Who's to Blame?

Disclaimer:
To those whom I know who have chose to stay, I wish you all the best, and I respect your choice. The following is my opinion on how things ought to be done, ethically, and with a conscience.
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It's the time of the year again. Universities are having their Summer Graduation ceremonies in a couple of weeks time.

And as expected 439823958 of our sponsored graduates would choose not to return home but continue working overseas.

Yes, I readily, willingly and openly admit my utter annoyance and disdain towards the selfishness of such individuals. And I can't (and haven't) ranted enough about it.

The doctrine of freedom of contract rightly holds that a contract is only valid subject to the presence of free consent between parties who entered into the said agreement. So, the claims of you being 'forced to return' to serve the country doesn't stand. You signed your 'freedom' away, so to speak. You agreed, pledged and sworn that you would return to your country upon completion of your studies. You begged and pleaded for a scholarship (In English: attempted to impress the interviewers) with an unwavering promise that "Saya akan balik dan berkhidmat untuk negara". And look now, where are you!

You can't have the best of both worlds folks! You want a sponsored education and are NOT WILLING TO PERFORM YOUR END OF THE BARGAIN! If so, do the right thing and repay back what your sponsors have spent on you.

And I must emphasise, the fact that you scored a string of A1s in your SPM exams does not accord you a divine right towards the 'conferment' of a scholarship. You are just 'tad luckier than many others who missed out on an 'insignificant' A in subjects like P.Moral or History and as a result were not given a scholarship. It is your privilege to be a sponsored student, and appreciate that fact. Do not gloat over it, as it is not something very great these days. Academic results are worth nothing but a piece of paper out in the world. And who cares that you were a scholarship holder in the dog-eat-dog world out there. You've perhaps had your moment of glory when the results were announced, and when the scholarship offer letter arrived. Those days are long gone, and you must stop banking on 'past glory' and land back on Earth with a loud *thud*.

At this point, I must emphasise that I have no problems with self-sponsored students who choose to remain and work overseas, and/or scholarship holders who have gone the 'ethical way' i.e. those who chose to work overseas BUT HAVE REPAID their debts!

Shame on those who chose not to return AND defaulted on their loans or breached their scholarship agreements.

Come back and report to your benefactors upon completion of your studies. It's your duty and call! Should you have done so and have not received any reply from them, you may rightfully claim that they don't need your services anymore. But well, this would rarely happen especially for those doing the so-called 'critical courses' (you know what I'm talking about).

You can't have your cake and eat it too, people! Wake up!

Should we blame the sponsors for their inactions? Or should are the sponsored students to blame?

Fewer sponsored students returning = Lesser man power
Higher number of scholarship defaulters = Increase in the amount of 'wasted expenses' in sponsoring such ungrateful students.

Well, that's my 2 cents worth from the narrowed world (fishbowl) of mine.

Suck it up and do your end of the bargain!
No free lunch, mate! In your dreams, maybe...

-LV-