I REFER to the Singapore Police Force's reply on Tuesday, 'Why police accept only local poly diplomas', to a letter by Mr Basil Yeo, 'Police recruits: Why accept diploma only from 5 polys?' (Aug 1).

The Public Service Division (PSD) website states that diplomas from private educational institutions will not be given the same recognition as those from polytechnics as the former require less than three years' study. The website does not indicate, however, how 'duration of study' determines quality of academic standards.

In fact, the PSD states on its website: 'Acceptance of qualifications for employment is determined by the respective employers. There is no government authority that assesses or grants recognition to qualifications awarded by overseas institutions for employment to the Public Service, because we are in no position to know about qualifications awarded by universities from all over the world.'

The Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) would like to state clearly that all our diplomas and advanced diplomas awarded are validated by the respective accrediting university. Diploma and advanced diploma graduates are eligible to progress to the first and second year of study in the bachelor degree programme respectively.

Graduates from the polytechnics, after successfully completing three years of study, are also eligible for admission to the second year of study in their chosen university's bachelor degree programme. In terms of recognition and academic standards, the acceptance of polytechnic diplomas and MDIS diplomas for entry to MDIS advanced diploma by MDIS partner universities indicates that MDIS advanced diploma graduates are no different from polytechnic diploma graduates in both academic content and rigour.

MDIS graduates have gone on to achieve employment and senior positions in the private, public and people sectors. MDIS is also proud that members of the Home Team (of which the Singapore Police Force is a core component) are currently pursuing various diploma programmes with us under our scholarship programmes.

With the opening and diversification of the education landscape in Singapore, we trust that employers will move with the times to review their hiring process and criteria. In the light of this clarification, MDIS sincerely hopes the Singapore Police Force will review Mr Yeo's application.

Dr Sally-Edith Yong
Director, Academic Affairs
Management Development Institute of Singapore

This article was first published in The Straits Times.