Education Policy Analyst?

Mon, 16 Feb 2009
2 min read
2 Comments

I received this in my mail last week:

From: MOE PED EAS RECRUITMENT
Date: February 13, 2009 7:51:25 PM GMT+08:00
Subject: Make an Educated Choice: MOE Education Policy Analyst Recruitment

Dear NUS Alumni,

This is an exclusive preview to MOE’s recruitment of Education Policy Analysts to selected NUS Alumni.

For more information and application of this position, please visit the Ministry of Education website at http://www.moe.gov.sg/careers/eas/.

The closing date for applications is on 28 Feb 2009.

Truth be told, I’m actually quite interested in this offer, especially being where I am at this point in my life. I’m going to e-mail them to ask how it’s gonna work out for someone in my position.

One of the turn-offs so far is that the entry requirement don’t require you to possess a professional qualification in the area of education, or to have taught before in an educational institution. I find this rather strange, as I am basing this on the assumption that one needs to have some knowledge of educational pedagogy and educational reality in order to “shape the education landscape of tomorrow”, but it seems I might be wrong.

The other is seeing this line on the website:

As processing will be based on the application form, it will not be necessary for you to attach a separate resume. We regret that incomplete application forms will not be considered and only shortlisted applicants will be notified.

I’m shure this is a standard civil service policy, to reduce duplication of effort, red-tape, etc. But doesn’t it immediately disqualify people who aren’t able to fit their experiences into the requirements of the template provided in the application form? Or is that the point itself: that there is already a mould in which applicants must fit into?

If this is the case, the civil service is always going to end up with cookie-cutter versions of policy makers – something which I don’t know if it wants to achieve, given that diversity management is an important consideration in organisations today.

One of the favourite parts of my weekend:

Mon, 16 Feb 2009
1 min read
2 Comments

(Or the Lit Field Trip rather.)

Hanging out at the Fullerton Hotel, and letting the koi fish gently nibble at my fingers, then discovering that they were good-natured enough to let me pet them. The best part was when I decided to (gently) box them, and they let me do so AND then came back for more.

I think it was then that I realised that fish could make good pets, so long as they were interactive. Or perhaps humans are instantly engaged with anything that is interactive.

I was so happy with my discovery that I would’ve head-butted the fish. I don’t think they would’ve minded, seeing how good-natured they were

But I hadn’t planned on getting my head wet, so I decided against the idea, and settled for trying to get the fish to jump out of the water and nibble my fingers. I figured that since they had been rather dog-like so far, anything was worth a shot.

But head-butting would’ve been fun, wouldn’t it?