probably only delay a little...doors dont close just because you take a bit longer haha

i know someone who did post grad...still had HQ opportunities and progressing very quickly now

Based on what I've observed, the FHQ opportunity will not wait for you to finish your postgrad studies.. unfortunately you can't have your cake and eat it too, in this case.

Though I'm not in HR so I'd be happy to stand corrected on this

If you get awarded the PGS, you'll be given a HQ stint anyway (assuming you have no HQ experience). That said, it's highly competitive.

If offered FHQ, I'd also recommend taking that up first - nothing stopping you from applying for postgrad opportunities during the HQ stint!

Meet with RO to talk about world load = immediate CEP review? What kind of fear mongering is this? CEP changes likely goes outside the school to be approved. What makes you think some RO has so much say to do all this.

Nowhere did it say that it's an immediate CEP review, nowhere did it say that the RO has the individual power to lower your CEP.

However, in a highly competitive school where many young go-getters are vying for career advancement, you can bet that if any of them express to their ROs or any member(s) of the panel that they cannot take the heat, they are going to be sidelined over the next few RnP cycles.

Don't forget nowadays most of the new intakes are scholars. Most of them come with certain levels of motivation to progress in their career.

Again, 1 conversation with RO = sidelined over the next few RnP cycles? People shouldn't be afraid to have honest conversations with your RO. This kind of advice perpetuates fear which is unhelpful.
Nowadays most new intakes are scholars? If everyone is a scholar, then no one is a scholar.

When everyone in the intake is a scholar, the one who falls behind the rest, will get less priority for opportunities.

Demand and supply applies here. When many people are fighting for the limited quotas, any sort of mistake is a good reason for decision makers to exclude them from the competition.

Don't give others a good reason to eliminate you from the race.

Not fear mongering. Just common sense.

Think of how teachers choose the head prefects or student council chairperson.

The process is not so different after all

It is precisely because everyone has the mental frame and attitude of a scholar that the competition to stand out from one's peers is so cut-throat. Everyone works extremely hard. The first one to show weakness will lag behind their peers.

In an ideal situation, everyone who is tired and overworked (actually, just everyone) says something about the workload, and this leads to systemic change. Unfortunately you can't avoid market spoilers who are willing to make crushing sacrifices for career advancement, and if the rest of the pack want to keep up, they have to show that they can keep up.

Shouldn't be afraid is correct, in an ideal world.

But are you in touch with what actually happens on the ground? Maybe your own school does this well: kudos to you and your colleagues. It's not the same everywhere though.

Perhaps the saddest part about this whole thing is that if you want to ascend to a position with enough power to change this stupid culture, you have to first succeed and thrive in this system.