A12 ● Home TheSundayTimes | Sunday,August12,2018 From worst Top banker in class to didn’t make cut principal of for JC or poly design school

TAN KAH CHYE

MARK PHOOI O-level results in 1980: Three Bs, two Cs , one D and one credit. O-Level results in 1978: One B, one Now: Entrepreneur and top banker C, three Ds, one E and one credit. He sat the paper a total of four Entrepreneur Tan Kah Chye times, doing badly every time. failed his O-level English exami- Now: Principal of design school nation and did not make it to junior college or polytechnic. The last time he stood on his sec- But the “late developer” even- ondary school stage as a student, tually became one of the top he was being punished for cheat- bankers in the world and has ing in an exam, never mind that gone on to start global fintech he still ended up at the bottom of firm CCRManager. his cohort. “Naturally, I was devastated... I A few years ago, Mr Mark was rather lost as to what I Phooi, who went on to become a should do next,” said 54-year- millionaire, was invited to speak old Mr Tan, who later put on the stage of his alma mater – himself through school in formerly Technical Sec- Canada by selling vacuum clean- ondary School and now known ers and encyclopaedias. as Tanglin Secondary School – A student’s score at one point on how failure at a young age intimedoes not necessarily guar- does not mean the end of the antee success in future, he world. added, notingthat the path a per- Mr Phooi, 56, took his O levels son has taken is more important. four times – three as a private Mr Tan, who also served as candidate. But he failed to get chairman of the International into a polytechnic like his peers. Chamber of Commerce Banking “Thefirst timeI failedmyO lev- Commission, added that Singa- els, I got two credits in Chinese poreneeds todevelop morewell- and history,” said the self- rounded people – particularly in confessed late bloomer, who areas such as critical thinking started design agency Lancer and communication – to be com- Design at age 27 and made his petitivein the job market. first million five years later. “As a country, we are already “There was a lot of disappoint- Mr Mark Phooi, 56, holding up his 1978 GCE O-level certificate. He later earned Mr Tan Kah Chye with his GCE O-level results. The “late developer” eventually doing very well in the hard sub- ment because I had nowhere to a master’s degree in design. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID became one of the top bankers in the world. ST PHOTO: TIMOTHY DAVID jects. Now, we need to place go. I had to go out to work at the greater focus on the soft skills,” age of 16. he said. “Education was the only way to do well at the time. It was the Calvin Yang pathway to a better future.” He took on factory jobs and THE CASE FOR worked as a swimming coach, but the ambition to get into a polytechnic prompted him to re- take the national exam as a pri- vate candidate three more times. The affable Mr Phooi, the fourth of five children, whose LATE BLOOMERS parents worked as labourers, eventually graduated with a diploma in applied arts from the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts in his late 20s, and later earned a master’s degree in design from the University of New South Wales in Australia. Last month, Education Minister proposed a review of the use of O-level This “worst student” later went on to be the founder – and results in university admission of poly graduates as it could exclude late bloomers Mr Joshua Soh now proudly wears principal – of private design from entry. Calvin Yang speaks to four who did poorly at the O levels but excelled later his “repeat student” tag as a badge school First Media Design of honour. TNP FILE PHOTO School. in life. Success after failure, they say, is entirely possible. “My experiences have helped COO’s valuable me understand those who are late bloomers. I can feel for this He managed only a D7 grade for (NUS) or Nanyang Technological dle at all in scoring a candidate.” lesson from group of people who are lost,” he O-level English and failed to make University (NTU). The applicant Rather, employers look for non- said. the cut for junior college, yet MP would have a composite univer- academic cues, such as a person’s resitting exam Instead of placing minimum – who eventually sity admission score used to evalu- attitude and response to different academic requirements, his took the polytechnic route – ate him or her, of which 20 per scenarios during interviews, and school only requires prospective worked his way up to become a cent is made up of the applicant’s “not the O-level As or Bs”, said Mr students to have 10 years of ba- senior bank executive. O-level results and 80 per cent Leong. JOSHUA SOH sic education and a good com- The MP for Holland-Bukit comes from the grade point aver- O-level results: 21 points on first mand of English. Shortlisted can- Timah GRC admits spending age, or GPA, achieved at the poly- COMPETENCY IN OTHER AREAS didates undergo an interview more time as a teenager catching technic. Jalan Besar GRC MP , try, and 12 on second attempt and sit a test to assess if they spiders and fish from the stream Observers have called for a re- who heads the Government Parlia- Now: Chief operating officer at have a creative spark. near his family’s rented Wood- view of this, arguing that the mentary Committee for Educa- venture studio Nogle Limited “This school gives a second lands house than reading English weightage of the O levels should tion, said: “For too long, academic chance to those who do not do books. be reduced further or done away results alone have been the proxy Having to resit his O levels was a well but have a passion for art,” That likely explains his low with entirely. to determine one’s suitability for humbling experience for tech- he said. grade for the subject, but his drive Mr Ong said: “A practice like higher studies. But if you were opt- nology high-flier Joshua Soh, Mr Phooi believes the O levels saw him graduate with a civil engi- this will raise the stakes of O-level ing for performing arts or design, who went on to become tech gi- should not matter much in uni- neering diploma from exams. This sends the signal that thenthe weightage of skillsand ap- ant Cisco Systems’ managing di- versity applications. Polytechnic and later a commerce the results of this exam have long- titude ought to be much higher rector for Singapore and Brunei. “If we can pay more attention degree from the University of lasting impact on your life. Per- MP Liang Eng Hwa, who had failed than the theory.” MrSoh, now chief operating of- to matching talent with the Melbourne. haps, it is time to review it.” to make the cut for junior college, But some challenges may arise. ficer atventure studio Nogle Lim- course, it would save students a No wonder then that the In comparison, students seek- receiving his civil engineering Universities will need to think ited, struggled atSt Joseph’sInsti- lot of headache,” he said. 54-year-old was introduced by ing university admission through diploma from Singapore about how to assess polytechnic tution, particularly with Chinese Prime Minister the junior college route are evalu- Polytechnic. He would later become applicants when the course they and maths. Hescored21 pointson Calvin Yang as a “poly comeback kid” ahead of ated on their A-level results. a senior bank executive. would like to pursue is different his first O-level attempt, sohe de- the 2006 General Election. PHOTO: COURTESY OF LIANG ENG HWA from what they read in polytech- cided toresit the national exam. “I was sort of a late bloomer aca- ONE-THIRD ARE POLY GRADS nic, said NUS lecturer Kelvin Seah. “I had to eat a huge humble pie HEARTACHE demically, far from the straight As About a third of local university He cited a business information when I returned as a repeat stu- type... althoughI did well in mathe- students admitted last year were In recent years, the technology diploma holder who dent. However, that year was The first time I failed matics and science subjects. I did polytechnic graduates, the Educa- education system, which plans to study law in university. such an incredible journey of my O levels, I got two much better in polytechnic as the tion Ministry told The Sunday has had a reputation for “Currently, universities will be self-discovery. I realised I could more applied curriculum in poly- Times. This is up from about a able to assess if this student would achieve anything, if I set my credits in Chinese technic suited me well,” Mr Liang quarter in 2012. being overly focused on be a good fit for law, since they mind to it,” the 49-year-old said. and history... There told The Sunday Times, as he sup- In separate replies, NUS and book smarts, has been would be able to base their deci- It took him six years to get ported a suggestion by Education NTU said their admission criteria changing at every level... sions on things such as his O-level through secondary school – five was a lot of Minister Ong Ye Kung to review may be reviewed. English score,” Dr Seah noted. years in the Normal (Academic) disappointment the scores some universities use But not all local universities have But shifting mindsets “And we know that performing stream and one extra year as a re- because I had to decide admission of polytech- the 20 per cent O-level criterion. away from the relentless well in business IT is no guarantee peat student. He scored 12 points nic graduates. “Often, I do find For instance, Singapore Manage- pursuit of academic for performing well in law since on his second try and was posted nowhere to go. I had some students who may not have ment University provost Lily Kong the skill sets are quite different.” to Catholic Junior College. He done well in their O levels but ex- said the institution has a “holistic grades still remains a In recent years, the education went on to study English lan- to go out to work at cel in the polytechnics.” admissions framework” that looks challenge. system, which has had a reputa- guage and literature at the Na- the age of 16. Mr Liang, who did not apply to at an applicant’s polytechnic GPA tion for being overly focused on tional University of Singapore, local universities then as he knew and not O-level results. book smarts, has been changing at but left before graduating to he could not get in, backed having Past O-level scores should have every level – from primary workat a techstart-up. a less rigid admission criteria so no bearing on future perfor- schools to the tertiary level. For in- He now proudly wears his “re- that polytechnic graduates – even mance, say observers. stance, tertiary institutions have peat student”tag asa badge of hon- MR MARK PHOOI, recalling his first if they do not do well in past na- Ms Linda Teo, country manager views, especially when an appli- expandedtheir aptitude-basedad- our wheneverheshareshis educa- ’’O-level failure. tional examinations – can have at ManpowerGroup Singapore, cant has a higher qualification. missions. tion story: “That lesson from re- the opportunity to study at univer- said: “One’s O-level results are an In reality, few employers will But shifting mindsets away peating myO levelshas helpedme sity. During his time, the criteria indicator of the individual’s ask to see O-level results. from the relentless pursuit of aca- manytimes ... I learnt that withre- for polytechnic graduates were academic ability at that point in MrDavid Leong, managingdirec- demic grades still remains a chal- silience, determination and focus, more stringent, with fewer places time, and not necessarily a truere- tor of PeopleWorldwide Consult- lenge. failure isonlytemporary.” set aside in universities here. flection of the individual’s apti- ing, said the formality is merely to Mr Paul Heng, managing direc- When interviewing job appli- Last month, Mr Ong pointed out tude and potential.” In a rapidly check that applicants have gone tor of NeXT Career Consulting cants now, he does not look at O- the role O-level results play in the changing economy, those “with through basic education. Group, noted: “Much as we would level results. “I think it’s odd for a admission process for such gradu- the right mix of skills will be in de- Even then, employers are un- like to do away with an emphasis job applicant to state his O-level ates. mand, regardless of their aca- likely to scrutinise the scores, he on academic results, it will take a results because no matter how Take, for example, a polytech- demic results”. added. “Even if it is one of the while for this to actually happen.” stellar... they do not reflect if this nic graduate applying to enter the Manpower experts said O-level tick-box requirements, the O- applicant is able to contribute to National University of Singapore results matter little in job inter- level score will not move the nee- [email protected] the success of the organisation.”

Calvin Yang