In Parliament on Monday, Acting Minister for Education (Higher Education & Skills) Ong Ye Kung said that around 30 percent of Singapore’s GCE “A” level graduates chose not to, or failed to progress to a full-time degree programme in a local university.

This finding is based on data collected between 2007 and 2011.

Mr Ong was responding to a question from Sembawang GRC MP Mr Lim Wee Kiak.

Mr Ong also revealed that in each cohort of “A” Level graduates who do not pursue a full-time degree course, around 40 percent are male students who have completed full time National Service.

Most students in this situation end up pursuing courses in the polytechnics or in arts institutions, or find employment instead.