Local School fees/deposits

[rose]

My husband's company does not pay our school fees here as they say we can enrol our children in local schools.  But I know through someone else's experience that the local schools close by us (around Holland Village) are all full and apparently they aren't obligated to take non-citizens.  

I am sure that I read awhile back that local schools charge a fee/deposit to non-citizens  in order that they can attend.  And that it was quite steep - around $5000.  Does anybody know anything about this?  We need this info in order to renegotiate with the company over the school fees.  

Any help would be appreciated.

[Parent]

If you look at the "Starting Up" pages on this website and click on 'education' then you will find the info about admission procedures to local schools. From how I read it, it appears that there is a $5000 fee *per student* who isn't local, although it is $3k for Malaysians. Also it looks like the schools can pick and choose who they want to admit as they get your child to take an admissions test. I think this is because there is stiff competition amongst the Singaporeans to get their children into the "best" schools (which have to publish their results which are printed in league tables in the 'Straits Times'. I imagine that they don't want an influx of foreign kids into some schools in case their league place is affected. I don't know how you can find out which are the 'best' and less favoured schools unless you can obtain the league table - perhaps the Ministry of Education will send you a copy (although it's probably on a website somewhere). I think some schools like the independent Anglo-Chinese school or Raffles etc. you will have no chance.

 
I do know however, that one school near HV, the Henry Park school is one of those where Singaporeans compete to have their child admitted (maybe because it is in an expensive district - perhaps a school in the midst of a less exclusive area will be more willing to test an expat kid). Unlike the US or UK and I guess most countries, I get the impression that living in the schools locality does not give an automatic right to enrol your child at the nearest school to home - and I read once in the ST paper that some children leave home as early as 5.30am to get across the island on the school bus to their school! You might also want to get your company to pay for transportation if your kids are not admitted to schools within walking distance. (Lessons begin at about 7.25am and some schools have Saturday lessons too).

You will also need to check if your children are expected to have knowledge of Chinese, Malay or Tamil languages, and if they may be 'held back' an academic year etc.  

When you negotiate with your company it may be worth asking them to consider switching your children into the international schools if your children find it too unsettling and become very unhappy. (Surely it is more cost effective than have an expat going home early because the assignment is not working out). Bear in mind that class sizes in the local schools are of around 40 pupils, and you might want to check how much 'creative thinking' takes place as opposed to rote learning to pass tests. It may even be worth asking one or two headteachers in the local schools if you could be an 'observer' to see how the school operates and if you think your child would be happy there. You might find that your children are expected to have extra tuition after school or attend school in their vacations for 'extra curricular' studies, which could mean that you have fewer opportunities for visiting other countries in the region.
 

[Local School fee]

If your children have dependent passes, I don't think they need to pay 5000 dollars.  School fee is ridiculously cheap like less than 10 dollars a month.  Also, if you are a foreign student from non-mandarin speaking countries, you can be exempted from taking mandarin classes.  But your child will be so far ahead in math and science, when you return to your native country, it will be a great help.

[DaveT]

most of the Saturday classes are for remedial work targeted towards weaker students.  Some students are back for Co-curricular activities, e.g. computer club, sailing, choir practice or other such activities.

As for extra tuition, it is more a norm that teachers discourage this...but its anxious parents who enrol their kids in them in addition to music as well as ballet classes.

As for creativity, its a word that is tossed around so often most of us don't know what we are really looking for.  Rote learning has its place to build the foundation.   It is one of the necessary precursor to higher order skills.  You cannot talk about creativity if the child is still struggling with the 3Rs.  It is when rote learning continues after higher order skills such as synthesis, evaluative skills and analysis are required that we should be concerned.

Many of the test suites administered by the international TIMSS tests involves test of creativity & thinking skills.  If Singapore students can be at the top of these international tests, consistently over many years, can we still say that only rote learning takes place??  

If so much creative learning is presupposed to have taken place only in other foreign curricula, why are these international tests, administered in the U.S and involves most countries in the world did not show the results better than the Singapore Model?
   
The acid test at the end is if your child has mastered the 3 Rs and the local education new goals of creative thinking, "the ability to learn independently and continuously, and effective communication" for this new century.  Singapore schools are not resting on their laurels...her educationists & teachers are still sent to many countries to learn from them...

It is important to understand what are the real issues of sending your child to a local school - social, cultural,etc. Some of these can be easily removed by parents meeting together & also joint school projects where students have the opportunity to do their work in each others' homes.  There will be initial adjustments such as being one of the few western students. It is definitely not the issue about the quality of a local education.  If some continue to make sweeping statements about the lack of creativity in the local schools without substantiating them, it makes me wonder if this is the manner of education we had & expect in our children?

rgds

[This message has been edited by DaveT (edited 31-03-2001).]

[DaveT]

As for your child spending time during vacation in local schools, it is quite unbelievable to think that local teachers do not need rest & a vacation for themselves & their own families.  There will be the occasional vacation classes because of the need to catch up for some special tests but this isnt the norm.  

[Aceman]

Rose:

I think one place where  can get all yer answers is the Ministry of Education (MOE) located in Tanglin:

There you will have all your questions answered on :

1) fees
2) availability of places ( I think You would have to find out all the schools near your area which still takes in students before you look in the "performance league")
3) the year in school yer child would be admitted to as a continuation from whatever yer child has been doing and stuff.
4) Locations of schools eetc etc.

From there you can contact the school in detail and ask detailed questions like:

5) Extra Curriculum activities available in that school.
6) School buses / vans
7) Teacher / Pupil ratio etc etc

And any other academic based queries. I think after U have narrowed down then U may like to ask again over the message board for views between the two / three school you are looking into.

Good Luck

[DaveT]

Good & practical points Aceman.

Rose - you might want to look at their website:
http://www1.moe.edu.sg  under "Foreign student Information Service".

The new HQ is a modern tall building next to the North Buona Vista MRT Station. Its worth your while to pay them a visit if you are here already.

Its also a good idea after you shortlisted the schools to pay a visit to each, enquire about the teachers and what co curricular activities they have & if possible, visit a class in action in each school.  Some of the government aided & private schools may have more autonomy on admission numbers.

rdgs
dave

[This message has been edited by DaveT (edited 31-03-2001).]

[evehow]

Independent school fees may be higher that those of government schools.

Unfortunately I've lost touch with the educational system so I can't give you more details.  But do keep this in mind and keep a lookout as you do your research.

[DaveT]

thanks for pointing out Evehow..its Independent schools Not private schools i was referring to.  

One of the independent schools that also has boarding facilities for foreign students is ACS with an impressive list of facilities.

Try http://www.acs.sch.edu.sg/acs_indep/