FOUR out of 19 permanent secretaries are 'non-scholars'.

Public Service Commission (PSC) chairman Eddie Teo discloses this to dispel the myth that only scholars get the top jobs.

'I'd like to think the reason the majority of the permanent secretaries are scholars is that it's a result of a correct system of recruitment by PSC,' he says.

'And proper, accurate nurturing and promotion by the Public Service Division, and not a bias in favour of scholars.'

The four non-scholars who are now helming ministries entered the civil service without PSC undergraduate scholarships. This, says Mr Teo, is 'proof that even non-scholars can reach the top'.

They are: Mr Niam Chiang Meng, Mr Bilahari Kausikan, Mr Ravi Menon and Ms Yeoh Chee Yan.

Among them, Mr Menon had even been rejected by PSC when he applied for a scholarship after his A levels. He said so in an earlier interview.

Still, the four performed well in their jobs and were eventually absorbed into the elite Administrative Service.

With the exception of Mr Niam, the other three are second permanent secretaries in ministries. The only other second permanent secretary is the Finance Ministry's Peter Ong. But he holds another portfolio as the Ministry of Trade and Industry's (MTI) Permanent Secretary.

Mr Teo says it is 'purely coincidental' that three non-scholars are in the second spot. 'All three will assume permanent secretary posts eventually.'

Ms Yeoh, 47, became the Second Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education (MOE) this year; Mr Menon, 44, at MTI last year; and Mr Kausikan, 54, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) in 2001.

Mr Niam, 50, moved directly to the post of permanent secretary in 1997, and now heads the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS).

Mr Teo dismisses perceptions that scholar civil servants are placed on the fast track.

'Their careers are not predetermined by their academic base. Their promotions are based on potential and performance, like all other civil servants - scholars or non-scholars,' he says.

'When permanent secretaries meet every year to rank the top-tier civil servants, they never look at whether they are scholars or non-scholars.'

He adds that Administrative Officers do leave the civil service, especially when times are good.

Last year, when the economy was booming, 13 quit. They made up 5.5 per cent of the Administrative Service.

'The total for this year and next year will be far less,' he predicts.

This article was first published in The Straits Times on 1 Dec, 2008.