Online postings made by a netizen, who claims to be a scholar in Singapore, about the level of intelligence present in local university students have irked several STOMPers, who feel that the postings reeked of arrogance.

The netizen had segregated Singaporean students into four tiers of intelligence -- the highest being students who 'are the smartest and most capable with the best portfolio and skills, (and who) usually get scholarships from the Government/GLCs to pursue their studies in top overseas universities'.

Following that were students who may not be as smart and capable as those of mentioned above but still managed to get into law and medicine degrees at NUS; students in the third tier were those who were pursuing double degrees with local university scholarships.

The least intelligent students, according to the netizen, were a combination of students who pursued a degree 'overseas in lousy schools...and other non-top instituitions' and those who merely got into a single-degree programme at one of the three local universities.

These comments were made in two forum threads -- one about the admission process for a law degree in NUS, and the other debating about the difference between universities local and foreign -- with the netizen claiming he or she was perfectly placed to comment in a thread debating about the standards between local and foreign universities as he or she 'was from a top school.'

A STOMPer, who came across these postings, felt that the netizen lacked humility and wrote:

"I recently stumbled across these two postings on a local forum which really made me think about how shallow students actually think these days.

"I am astounded by the amount of tact and emotional intelligence this particular student actually exhibits from his/her post.

"Is this an example of an excellent product of our education system? After all, he or she has been to the top schools and has been admitted to NUS law double degree under the NUS Kent Ridge scholarship for law.

"Personally, I have had the chance to meet and work with people who have strived hard under our education system only to go overseas (without any 'prestigious scholarships' in the words of this student) and graduate with a degree, followed by postgraduate degrees, and later got appointed as lecturers and tutors in the local universities.

"These are the very same people who are most probably going to be this student's lecturers in NUS.

"I'd love to remind this student that it is such intolerant attitude which brings one nowhere and does no good to anyone.

"Lastly, quoting James M. Barrie (1860-1987) -- 'Life is a long lesson in humility', and this student has a long way to go learning how to live his or her life.

Meanwhile, STOMPer Yeo was perturbed by the arrogant remarks of the netizen and wrote:

"Felt that it was very disturbing that a scholar can make such arrogant remarks.

"How can such people lead our country in the future?"