The change to the NTU Points Award Scheme (PAS) did not come as a surprise to me. The enrollment has increased steadily with the opening of the new schools (Humanities, Physical Science, Design and Media). The demand for hostels will definitely go up as well. Therefore a revamp of the system is needed, especially to cater for students who live far from the campus. However, I feel the abolishment of points system completely in the new Hall Allocation Scheme (HAS) is not very good move.
Of cuz, the new scheme has its advantages (you can read about it here). The best thing about the new scheme is that students who are staying far from school will worry less about getting up early and travelling so far to campus (unlike SMU or NUS, NTU is situated at this far corner of Singapore!). Students who never have got a chance at hostel life will do so now too. Student leaders will also be rewarded. Locals will also get more chance to stay with international students in the new scheme.
Although they said that ECA participations will not drop, I can only partially agree. As former hostelites, we know that one of the key motivation to join ECA, especially for hall activities. It is also a big incentive for being active in hall activities. I, myself, in particular, believe in joining activities for my own interest and never join much hall activities in my four years in Hall One (except for block/hall supper and a seafood trip to JB). But I don't think there is anything wrong in joining for the sake of points and sincerely appreciate their services in enhancing our hall life (excluding the additional noise lah. =p). Inter-hall games, hall productions, and other hall activities produced many talents in sports and the arts. This will not be possible without the help of many people who worked in the backend to support these talents, due to the ECA points they'll get.
I agree it is good to change our mindset to adapt to the changing world, but we all know that by abruptly abolishing the point system, and not taking the tweaking approach, we patch the existing holes, but also create other holes in the system as well. New students, with no knowledge of the former system, are most likely to take the changes hands down. It is similar to increasing of school fees. They are likely to just accept it. Being more thankful about their fresh new start of life, they will not protest against what the short-change they are not aware of. It is up to those who been through the system to be able to appreciate these changes.
I will prefer they keep the point system but give different levels of bonus points according to the distance students stay away from the campus. Eg. staying at a radius of 10km onwards will entitle the applicant to bonus point. And the further you stay, the more bonus points you'll get. The other conditions for priority in HAS can also be translated to some kinda bonus points. That will take these situations into account. Students with special conditions such as they do not have time to take on ECA as they have to work to support their family, pay for bills etc, should be able to write in and consider of given a place directly.
Without the point system, it will also be difficult to allocate students according to their preference of hall. Hostelites may not be able to stay near each other in the following year as they are allocated to different halls. Will the new system consider the location of the hall and school as well? Eg. allocating students who attend lessons in South spine to Halls near their school, such as Hall 4, 5, 1, etc. Students in PAS can do that by working to their points to stay in halls of their preference.
Although the point system is not perfect, it awards students by merit. It is fairer, and can quantify why a student deserve the room more than another student. The same logic as why we don't do away with examinations. Frederick Douglass once said, "People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get."
Quoting from the school, "Reform is a process, not an event". I hope they will continue to consider ways to improve the system, and the new HAS will not be final yet.
Of cuz some may say all these are none of my business lah, since I graduated already. But like I said earlier, it takes someone who has been through the system to really appreciate the system, to know what is not so good, what is better. Thus, I am giving my five cent worth on this issue.
Of cuz, the new scheme has its advantages (you can read about it here). The best thing about the new scheme is that students who are staying far from school will worry less about getting up early and travelling so far to campus (unlike SMU or NUS, NTU is situated at this far corner of Singapore!). Students who never have got a chance at hostel life will do so now too. Student leaders will also be rewarded. Locals will also get more chance to stay with international students in the new scheme.
Although they said that ECA participations will not drop, I can only partially agree. As former hostelites, we know that one of the key motivation to join ECA, especially for hall activities. It is also a big incentive for being active in hall activities. I, myself, in particular, believe in joining activities for my own interest and never join much hall activities in my four years in Hall One (except for block/hall supper and a seafood trip to JB). But I don't think there is anything wrong in joining for the sake of points and sincerely appreciate their services in enhancing our hall life (excluding the additional noise lah. =p). Inter-hall games, hall productions, and other hall activities produced many talents in sports and the arts. This will not be possible without the help of many people who worked in the backend to support these talents, due to the ECA points they'll get.
I agree it is good to change our mindset to adapt to the changing world, but we all know that by abruptly abolishing the point system, and not taking the tweaking approach, we patch the existing holes, but also create other holes in the system as well. New students, with no knowledge of the former system, are most likely to take the changes hands down. It is similar to increasing of school fees. They are likely to just accept it. Being more thankful about their fresh new start of life, they will not protest against what the short-change they are not aware of. It is up to those who been through the system to be able to appreciate these changes.
I will prefer they keep the point system but give different levels of bonus points according to the distance students stay away from the campus. Eg. staying at a radius of 10km onwards will entitle the applicant to bonus point. And the further you stay, the more bonus points you'll get. The other conditions for priority in HAS can also be translated to some kinda bonus points. That will take these situations into account. Students with special conditions such as they do not have time to take on ECA as they have to work to support their family, pay for bills etc, should be able to write in and consider of given a place directly.
Without the point system, it will also be difficult to allocate students according to their preference of hall. Hostelites may not be able to stay near each other in the following year as they are allocated to different halls. Will the new system consider the location of the hall and school as well? Eg. allocating students who attend lessons in South spine to Halls near their school, such as Hall 4, 5, 1, etc. Students in PAS can do that by working to their points to stay in halls of their preference.
Although the point system is not perfect, it awards students by merit. It is fairer, and can quantify why a student deserve the room more than another student. The same logic as why we don't do away with examinations. Frederick Douglass once said, "People might not get all they work for in this world, but they must certainly work for all they get."
Quoting from the school, "Reform is a process, not an event". I hope they will continue to consider ways to improve the system, and the new HAS will not be final yet.
Of cuz some may say all these are none of my business lah, since I graduated already. But like I said earlier, it takes someone who has been through the system to really appreciate the system, to know what is not so good, what is better. Thus, I am giving my five cent worth on this issue.
Comments
http://su.ntu.edu.sg/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=18&PN=1
the ethics of hostelites is a separate issue. hee hee.