Public Schools

[BrenOls67]

My husband has been offered a job in Singapore. We are currently in WA, USA. I am interseted in any information about sending my 2 daughters, 12 and 9, to public/local schools vs. private schools. Are there many expats in public schools, is the curriculum hard to adjust to, any info would be great!!

[expat parent]

For starters, public school is way cheaper than private school. Even you can afford, you have to content with the waitlist of the private school. Expats will be given least priorities when they are applying their kids to public school. This is in regard to a slot in the school the expats are applying. Hence, it could end up the kids in a school with normal reputation but  far .

[Superior Person]

Localschools are for localsand paid by locals. Priority willbe given to locals. Expats , especially those fromthe West and Australia,have always adopted the idea that seperation is best (plus the fact that what is taught in our schools are useless to life in the West) as they do not wish to be associated or seen associated with the locals. In which case, this right to exlusion is respected. Please do not apply to our local schools as we do not cater to your child. Go to your expat Schools AND PAY THEIR FEES.   

[In the pink]

Localschools are for localsand paid by locals. Priority willbe given to locals. Expats , especially those fromthe West and Australia,have always adopted the idea that seperation is best (plus the fact that what is taught in our schools are useless to life in the West) as they do not wish to be associated or seen associated with the locals. In which case, this right to exlusion is respected. Please do not apply to our local schools as we do not cater to your child. Go to your expat Schools AND PAY THEIR FEES.   

Au contraire my blinkered friend.

I know a number of expat families (including Australians) who for one reason or another have chosen Singapore public schools, for their children, over the international version. Without exception the experience has been positive.

Head out of sand, etc.

[recent information]

Localschools are for localsand paid by locals. Priority willbe given to locals. Expats , especially those fromthe West and Australia,have always adopted the idea that seperation is best (plus the fact that what is taught in our schools are useless to life in the West) as they do not wish to be associated or seen associated with the locals. In which case, this right to exlusion is respected. Please do not apply to our local schools as we do not cater to your child. Go to your expat Schools AND PAY THEIR FEES.   

You're talking out of the wrong orifice.  Many expats sending their kids to local schools these days because international are expensive and hard to get into.  I know expat kids who've grown up in the local school system and many who've gone on to do NS too.  It sounds to me like you were at school many decades ago because you don't seem very clued up on what is going on right now.

[Dear Superior Person...]

With all due respect, why are you on an expat message board? this is a forum for EXPATS, not locals.


If you can afford to send your chid to an International school, I think it is the best option. On the other hand, if if is not included in your package, or you don't wish to pay a forutne for elementary school I think the local system is sufice.

[Dr. Phil]

Localschools are for localsand paid by locals. Priority willbe given to locals. Expats , especially those fromthe West and Australia,have always adopted the idea that seperation is best (plus the fact that what is taught in our schools are useless to life in the West) as they do not wish to be associated or seen associated with the locals. In which case, this right to exlusion is respected. Please do not apply to our local schools as we do not cater to your child. Go to your expat Schools AND PAY THEIR FEES.    

I say, how damned rude!  
I'm going to report you to UWC. Just you wait!  
UWC (RIC) Please respond. 

[gettingold]

With all due respect, why are you on an expat message board? this is a forum for EXPATS, not locals.

because it's probably an expat trolling

[In the Pink]

The response has been equally blinkered. Expats trash, have always made it a point to make it clear that they do not want to have anything to do with the locals or be seen in a local school. Looking at the response from this thread and you will know the sentiments reinforces my statements. My view, expat trash should not mix with locals. I see no need to get into local schools if in the first place, most expat trash have little respect or regard,except where it is to save money and cut short waiting time. So, get lost and go back to where you came from, that way, there will be less bitching and bellyaching from the expat trash community.   

[Dr. Phil]

Well most Expats I know send their children to private schools because their employers are prepared to pay the fees. These Expats do not come from such a rarefied world that other ethnicities are conspicuous, unless its inner-city England.  

The mischief is in the interpretation from one or two on this thread.

When parents discuss the merits of schools in Singapore they are talking primarily about the quality of education, then access (to schools and also daily logistics) and affordability.

MNCs are probably encouraged to offer Expats school fees because they appreciate that it is unfair for many Expats to compete for local school places, notwithstanding the quality of education in Singapore is far higher than any UK schools, fee-paying or otherwise and proximity to more local children is in itself another valuable tier of experience for Expat children who will pick up language, dialect, customs, humor etc far quicker and meaningfully than if they were taught in a classroom.
They also make friends...these are children, remember.
  
But locals should also bear in mind many parents not in receipt of generous school fee allowances are finding double-digit inflation erodes what fees they have available and its only a matter of time before the option of private schools is closed.
Inflation in Singapore is generated primarily by locals who set prices; we never see prices fall as we now see the barrel of oil falling.  

Also, not all price increases are inevitable increases which must be passed on to consumers. There is a generous and naturally flowing adherence to that free market adage "charge what the market will bear".
Or if you are liberal, "squeeze until the pips squeak".  

[Doubting thomas]

Many expats, especially from Europe, Australia,NZ, Canada, USA have on many occassions commented on this forum that they find locals disdainful and disgusting (or using words to that effect). That is the kind of bloody minded prejudice that is common amongst expats, especially those from the West ( Australia and New Zealand included as they consider themselves part of the West). If you dislike and have a disdain for the locals, best that you lot have nothing to do with the locals, whatsoever. In which case, there is no compelling need to interact with the locals at all levels. Therefore, there is no need to stay here, at all. Best to pack up and go.

Local schools are far more superior to western schools in many respects. For one, you get far less prejudice, hate, violence and substance abuse when compared in a western state school (public school have their own brand of issues as well). What Phil has said about acceptance is WITH DUE RESPECT,rubbish as children learn their prejudices and disdain from their parents. Judging from the commentary thus far, it only confirms that behaviour PATTERNS have not change but the economics and ability to pay for a education by expats has. Local schools may be a choice in view of changed finances. Certainly, attitudes and prejudices of Expats  have not change.             

[In the Pink]

To Phil, making the customer pay what he or she can afford is totoally acceptable as it is a western notion that is not not preached but bandied as the acceptable way in the West. U cannot complain about here in Singapore as what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. 

[Charles Balls]

If your employer cannot afford to pay for expat education, you are not worth the money and not really talanted.The only reason they sent you is either they could not get anyone to go or they want to get rid of you or they need somebody who shares a similar origin to police the job.

[Dr. Phil]

To Phil, making the customer pay what he or she can afford is totoally acceptable as it is a western notion that is not not preached but bandied as the acceptable way in the West. U cannot complain about here in Singapore as what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. 

Pinkie, as a local you're being a little disingenuous. 
 
You want to run with the foxes and hunt with the hounds. Can't do both.

If "charging what the market will bear" (and indeed all other economic theories across the spectrum to communism) is "western" its because there are no "eastern" theories. 

And in the west we have something called "consumer protection" which helps avoid excesses and redresses any imbalances. Of course closed shops still exist especially among the English judicial system, but so too in the "east".

[In the pink]

To Phil, making the customer pay what he or she can afford is totoally acceptable as it is a western notion that is not not preached but bandied as the acceptable way in the West. U cannot complain about here in Singapore as what is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. 

Hey jerk. if you're intent on using this moniker then the least you can do is get your spelling and grammar in order. Oh, and ease up on the Red Bulls will you.