SINGAPORE is studying Hong Kong's scheme to encourage the elderly to re-enter the classroom ("School doors open for HK's elderly"; Wednesday).
In pursuit of lifelong learning, seniors who have the interest and energy and, more importantly, the financial means to pursue a degree or diploma course should be encouraged to do so.
Hong Kong's scheme receives subsidies from the government.
While it is acceptable for the state to fund programmes for the elderly, such as those that teach life skills and basic computer use, the line needs to be drawn in the use of taxpayers' monies to fund degree or diploma programmes for the elderly.
Tertiary education is an extremely costly affair, and state funding of tertiary education for able, young adults can be justified in terms of the contribution to Singapore
society that young people are expected to make, and for a good number of years after graduation.
On the other hand, while providing seniors with a tertiary education may raise their self-esteem and help keep individuals mentally lucid, the monetary benefits to society are unclear.
For every dollar invested in tertiary education for seniors, the money could, perhaps, be better spent on other programmes that could benefit the elderly. Seniors who wish to pursue courses of higher learning could do so online, at a much lower cost.
Chan Yeow Chuan
In pursuit of lifelong learning, seniors who have the interest and energy and, more importantly, the financial means to pursue a degree or diploma course should be encouraged to do so.
Hong Kong's scheme receives subsidies from the government.
While it is acceptable for the state to fund programmes for the elderly, such as those that teach life skills and basic computer use, the line needs to be drawn in the use of taxpayers' monies to fund degree or diploma programmes for the elderly.
Tertiary education is an extremely costly affair, and state funding of tertiary education for able, young adults can be justified in terms of the contribution to Singapore
society that young people are expected to make, and for a good number of years after graduation.
On the other hand, while providing seniors with a tertiary education may raise their self-esteem and help keep individuals mentally lucid, the monetary benefits to society are unclear.
For every dollar invested in tertiary education for seniors, the money could, perhaps, be better spent on other programmes that could benefit the elderly. Seniors who wish to pursue courses of higher learning could do so online, at a much lower cost.
Chan Yeow Chuan
