CREDIT must be given to the Ministry of Education and the institutes of higher learning for being forthcoming in releasing application figures for places in our local universities.

The number shows the enthusiasm of our young in pursuing higher education.

It would be ideal if every student who meets the minimum entry requirement can be admitted to a local university. This is particularly so for A-level students who chose to study for another two years after their O levels only to find that they now have to compete with polytechnic graduates for admission to a varsity.

I am not against diploma holders pursuing a degree. Indeed, if they are capable, they should further their studies later and get a postgraduate degree.

But based on reports last year, 32 per cent of university applicants were polytechnic diploma holders.

This being so, I feel that universities should spell out clearly their criteria for admission.

If the criteria are aimed only at picking the best from each group, that is, A-level graduates and polytechnic diploma holders, this should be made known to O-level graduates early so that students in school can make informed decisions about whether to pursue a diploma first or to continue with their A levels.

If resources permit, our polytechnics can work with foreign universities to confer degrees on their deserving graduates.

In this way, we can free up more places for A-level graduates in our local universities without some having to resort to going overseas to pursue their degrees.

Patrick Sio