If you don't have enough local talent, buy it from abroad whether in sports or research science — beginning with schools and universities.
To the government, expanding the talent pool is crucial for the economy.
Since the birthrate is declining, why not import youngsters from the region by the thousands, especially from China and Asean, to come and study here free of charge?
The issue is developing into a budding controversy with critics labelling it as a short-cut development of human resources through imports rather than focusing on home talents.
Cost problems
The issue took to the media last month when the government revealed in Parliament that at least 2,000 scholarships worth S$36mil were awarded each year to overseas students.
Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education Sim Ann said that most of these scholars served out their bonds and the few who defaulted were made to pay liquidated damages. No number of bond-breakers was given.
It is not known if the total included a large number of scholarships by companies linked to the government, like Singapore Airlines, Neptune Orient Lines and Singapore Press Holdings.
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