Xi / Editor-in-Chief
The Straits Times today ran an article exposing unaccredited Panama based university West Coast University (WCU): a dubious outfit that sells degrees with little or no corresponding obligation on its students to clock class time.
The issues at stake are larger than that of “fraudulent or substandard degrees” issued by institutions such as WCU. Allowing unaccredited overseas institutions operate to out of Singapore, especially ones that have been outlawed overseas, makes a mockery of Singapore’s attempts to be an “education hub”. It also has an implication on those pursuing reputable private degree courses in Singapore: how are employers to separate the wheat from the chaff given the poorly regulated nature of private degree education?
It is thus shocking to learn that instead of pushing to outlaw universities such as WCU, former Minister of State for Education Chan Soo Sen was actually the guest of honour at the “fraudulent”degree seller’s convocation.
His excuse? He had not been given any information about WCU’s accreditation, and his presence at the convocation was not meant to give the university credibility.
This explanation might possibly hold water if he was a random member of the public, with no knowledge of issues such as accreditation.
However, given that the Straits Times has previously run several exposes on degree mills (as the article points out, the reporter’s dog was registered to receive a doctorate), and Mr Chan was a former Minister of State for Education up until 2006, to claim ignorance is a poor defense.
Further, to claim that he did not intend to lend WCU credibility is missing the point.
Mr Chan might genuinely have neglected to do his due diligence and been ignorant of WCU’s background. However, in the eyes of those receiving the “fraudulent or substandard degrees”, as well as their family and friends, the presence of a former Minister of State for Education could only be interpreted as a seal of approval.
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must have been using money to wipe his backside. cannot even tell what is toilet paper.
poor man, kana played out by his grass-root people. he is a good chap who did alot for his constituents. he is plain unlucky not to check first . . .
This is a CASE certified outfit!!!
“If my presence there had given the university credibility, that was not my intention.”
So what’s your intention?
Don’t tell me you are ignorant about WCU’s credibility when you are world-class?
What a joke! Stop being lame, i can’t stand it.
Let’s move on – it’s an honest mistake.
So apathetic! With thousands working for the ministers and a PR machinery so well orchestrated, it is amazing to read almost daily the screw ups of highly paid Government men which had adverse impact on citizens’ families.
In just education field alone, it is interesting to read about the UNSWAsia closure where even the ministers involved even declined to meet parents, foreigns students left in the lurch by Singapore registered educated agencies, citizens squeezed out of university places, and scholarships given to foreigners.
The Government people must have their heads examined, and soon…………to stop the complacency and under par work performance.
hahaha hahahahaha… hahahaha…
this is just so funny…
a former minister of state for education being the guest of honour for a degree mill…
LOL hilarious!!!!!
this, my dear friends, is the quality of people who make up the government that the people of singapore vote into power year in and year out.
Singapore must surely be the laughing stock of the world of academia!!!
this is a super big joke… how stupid is that a former minister for education is unaware of what’s accredited and what’s not?
by allowing these con-jobs to be around is already something spectacular and attending the dinner itself? don’t these highly paid elites have minders/assistants to filter out trash?
i know singapore is in recession and we need more than a laugh… but having the government creating the jokes one by one is not really helping us…
This is what happens when Ministries/Ministers are not held to task for their areas of responsibility. Lately we have seen such incompetencies in handling terrorist, immigration, foriegn workers (too many), investments, education etc etc it makes one wonder if you really have the best talent or those proclaimed to be the best. Well if they are the best they have failed the test and without accountability they will continue to brand themselves as the best. For goodness sake, a former MOS for education and MP giving such a lame excuse. They recent expose on the private school is really just a tip of the iceberg. Many of these schools including some big ones have politicians and ex-politicians seating on their boards. Some are operated by ex high profile civil servants so not much scrutiny is placed on them. We need MOE to wake up and close the dodgy schools down, so that MPs and ex MOS will not be embarassed by attending their graduation. Joke.
Chan Soo Sen probably thought: “Wow! This is an opportunity for me to be guest of honour woh. Ok, on! I will accept the invite!”
I thought the PAP govt always say: “Due diligence! Due diligence!”
I just have to wonder if it was say, Dr Chee who accepted such an invite. I am sure the PAP and the local media would go to town with it.
But alas, it is one of their own…PAP MP.
These people are driving Singapore Inc to doom..
Singapore has a reputation of being trustworthy and ethical in business dealings from foreign peers.
If this type of things keep cropping up, we will lose that BRAND and we will be no different from other nations.
But .. .how come the mass media is publishing this type of story that will put a bad light on PAP MPs.
Does that mean the mass media are loosening up and really trying to report as it is.
How can an MP just accept invitations like that? What more he was the Minister of State for Education! The most important question is:
Was he paid to attend the ceremony?
And if he was, what is he going to do with the money now? Return it? Donate to charity? Keep it and act blur?
I really feel very very sorryyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy for Mr Chan Soo Sen.
I did not expect he would come to this level….. very very sad…..
actually I ask – is Goh Chok Tong paid twice – as senior minister and as Chairman of MAS>>
The excuse he gave was quite lame actually. Having been a MOS and having lots of working experience previously, I thought a simple background check into WCU is a logical process, especially when you’re invited to be the Guest of Honour. Wouldn’t you want to know who and what you’re dealing with before lending your name?
Complacency I suppose….
i am a resident in the joo chiat constituency.
contrary to popular belief, it;s not chan who has been doing all the work for the estates…it;s the grassroots organisations and residents who tirelessly work to keep the sleaze out of joo chiat… to a certain degree, its working, but to a larger extent, it could have been far more effective if chan and the authorities work together to decisively take action against the bars, lounges and transit hotels to eliminate the vietnamese prostitutes and their clients from the area.
chan merely sits around being the guest of honour of pointless community events (Joo Chiat Idol anyone??)…his face is plastered across banners in the constituency proudly proclaiming him to be the MP.
what is worrying is that he is accepting these invitations and blaming it on his grassroots leaders. Does he not read the invitations? and if he does, does he not have the brains to do some research first? after all, he would have had to make some kind of speech or address the guests right? what would he talk about? the weather????
it is worrying that we have him as a leader in joo chiat, and more worrying that we have such leaders in our elite parliament.
disappointing. and worrying.
for more on residents’ efforts on Joo Chiat, please visit http://www.myjoochiat.com
I am a resident of Joo Chiat and thus one of Mr Chan’s constituents. Unfortunately, Mr Chan has not done much for the area. The sleaze that has plagued us the past few years has only gotten worst and while there is a very strong grassroots effort, the effort is unmatched by Mr Chan. It is truly disheartening to see the kind of politicians our tax money is being used to ‘attract’. And now he, as a former Minister of State for Education, attending an event for a degree mill, and then proceeds to feign ignorance is simply ridiculous! Obviously he was invited for a reason (certainly it was not for him to try out the free food). It does not take a rocket scientist to know that the Guest of Honor was invited to add ‘honor’ to any event.
If my boss who earns $4000+ a month is to make such kind of mistake, he would be out in the street tomorrow with a bowl in his hands.
CSS still got the cheek to think about “lending creditbility”, what credibility does he have after such a blooper?
maybe he also got toilet paper degree. . .
. . . “you wipe my backside, I wipe you backside . . . ”
LSS, now CSS anymore S-es in the bunch of fumbling idiots?
oh yes, another question – doesn’t he read the fine prints?
I’m sure it’s not 84 pages long!
His focus was on the his status as the VIP for the event. He probably checked everything about where and who he sits with, but the most basic of all checks – to check the credentials of the organisation that invited him – eluded him. What a shame.
Complacency? or knowing they can do no wrong?
in the true spirit of Singapore…. LET’s MOVE ON.
This is another episode of world class paid ministry doing lower than class decision and relaying more of his secretary to do his job of finding the hard facts right. Our world class ministry is really getting more and more handicapped by having a brunch of good pay scholar who has been giving him no advice of bad advice. This mis-judgement is detrimental to our citizen and will be another laughing stock in the education arena. Again! Honest mistake it must be.
#17 & 18)
Don’t complain ..
Use action and vote him out then.
i didnt vote for him in the last election, if your eally must know. and yes,,,,i wont be voting for him next election either. … but i have a sneaky feeling that they’ll absorb joo chiat into east coast or marine parade GRC come 2011…they already have Lee Yi Shyan as second advisor of Joo Chiat (he’;s from East Coast GRC). is that a signal or what?
why did MSM report this? It’s their routine. When something critical happens, they churn out news using sacrificial lambs to distract the masses. Recall GST, IR, CPF Life, Mas Selamat, 21% tariff increase. Before you can even utter “mee siam mai hum”, they already “siam” behind the lamb of the moment, and behold! they have moved on.
“why did MSM report this? It’s their routine. When something critical happens, they churn out news using sacrificial lambs to distract the masses. Recall GST, IR, CPF Life, Mas Selamat, 21% tariff increase. Before you can even utter “mee siam mai hum”, they already “siam” behind the lamb of the moment, and behold! they have moved on.”
Be fair lah.
When MSM finally reports something that doesn’t shine a positive light on the PAP it is met with such cynicism.
Frankly I doubt that this little sideshow will be sufficient to ‘take cover’ behind. I don’t think anyone will think so….
This looks and feels like a distraction from the minibonds issues honestly…or the price rises…or what the gov has done wrong recently…
I smell a rat…
“This looks and feels like a distraction from the minibonds issues honestly…or the price rises…or what the gov has done wrong recently…
I smell a rat…”
Well, if the purpose of this (laughable) incident being reported was to serve as a decoy from the minibonds issue I must say that it’s a pretty stupid method. This pales in comparison to the financial situation.
To be honest, this is quite a small issue. I simply see it as a case of no ‘real harm’ to the govt, thereforce can report. See it more optimistically, at least the MSM IS reporting something that is not pro-govt…right??
Was there any form of compensation for his appearance?
If so, in what form and how much is the value?
it’s the trend i think, since news headlines lately have been revolving around scandals worldwide and people at the top being fraudulent and stuff…time to dig up some dirt!
oh. We all know what he’s there for…free buffet! that’s what all these functions are about arent they =P
Actually, Mr. Chan wanted to encourage life-long learning. That was why he agreed to be the guest of honour. This is his explaination. So give the man a break, can we?? The whole incident has already embarrassed him quite badly. Maybe he purposely went there to check out first-hand about this degree factory?? Or maybe ” wrong place, wrong time” ??
#29) chorus,
You can see more anti-pap here.
Whatever PAP do ..right or wrong,
these folks here will try to twist and turn into PAP doing something wrong or have motives behind.
After I write this.. I should be expecting flame from them..any moment now..
isa,
yes I have noticed that with some people. (here and in the real world -_-)
To be honest I am not a fan of the PAP and there are many intelligent commenters on TOC with solid, balanced arguments whom I enjoy reading. I think the over zealous commenters are among the minority, though they are quite vocal.
“Actually, Mr. Chan wanted to encourage life-long learning. That was why he agreed to be the guest of honour. This is his explaination. So give the man a break, can we?? The whole incident has already embarrassed him quite badly. Maybe he purposely went there to check out first-hand about this degree factory?? Or maybe ” wrong place, wrong time” ??”
Hmmm. The cynical would say that old Mr. Chan didn’t do his homework and was caught with his pants down. The life long learning thing is just an excuse he cooked up.
Personally, I feel it was damn stupid of Mr. Chan to be there. I just feel we should give ST a break and cool it with the conspiracy-oh-this-is-meant-to-overshadow-minibonds theories which I find more than a little ludicrous. Almost as laughable as Mr. Chan’s presence.
plain stupid ninkumput..period…Im tired of all this idiots!
Recently I read that our MM saying that his party has always had 2/3 majority in election. Everyone perhaps him knows that they would not have returned 2/3 if it was all single seats. Let alone still be in power. Well thats statistics..he believes it..we must be fools..
Chee and JBJ were always right..we need electoral reforms..
lezzbo (#17), joochiat-er (#18):
hearing views from joo chiat residents do give us more insight on how the MP of your constituency is working.
kena (#5):
everyone makes mistake. apologise and move on. though he should be more pro-active in checking out the credential of university.
lezzbo (#25):
who was the opposition during the last election? was joo chiat a single member constituency?
We have loan sharks but they let you take the money first and only if you don’t pay . their khakis come around to apply pressure on you. But nowaday, we have banks who become Buaya (crocodile) and swallow you lock stock and barrel.
Now who is fair ? Loan Shark or Buaya ?
Obamaosama…all sama lah !
His intention was not to lend credibility to the fake university by attending the convocation as guest-of-honour lah.
I guess his intention must be to get some credibility from the fake university lah, right or not? Some more got free dinner and can be photographed and appear in the next day’s newspapers leh.
Are we paying peanuts to get monkeys?
The problem of local degree mills runs really deep. Being CASE-certified or MOE-approved does not necessary imply the private school is not a degree mill. If so, it is only fair that MOE and CASE accreditation should be taken back from all the private schools and future accreditation should cease too.
Cannot blame MP Chan Soo Sen because it may due to mis-selling or misrepresentation of WCU to this MP. Is some RM of WCU is to blame for misleading the MP ? Why this MP trust WCU without performing due dilligence ? Is he guaranteed a good return ? Did he read the fineprint when he agree to WCU’s invitation ? Did he check with his lawyer on the invitation ? Did some gov org approve such university programme ? Or is WCU is registered but may not get approved by some gov org ? Maybe MP Chan Soo Sen is to be blamed because he accept the invitation without understanding WCU.
Anyway, if MP Chan Soo Sen has any grievance, he should go to Hong Lim Park to voice out , we will be glad to listen to his plight, and Dr Chee and SDP can also help him with the protest for his innocence if he request.
MP Chan Soo Sen shouldn’t blame anyone but himself due to caveat emptor (“let the buyer beware”). Who ask him to attend WCU’s invitation without understanding WCU ? Did he not read the prospectus of WCU and clarify his lack of understanding and knowledge with RM from WCU ?
MP Chan Soo Sen shouldn’t act blur as if WCU stand for We Con U. WCU is not to blame. MP Chan Soo Sen as a Dodo is.
Daniel (#43),
LOL. Your sarcasm knows no boundary and I find it very amusing.
Daniel (#43)
Fat hope
“and Dr Chee and SDP can also help him with the protest for his innocence if he request”
Chees and SDP are the heirs of “sound and fury” JBJ.
Talk abt human righrs but when people lose money, where were they? They did not organise anything, they did not speak out.
Where were they? Juz like WP, keep quiet, buat bodoh. I hope Chees and SDP have the decency to keep quiet now that safe to attack banks, and not be opportunist like SIAS and WP. Brave when the danger passes.
I always thgt that we needed an Opposition. Now I’ve changed my mind: we need
an Opposition that dares to do the right thing, not juz mouth platitudes. We got PAP to do the platitudes.
Give chance a bit lah.
In case you’ve forgotten, Chees and SDP already fighting another battle so that they can continue to fight for freedom and human rights for Singaporeans. If they are permanently silenced, we will have no more voice now that JBJ is gone.
This is why clowns like CSS ought to disappear from the face of this planet if he has the decency to aknowledge and take responsibility for his mistake. Nothing better to do, still make such a blunder. The glare of the spotlights must have really blinded him. So please, do the decent thing and quit!
There might even be a readily available position for him in parliament – a full time jester – for MM, PM & SM’s amusement.
An older Singaporean, I read every speech of MM and he with his earlier cabinent team remained my hero for many reasons and most of all getting us booted out of Malaysia.
Let me expressed my observations with a suggestion or two, and hope that both netizens and Government can mitigate each other and strke a beautiful balance for the way ahead for the good future of Singapore.
Induction into Government has always been difficult and this is one reason why Singaporeans must eventually come to term with the subjective pay structure of ministers- it must be one of the key motivating factors to get the best. Others include good character and real intention to serve which Singaporeans generally accept of all PAP candidates at their introduction. Their performance subsequently is for all to see.
Netizens have been generally quick to complain – this is a Singaporean trait and after all the grosses the Singaporean is generally a nice fellow and normally would try to solve his or her problems, and move on.
May I suggest that netizens refrain from personal attacks on Government leaders- the reaction may not be good for the nation; it is very good to debate issues – on education alone ,there are so many, like the previous over weight program where primary school kids were forced to walk up and down the staircases in full view of all during recess time – the psychological damage and adverse self esteem cannot be overemphasized, and some of these kids have been badly affected that in their later lives, live with depression and other psychotic disorders – what is the final outcome ? MOE discontinued the program but heaped praise on itself!
Other issues which were calliously handled include the UNSWAsia closure.
All these episodes are learning curve for the Government and if anything, honesty and truth even to oneself must prevail, not to take credit when it is not due, and where possible not to be too defensive- otherwise with the ongoing trend – pre-emption and legistration will be the order of the day and we will be seeing and hearing less and less of SM and PM.
So far I am impressed by Lim Swee Say in his apology for a SARS related episode. Has his statute and standing been really affected ? I think not, despite being moved and his straight forward English comments on CPF are being picked for critism which is expected.
With MM in his advanced years, and as his erstwhile fan, I am genuinely concerned now.
What lezzbo and joochiat-er said about MPs being bo-chap is true also in Thomson. Many massage joints offering special services have cropped up in the Upper Thomson shophouses and the tompang MP isn’t doing very much. On a national level, i think the govt is slowly getting all of us used to sleaze so that when the casinos open and the hookers, toyboys, money launderes and foreign Ah Longs come in, we’d all be numb to it.
35) chorus on October 22nd, 2008 11.53 pm
isa,
yes I have noticed that with some people. (here and in the real world -_-)
To be honest I am not a fan of the PAP and there are many intelligent commenters on TOC with solid, balanced arguments whom I enjoy reading. I think the over zealous commenters are among the minority, though they are quite vocal.
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Have the People learnt anything?
Never Trust Blindly. Trust as long as you see strong evidence and proof.
I recall Gerald said not all newspeople ‘so like that’ .
I then think to myself, news reports are released to public domain after its cleared by the chief Editor who could also ‘advise’ the writers what to write (or not to write). Is my understanding correct? If so, I like to know in more detail what was Gerald trying to say. How does he know? Even if writers tell him not all are ‘so like that’, writers still report to chief Editor (directly or not) and news is serious business where articles and reports are checked before released to public domain.
I hope Gerald could clarify on what he meant. thanks!
Kang Mui Hoong