tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post5673599232942457783..comments2024-03-19T18:44:15.041+08:00Comments on Little Stories: To Join or Not to JoinGilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comBlogger155125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-49642214697687236872007-04-24T02:02:00.000+08:002007-04-24T02:02:00.000+08:00Well I am not sure about that. I do know that for ...Well I am not sure about that. I do know that for teaching you are allowed to resign immediately with payment of liquidated damages. It might be the same for the other ministries.mushroom77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05988432795967437753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-36081181743395311702007-04-23T20:14:00.000+08:002007-04-23T20:14:00.000+08:00i am afraid that lance is overly optimistic. If u ...i am afraid that lance is overly optimistic. If u bonded to say a private company, u can just walk out no problems. Settle the money issue with money. But in the civil service, ur application is rejected outright. If u "just walk out", u will very quickly find yourself in jail.<BR/><BR/>Thus, a legal job in the government is exactly the same as an illegal job in the "private sector". Worst, because u will die much more frustrated.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-50267997531191230192007-04-23T17:37:00.000+08:002007-04-23T17:37:00.000+08:00A bond is a contract. you can just break it if you...A bond is a contract. you can just break it if you are willing to fork out the LD. they can't prevent you sort of chaining you physically to the chair. there is no job in the world which says u cannot leave just by walking out as a last resort. Well no legal job that is.mushroom77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05988432795967437753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-36590821382719923622007-04-23T14:37:00.000+08:002007-04-23T14:37:00.000+08:00Mr.Wang has his points right through my observatio...Mr.Wang has his points right through my observation. Was in Govt Stat board before and scholars seems to move up the ladder very quickly but those who are not scholars will be stagnent (even if they possess masters degree). If the CEP thingy is not true, how do you explain that? <BR/><BR/>As for KTM, you sure have some attitude problem. Keep questioning Mr.Wang's authority...what about yours? On what authority can you defend your counter claims? Don't start using the "authority" word if you don't have authority to use it, Ok?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-21301804872747427822007-04-22T13:09:00.000+08:002007-04-22T13:09:00.000+08:00Er, he can't cos he is bonded. lol.No choice, wait...Er, he can't cos he is bonded. lol.<BR/><BR/>No choice, wait till your bond finish lor if you are really that unhappy inside.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-47153635352703198372007-04-20T22:35:00.000+08:002007-04-20T22:35:00.000+08:00Well you can just resign right? Ain't no one who c...Well you can just resign right? Ain't no one who can stop you from doing thatmushroom77https://www.blogger.com/profile/05988432795967437753noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-12484957064472518862007-04-20T20:48:00.000+08:002007-04-20T20:48:00.000+08:00Hi, i am still in the civil service. To everyone w...Hi, i am still in the civil service. To everyone who said that the civil service is trying to move away from this gradually, please inform the rest that by gradually, you mean proceeding at such a fast pace that twenty years down the road, the CEP system will be still very much recognisable as it is now.<BR/><BR/>Why do people want to leave the civil service when they are receiving fat pay checks? Because by doing simple jobs and getting paid so much, they fear (rightly), that the longer they stay, the less competent they become.<BR/><BR/>It is those incompetent people who wants to stay. Why not? When u do simple things and get highly paid?<BR/><BR/>Go figure it guys. The civil service will only become from bad to worst. Every competent guy wants to leave. The only reason holding them back is that they cannot break their bonds.<BR/><BR/>Get it? I tried to break my bond and am willing to pay the LD, but my application was rejected outright.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-25291036502470184052007-04-20T16:51:00.000+08:002007-04-20T16:51:00.000+08:00jimmy mun: "Knowing the reality on the ground is t...<I>jimmy mun: "Knowing the reality on the ground is the job of the politicians, not the civil servants."</I><BR/><BR/>True, but let's not forget that being uniquely Singaporean, most of the top civil servants here (and highflyers in govt-linked businesses) are scholars who go on to become MPs and ministers of the country. <BR/><BR/>Top civil servants here aren't just public administrators but to an extent, government officials in waiting. :-)simplesandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09835110235511998612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-8027369464146479912007-04-20T11:38:00.000+08:002007-04-20T11:38:00.000+08:00Simplesandra,Undoubtedly, the art of licking boots...Simplesandra,<BR/><BR/>Undoubtedly, the art of licking boots is an essential survival tool even for scholars, but they can afford to be a bit more selective in whose boots they lick, unlike the farmers who have to lick every boot in sight just to "move on".<BR/><BR/>Knowing the reality on the ground is the job of the politicians, not the civil servants. Politicians are seen as dirty all around the world, but to thoroughly sterilise them the way PAP does is to neuter the government's ability to function properly.Jimmy Munhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927345822970412901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-15976740796961402822007-04-20T04:41:00.000+08:002007-04-20T04:41:00.000+08:00jimmy mun: "For those not happy with the system, o...<I>jimmy mun: "For those not happy with the system, one should be reminded that we all had our shot at the same exams which allows the scholars to emerge"</I><BR/><BR/>And yet, just because one refuses to fit into the system doesn't mean he is a zero when compared to another follows it without question.<BR/><BR/><I>jimmy mun wrote: "One also should remember that outstanding performance at the low levels does not imply competence at higher levels."</I><BR/><BR/>Then what do you make of scholars with poor performance even at low levels? How are you to draw a war plan if you can't understand the reality on the ground, and how various factors, human or otherwise, can affect those nice plans you've laid out on paper? Forget Rambo, that's Hollywood; old blood and guts didn't become a general just because he was some scholar.<BR/><BR/>And by the way, how naive of you to think that scholars don't do or need their fair share of bootlicking. Haven't been reading the papers lately, have you? :-)<BR/><BR/><I>Despite how they sell it, governmental service, as a career, is for the mediocre and the uncompetitive types, those who just want a peaceful retirement</I><BR/><BR/>You're not talking about the Scandinavian governments, are you? Here, mediocre? Someone just said we have to pay top money for these talents.... ;-)simplesandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09835110235511998612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-31408646137438021062007-04-20T02:03:00.000+08:002007-04-20T02:03:00.000+08:00I think that KTM is talking rubbish. We don't know...I think that KTM is talking rubbish. We don't know whether he is really a hawker or a AO. The fact that he did not reply here means that he is afraid of Mr Wang kicking his ass. <BR/><BR/>Besides, KTM can't deny that the scholars start off with a better CEP. Mr Wang should just go to his bogus post and kick his ass.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-84370219256452308172007-04-19T22:25:00.000+08:002007-04-19T22:25:00.000+08:00From KTM's response, it is not hard to see the top...From KTM's response, it is not hard to see the topic hit uncomfortably home for some members of the establishment. Having read what KTM wrote, I dont see how KTM can say Mr Wang is spouting nonsense, since they are basically describing two sides of the same coin: KTM is describing how the system is supposed to work in the ideal case, while Mr Wang is describing the system at it's worst. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle. <BR/><BR/>Scholars were screened by the scholarship board. Who will dare say their judgement is wrong? OTOH, it is career-risking to overrate someone lacking in paper "justifications", without a committee like a scholarship board backing you up. Everybody will just end up playing safe, so the CEP may well be set in stone before day 1, even if the system allows for flexibility. Having worked for a President's scholar before, I am aware they have mentorship schemes with senior scholars, not to mention PAP tea parties. With such networking with higher ups, it is hard for a big time scholar to be missed on the radar.<BR/><BR/>For those not happy with the system, one should be reminded that we all had our shot at the same exams which allows the scholars to emerge, unlike in say, the British colonial days, when what you get to do depends largely on what your father was doing. One also should remember that outstanding performance at the low levels does not imply competence at higher levels. An outstanding Rambo-type may not be a good lieutenant, let alone a general. You want to adequately reward Rambo doing Rambo work, not promote him to incompetence. Furthermore, anybody who has worked for someone will agree that performance reviews are often biased towards the best boot lickers. A CEP system may actually help control corruption. <BR/><BR/>Ultimately, a super-performing Bill Gates/Sim Wong Hoo type will be wasted in the civil service. Even non-entrepreneurs like Sandy Weill (ex-Citigroup CEO) or Eric Schmidt (CEO Google) can be made billionaires just by collecting a salary. No government in the world can match that. <BR/><BR/>Despite how they sell it, governmental service, as a career, is for the mediocre and the uncompetitive types, those who just want a peaceful retirement. If you rate yourself above mediocre, then dont join the civil service, or aim to hop off at some GLC.Jimmy Munhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04927345822970412901noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-83879492640043792902007-04-19T04:18:00.000+08:002007-04-19T04:18:00.000+08:00Just wondering, Mr Wang, how many years did you sp...Just wondering, Mr Wang, how many years did you spend in the civil service before you left?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-82548118362933412332007-04-19T02:52:00.000+08:002007-04-19T02:52:00.000+08:00Actually, given current and future global operatin...Actually, given current and future global operating environments, the CEP is more of a liability than something that facilitates the selection of top talent.<BR/><BR/>The CEP is a tad to rigid because it assumes that talents identified (especially heavily based on paper academic qualitifications) are the best talents needed to compete in the global environment. But increasingly, we find that many of the top academic talents identified by our education system are evidently lacking in critical/creative thinking skills and life skills.<BR/><BR/>Promotion should be linked to performance. Education is but a means to an end. The test is whether it prepares the young for challenges in life. And it can be measured in terms of performance. Given the way our education is being structured, the CEP does nothing except promotes elitism among those who are fortunate enough to be streamed into the "right" path. In fact, it could even erode the so-called work ethics the government is so concerned about by affording a "safety net" to poor performers with high CEP.<BR/><BR/>Whether the government continues to use the system despite its irrelevance will give us a clue as to its priorities - to preserve the elite class and its interests or for the sake of all Singaporeans by dumping the system to open up opportunities in a free market where performance, not predestination, determines one's career prospects in the civil service.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-69523512171743978512007-04-19T01:37:00.000+08:002007-04-19T01:37:00.000+08:00I wish this post was put up a year ago before I jo...I wish this post was put up a year ago before I joined a stat board. I am just an ordinary degree holder, no big time scholars or from influential family. As a first timer into the public sector, I can only blame myself for not doing enough homework about the HR policies. I had assumed that HR department of a stat board would be transparent & thorough in explaining policies before I signed on the dotted line.<BR/><BR/>I only know got to know what division means at least 6mths into the job. I learnt about CEP from Mr Wang's post on 11 Jan 2007. I later realised that my entry rank is the same as colleagues at least 8 years younger than me despite my experience.<BR/><BR/>A colleague of mine, also a first timer into public sector, was put into Division III as her diploma from a reputable marketing institute was not recognised (mind you, this diploma allows her to gain entry to an Australian Univeristy). She is an experienced & efficient worker but unfortunately also learnt about the division bit around the same time as me.<BR/><BR/>We both approached the HR dept to seek clarification but were told they are not required to explain all & that we should learn about the policies along the way. What the f! Along the way? It would have been too late! It is such a feeling of being short changed!!<BR/><BR/>My role is to speak to private sector for collaborations & sponsorships (first time a dept of such is set up in this organisation). While doing this, I have realised that most of my colleagues are unable to deal with negotiations with outside parties. When faced with difficult questions from potential sponsors, emails are fwded to me with "How to answer them? Help!"<BR/><BR/>Most are well-equipped with paper qualifications but when it comes to practical experience in the real world, they are lost. I was in fact providing 'consultation' to one who is going on a scholarship for a Master course on taxpayers' money!!<BR/><BR/>2 days ago, a colleague was victimised & had to leave when contract expires. I am utterly demoralised by the whole system. Runners like me without further degrees will always be do-er while the ones with more degrees (some using taxpayers' money) will be sitting in their Ivory Towers enjoying fat pay.<BR/><BR/>It saddens me each day when I see resources could have been better used to help the poor people around me. I must say most of my colleagues come from pretty good background & will never understand what life is living in a 3-room flat! How can policies they come up with help these poor souls when they are out of touch with what's going on at the ground?<BR/><BR/>Sigh! Waiting for my day to exit the public sector, shouldn't be too far away.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-55781573469848476152007-04-18T19:41:00.000+08:002007-04-18T19:41:00.000+08:00139 comments later, I think that this topic has hi...139 comments later, I think that this topic has hit a nerve somewhere.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-9927414788422079462007-04-18T17:13:00.000+08:002007-04-18T17:13:00.000+08:00It may well be the case that different ministries ...It may well be the case that different ministries use slightly different versions of CEP.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-5475743237772655452007-04-18T16:18:00.000+08:002007-04-18T16:18:00.000+08:00April 18, 2007 11:48 AMThe comment you have post i...April 18, 2007 11:48 AM<BR/><BR/>The comment you have post is is a little confusing:<BR/><BR/>1. CEP is a measure of the employee's highest attainable rank/position(SAF/civil service) before retirement. <BR/><BR/>2.It is no more than 3 ranks above an employee's current rank and can be revised.<BR/><BR/>Point 1 implies that the CEP is determined for the entire career till retirement, so there is only one figure.<BR/><BR/>Point 2 contradicts point 1 in that the CEP is not determined beyond 3 ranks at a time, therefore the CEP at retirement will not be known until the employee has accumulated all his ranks from day one to retirement.<BR/><BR/>The one who left the comment might have confused CEP (potential) with the A to D ranking system (performance).<BR/><BR/>Anyway, I don't see why the government should be so secretive about the CEP. The only reason why I can think of for keeping it secret is to exploit people who might otherwise leave the service if they knew their CEP and dim career prospects.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-16596393678633005622007-04-18T15:41:00.000+08:002007-04-18T15:41:00.000+08:00"anon wrote: "I see 2 reasons why scholars achieve...<B>"anon wrote: "I see 2 reasons why scholars achieve higher CEPs than non-scholars. First, they are brighter and hence perform better."</B><BR/><BR/>A couple of problems with the above statement. <BR/><BR/>Firstly, performance has nothing to do with potential, which is what CEP measures. So even if it is true that "scholars perform better", this shouldn't translate into higher CEP.<BR/><BR/>But the bigger problem is this. CEP, as this Anon person has himself stated, is based on the following criteria:<BR/><BR/>political sensitivity, imagination, <BR/>sense of reality, <BR/>communication, <BR/>leadership, <BR/>teamwork, <BR/>respect accorded by peers, <BR/>ability to handle pressure, problem solving ability <BR/>helicopter vision<BR/><BR/>Alas ... how can it be that scholars beat non-scholars automatically on such criteria? Teamwork? Leadership? Imagination?<BR/><BR/>Use your common sense ..... A Wee Shu Min type would probably get a scholarship, but you can already see that if CEP was properly measured, she'd score very low for:<BR/><BR/>political sensitivity, <BR/>sense of reality, <BR/>leadership, <BR/>teamwork, <BR/>respect accorded by peers, <BR/><BR/>.... at least!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-69780126920444435302007-04-18T14:16:00.000+08:002007-04-18T14:16:00.000+08:00anon wrote: "I see 2 reasons why scholars achieve ...<I>anon wrote: "I see 2 reasons why scholars achieve higher CEPs than non-scholars. First, they are brighter and hence perform better."</I><BR/><BR/>Sorry, but I beg to differ. This is only based on the assumption that academic excellence naturally translates into good work performance--which hasn't always been the case, notably in non-technical areas. If anything, my experience with scholars only left me with the impression that some lack the humility to learn and adapt to the working world. And yes, some talked like our infamous Ms Wee. :-)<BR/><BR/><I>anon wrote: "Second, scholars are given more opportunities and a more developmental training."</I><BR/><BR/>Even so, if a non-scholar has constantly performed well in his or her area of work and has the experience and potential, shouldn't they be given the same opportunities and training on merit then?<BR/><BR/>Which is why something like CEP hardly reflects meritocracy, but rather smacks of elitism.simplesandrahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09835110235511998612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-28169413607542229432007-04-18T11:48:00.000+08:002007-04-18T11:48:00.000+08:00Intruiging comment thread! I think we are getting ...Intruiging comment thread! I think we are getting more and more acquainted with this strange beast known as CEP.<BR/><BR/>I am reproducing something a reader posted in another entry under this blog sometime earlier this year. I thought it looked like a very credible post on CEP too but nobody commented on it subsequently so I am wondering if anyone can corroborate on what is said about CEP here.<BR/><BR/>Here it goes, reproduced below without any editions made:<BR/><BR/><BR/><BR/>Hi, I did ranking when I was in NS at Mindef. There're some misconceptions and errors about the CEP system. Please note that I am not pro CEP system. I' m here to give an objective view on how the system works, not an evaluation on its merits and demerits. Here's how the CEP system works:<BR/> <BR/> CEP is a measure of the employee's highest attainable rank/position(SAF/civil service) before retirement.<BR/> <BR/> It is calculated based on a set of 10 criteria. As far as I can remember, they're -- political sensitivity, imagination, sense of reality, communication, leadership, teamwork, respect accorded by peers, ability to handle pressure, problem solving ability and most importantly HELICOPTER QUALITY.<BR/> <BR/> Helicopter quality refers to the person's ability to identify problems within the larger context and solve them accordingly. Basically, a person with high helicopter quality has a broad overview of things, and this is more suited to a higher level post where a broad oversight is required.<BR/> <BR/> Lets look at fresh grads beginning on the job. All civil servants (both psc and non scholars) start off at the same CEP. The CEP is reviewed every year during the annual ranking exercise by a board. The employee's direct superior gives the rank, and usually the chair of the board (perm sec/CO) wll approve without much contest, unless other members who have worked with the employee voice objections. <BR/> <BR/> The max CEP an employee can receive is 3 grades above his current grade, the rationale being that it is not possible to judge CEP above 3 grades because of the lack of exposure adnd opportunities to situations that would allow such an assesment to be made. One cannot tell if a 2LT can handle the job of a LG unless he takes on a role that can highlight his abilities. This is the main reason why CEP is reviewed and adjusted yearly.<BR/> <BR/> It is very rare for anyone to be given a CEP of 3 grades above his grade. The norm is one grade, with the better employees given a CEP of 2 grades above current grade.<BR/> <BR/> To get promoted to the next level, the employee has to have a CEP equal or higher than that level, AND have a performance ranking of at least C+ for 3 consecutive years. (Don't be confused between CEP and Performance. CEP measures potential, Performance, well, performance). The possible grades for performance are A, B, C+, C ,D. There is a quota for performance grades and CEP grades (not more than 30% of those ranked can be given A and B grades, the next 50% are given C+, the bottom 20% are given C, and hardly anyone is given D, unless they really screwed up.) The quota allocation changes yearly, and is different for different ministries.<BR/> <BR/> To reiterate, to get promoted to the next level, the employee has to have a CEP equal or higher than that level, AND have a performance ranking of at least C+ for 3 consecutive years. If you don't meet the performance criteria, you don't get promoted.<BR/> <BR/> Of course, there are many cases of employees with a lower performance rank but a higher CEP being promoted above their colleagues. <BR/> <BR/> The rationale for doing so can be best explained by the EPL and Div 1. The top scorer in Div 1, A, has played excellently, bagging 40 goals and helping his team get promoted to the EPL. Wayne Rooney is having a torrid season, scoring just 10 goals. The point is, Rooney will always be a better player than A, because he has greater skill/potential. A might be performing very well in Div 1, but when he plays in the EPL, he can't maintain his performance, because he is playing at a different level. He does not have what it takes to play at the highest level.<BR/> <BR/> Likewsie, if a company or ministry promoted employees solely on performance, there will come a point where the employee simply cannot perform, because he is at a level that he cannot handle (or because he has a low helicopter rating).<BR/> <BR/> To compensate, employees are given Merit Increments to their salaries based on their performance, and performance bonuses as well to recognize their excellent work. In fact, a hig performing employee at a lower grade can earn more than a poor performing employee at a higher grade.<BR/> <BR/> The problem with the CEP system is that the direct supervisor is the only person evaluating the employee, and thus there might be biasdness or inaccuracy.<BR/> <BR/> From mid-level to high-level positions however, the employees have to undergo psycometric tests, psychologists interviews, and a role playing exercise to evaluate their suitablility for higher positons. These quantitative tests will be added to the qualitative one used earlier.<BR/> <BR/> Please note that I am not an ardent supporter of the CEP system. It has its flaws and is not perfect, but unless someone comes up with a better system for selecting talent, I don't see what choice we have.<BR/> <BR/> I see 2 reasons why scholars achieve higher CEPs than non-scholars. First, they are brighter and hence perform better. Second, scholars are given more opportunities and a more developmental training. In the SAF and civil service, certain positions (called estabs) are reserved for scholars. These tend to be the more high profile posts like Branch Head, Deputy Director etc, which require more responsibility. The scholars are also attached to do projects, where they can showcase their skills and creativity. The scholars are thus given more exposure and opportunity to showcase themselves, and assuming they don't screw up, will naturally be given a higher CEP than the non-scholar, who has to be truly exceptional in the limited role he is given to be noticed. Note that I am comparing the paths of two fresh graduates, scholar and non-scholar respectively. <BR/> <BR/> On a last note, having a first class honours degree does not guarantee a higher CEP. University performance only determines initial starting pay for fresh grads. An Oxbridge first class honours grad will have the same pay as a US Masters grad; an oxbridge second-upper will have the same pay as first-class honours grads from other universities. After a few years however, the differences become negligible.<BR/> <BR/> First class honours grads tend to have higher CEPs simply because they are generally brighter, more motivated, more determined etc than the average grad, not because of an endemic systemic bias.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-15012840830040151862007-04-18T10:44:00.000+08:002007-04-18T10:44:00.000+08:00Anon at April 16, 2007 9:25 AM// My husband is an ...Anon at April 16, 2007 9:25 AM<BR/><BR/>// My husband is an administrative officer in the elite service that none of you had the misfortune of joining ;)//<BR/><BR/>You try to make this as a joke, but I think you and your hushand think it is a misfortune, but others will think he's sitting on a gold mine.<BR/><BR/>// Yes, at 36, he was already drawing 200k pa (high achiever).//<BR/><BR/>The other way of looking at it - the AOs are grossly over-paid.<BR/><BR/>// Citibank, for example, told him that they will pay a rate at which the employee is deemed able to contribute at least 3 times more to the bottomline. //<BR/><BR/>And your husband can't even achieve that? And you called him high achiever? More like over-paid under achiever. For your info, those in the stockbroking industry will have to earn at least 6 times their costs.<BR/><BR/>// No company is willing to take such a risk yet. He always regretted going for that PSC interview to be a scholar. //<BR/><BR/>Tell your hubby to thank his lucky star that he is a scholar and "untouchable". He is overpaid and not wanted by the private sector. Don't mistake his high pay for over achievement. As you can see from Mr W's thesis, your hubby is probably one who fits this formula -- scholar = high CEP = high pay -- never mind his performance.<BR/><BR/>This is the sad part of linking salary to a formula. The really good AOs are able to go to the private sector, or enticed there by high pay. The left-behinds and cannot-make-it-in-the-private-sector free-loafers are enjoying the high pay and still complaining...<BR/><BR/>Who says life is fair?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-27546725035018493822007-04-18T08:04:00.000+08:002007-04-18T08:04:00.000+08:00LOL. I took a quick look at KTM's article. There's...LOL. I took a quick look at KTM's article. There's hardly anything that he really disagrees with me, maybe a few minor points. <BR/><BR/>Problem with KTM is that he tends to miss the trees for the wood. Looking at the big picture, my basic message is this:<BR/><BR/>(a) Non-scholars are placed at a clear & automatic disadvantage when they join.<BR/><BR/>(b) Even if non-scholars perform very well, outstanding performance translates directly into annual bonuses. Not promotions.<BR/><BR/>KTM has some minor quibble about when exactly a CEP score is assigned. I say that the initial CEP score is practically pre-determined, according to a pre-existing formula. KTM disagrees. Well, look at the comment left by a scholar at April 17, 2007 8:38 PM:<BR/><BR/><B>Hi I'm a psc overseas scholar (open). Here is the pecking order for sholars<BR/><BR/>1. Prez Scholars (usualy SAFOS)<BR/>2. SAFOS / and below them SPF<BR/>3. OMS<BR/>4. Ministry specific tied scholarships eg MFA<BR/>5. Kucing Kurap LOMS<BR/>6. Teaching (LOL)</B><BR/><BR/>LOL. There's your pre-existing formula (part of it, anyway). If you still don't get it, suppose a President's Scholar and a Kucing Kurap LOMS start work on the same day , 2nd January 2007, at the same ministry.<BR/><BR/><B>The President's Scholar already has a higher CEP score.</B> This is what that commenter is trying to tell you. The system doesn't say - "Oh, let's assess these two employees, give them some projects, review their performance on 30 June 2007, or 31 December 2007." NO! The President's Scholar, by virtue of being a President's Scholar, already has a higher CEP score than the Kucing Kurap LOMS ... This is automatic from Day One. Sorry, before Day One. <BR/><BR/>Which is why the commenter can say what he says. He is telling you - "if you get X type of scholarship, you will get X type of CEP score". Even before you have actually started work, <I>the commenter can already tell that</I>. So OF COURSE your CEP score is pre-determined.Gilbert Koh aka Mr Wanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01027678080233274309noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-18614319785171642772007-04-18T04:17:00.000+08:002007-04-18T04:17:00.000+08:00Lance April 17, 2007 1:10 AM:The reason i wanna go...Lance April 17, 2007 1:10 AM:<BR/><BR/>The reason i wanna go into teaching is because i think its one of those few vocations that appreciate with age. Vocations like nurses, doctors, lawyers, teachers, lecturers etc. I hope this is my ticket out of this damn place. *crosses finger*<BR/><BR/>Maybe I'm pessimistic, but to me, any other vocation i hold in SG will render me redundant when I hit 40. I'm trying to clock some teaching hours while I still can. :)<BR/><BR/>It is one of those private schools in town, but i'm not saying which. Trust me, I knocked on many doors before I landed this one. No problems with me being Chinese. Maybe I was lucky.<BR/><BR/>Salary wise, I'm getting slightly more than friends who'd gone through the NIE route. They've joined the teaching field EARLIER than I did (i'm still considered a newbie teacher, although i'm older), and sat through the ENTIRE NIE training! Of cos, you have to consider the fact that they're teaching pri and sec sch levels, while i'm handling grad. level. Maybe that's the difference in pay, although my friends and I have similar education levels, i.e, Bachelors.<BR/><BR/>Well, so much for the belief that'd been ingrained to us since God-knows-when that Dip holders can only teach O levels and below, Bac. holders can only teach Dip and below, MBA holders can only teach Bac. and below.<BR/><BR/>I should be grateful. :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4405345292513335071.post-91262980794628499912007-04-18T01:52:00.000+08:002007-04-18T01:52:00.000+08:00I don't think much of someone who calls others lia...I don't think much of someone who calls others liars when he sweeps his own ignorance/ lies under the carpet with disclaimers and then insists that he has got the facts right from some unnamed "authoritative" sources which can be just as dubious for the sake vested interests. <BR/><BR/>If they are telling the truth, especially in favour of the CEP, why hide behind the cover of unnamed sources?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com