I REFER to Wednesday's report, "Degrees for more poly grads".

The opening of a fourth university here offers better advancement opportunities for diligent polytechnic students, as well as providing them with a chance to upgrade themselves at an affordable cost.

However, Singapore must not, in the future, be hesitant about recognising degrees obtained by polytechnic graduates.

I understand that many government departments, especially statutory boards, accept degrees issued by the three major universities - National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University and Singapore Management University - but do not consider those from the Singapore Institute of Management and open universities.

In other words, we should do away with the concept of first- and second-grade degrees based on different local institutions.

Making university education available to more in Singapore is a good idea, but not when it is being done with only the curbing of overseas spending in mind.

Jimmy Ho

This article was first published in The Straits Times.