Tuition centers should not force parents to accept digital learning at full fees.
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Agreed. All of SG (yes including us parents) were caught off-guard by this sudden suspension.
Can’t we just pause, take a break and let the kids take a break & understand that this is a temporary suspension for the time being? And WHY it is being suspended (we are fighting a bigger war against the virus!)
Give us a chance to catch our breath for goodness sake!
There’s no emergency need to RUSH into rolling out the online e-learning platforms. It is not middle of exam time for goodness sake! Now your teachers and parents are all scrambling to figure out your e-learning platform on behalf of the kids (secondary school they can figure out on their own).
Maybe tiny numbers would blame u for some gap in learning of a few days/1 week, but now you have made ALL your customers unhappy with how fast you have made this emergency rollout and changed our contract terms suddenly, not an equitable arrangement for the customers or your employees at all. -
Can parents petition and bring this matter to CASE?
It is not just learning lab but majority of the tuition centres!
The hotline is forever very hot and can’t get through at all!
Tuitions are good to have but not essential. I am perfectly fine to stop 2-3 months for my children but there is no option to opt out! -
I m just a parent, no relation to education industry. The situation seems to imply that this covid will be around until dec 2020 at the very least, or longer.
If this is tuition centres and their staff main income avenue, not supplementary, they cannot survive for a whole year of no income situation. So they have to assume lessons continue online but expect reduction as some parents pull out.
Difficult times now -
Just a benchmark…the sports enrichment centers have all willingly taken a break due to the suspension. They informed us parents accordingly. We can all understand and accept that. I don’t ask for refund because I will just leave the existing funds there to be used for makeup lessons in future when they resume.
Music lessons also, M has backtracked & agreed that online lessons are simply not the same thing as in-person lessons, we can now choose to makeup later on if we want.
Tuition centres should follow this benchmark. Not force themselves to “stay open” albeit online and then force parents to continue paying for an online service.
Just for ref, there are a multitude of tutors doing solely online tuition. And they charge a mere fraction of what these expensive tuition centers are charging. Dirt cheap. If we had wanted online tuition, we would have signed up for those ages ago. -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968913\" time=\"1585366750\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968913 time=1585366750 user_id=53606]
I see. Thanks for sharing. I don't have have reference, because ours are private enrichment and no tuition.
Just a benchmark...the sports enrichment centers have all willingly taken a break due to the suspension. They informed us parents accordingly. We can all understand and accept that. I don’t ask for refund because I will just leave the existing funds there to be used for makeup lessons in future when they resume.
Music lessons also, M has backtracked & agreed that online lessons are simply not the same thing as in-person lessons, we can now choose to makeup later on if we want.
Tuition centres should follow this benchmark. Not force themselves to “stay open” albeit online and then force parents to continue paying for an online service.
Just for ref, there are a multitude of tutors doing solely online tuition. And they charge a mere fraction of what these expensive tuition centers are charging. Dirt cheap. If we had wanted online tuition, we would have signed up for those ages ago.[/quote]
That's good to know. -
Furthermore government already assisting companies with grants and they should be passing the savings back to parents. We are not asking for free e-lessons but you can’t be charging us the same as regular classes. Be reasonable, as parents, we are incurring additional electricity and miscellaneous cost too. Some parents are also out of job and may not be able to afford paying the tuition fee anymore.
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zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968913\" time=\"1585366750\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968913 time=1585366750 user_id=53606]
Precisely! If I want online classes for my children, I would have signed up long time ago. They are so cheap, only like 20% of the normal tuition fee.
Just a benchmark...the sports enrichment centers have all willingly taken a break due to the suspension. They informed us parents accordingly. We can all understand and accept that. I don’t ask for refund because I will just leave the existing funds there to be used for makeup lessons in future when they resume.
Music lessons also, M has backtracked & agreed that online lessons are simply not the same thing as in-person lessons, we can now choose to makeup later on if we want.
Tuition centres should follow this benchmark. Not force themselves to “stay open” albeit online and then force parents to continue paying for an online service.
Just for ref, there are a multitude of tutors doing solely online tuition. And they charge a mere fraction of what these expensive tuition centers are charging. Dirt cheap. If we had wanted online tuition, we would have signed up for those ages ago.[/quote]
CASE should step in now. It is really getting out of control. -
Just sharing my case. I happen to withdraw from a certain tuition centre the weekend before the news came out. At first they decided that those who had withdrawn shall not be entitled to the 50 per cent discount despite having to attend online lesson for next 3 weeks. Then yesterday they called me and told me I cannot even attend online lesson. Instead, I can only attend physical lessons at the centre in May if government allows reopening of tuition centre. They further added that even those who withdrew these few days will not be allowed to attend online lesson for the whole month of April as they do not think we should be allowed to the discount at all. Instead they will only allow us to make up in May. So, better check with the tuition centre on their policy before you decide to withdraw after trying the online lesson this weekend, as they may want to ‘lock you in’ till end May actually although technically if we give one month’s notice by 31 March, we supposedly can end our lessons by end April. I am too tired to argue with them though I felt this is not very fair. I am just glad that I can teach and stand in for one month just before sa1 in May as obviously to this tuition centre, student’s welfare is not their priority.
Sharing here so that you all will not be in the same situation as me, especially if after attending this weekend’s online lesson and you don’t find it good and decides to quit, it may not be so easy to quit afterall. Better check with each tuition centre their policy for withdrawal in the month of April as each centre may impose different terms and conditions. -
Thanks for sharing, FLD、 fellow forummers...
[IMG]http://www.sherv.net/cm/emoticons/thanks/thank-you-glitter-smiley-emoticon.gif[/IMG]
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It’s about time for Straits Times, Xin Ming and Wan Bao to blow it big! Make those tuition centres “famous” overnight.
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zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968913\" time=\"1585366750\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968913 time=1585366750 user_id=53606]
How abt those kids who hv registered for grade practical exam?
Just a benchmark...the sports enrichment centers have all willingly taken a break due to the suspension. They informed us parents accordingly. We can all understand and accept that. I don’t ask for refund because I will just leave the existing funds there to be used for makeup lessons in future when they resume.
Music lessons also, M has backtracked & agreed that online lessons are simply not the same thing as in-person lessons, we can now choose to makeup later on if we want.
Tuition centres should follow this benchmark. Not force themselves to “stay open” albeit online and then force parents to continue paying for an online service.
Just for ref, there are a multitude of tutors doing solely online tuition. And they charge a mere fraction of what these expensive tuition centers are charging. Dirt cheap. If we had wanted online tuition, we would have signed up for those ages ago.[/quote] -
6thisnthat9\" post_id=\"1968935\" time=\"1585376211\" user_id=\"145858:
Most of the March practicals have been concluded already. The remaining ones have been cancelled by ABRSM UK.
How abt those kids who hv registered for grade practical exam?[/quote]zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968913\" time=\"1585366750\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968913 time=1585366750 user_id=53606]Just a benchmark...the sports enrichment centers have all willingly taken a break due to the suspension. They informed us parents accordingly. We can all understand and accept that. I don’t ask for refund because I will just leave the existing funds there to be used for makeup lessons in future when they resume.
Music lessons also, M has backtracked & agreed that online lessons are simply not the same thing as in-person lessons, we can now choose to makeup later on if we want.
Tuition centres should follow this benchmark. Not force themselves to “stay open” albeit online and then force parents to continue paying for an online service.
Just for ref, there are a multitude of tutors doing solely online tuition. And they charge a mere fraction of what these expensive tuition centers are charging. Dirt cheap. If we had wanted online tuition, we would have signed up for those ages ago.
The July-August practical season has also been suspended (registration supposed to start on 6 April). Seems like cancelled at UK HQ.
So likely no more practicals for this year. And theory exam also unclear whether October theory will proceed or not. March theory was cancelled. -
So would you all go for a music lesson that’s conducted via online means?
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Serendipity\" post_id=\"1968939\" time=\"1585379105\" user_id=\"9658:
Not for violin.
So would you all go for a music lesson that's conducted via online means?
As it is, I regularly send videos to the violin teacher via WhatsApp, upon her request, so that she can check on kid’s progress during the week whenever he practices.
There are difficulties in the feedback & absorption/learning process via video.
She cannot observe all the angles correctly (neither can I keep moving around while filming for her to check LH fingering, check leg stance, check RH bow grip, zoom in to check vibrato etc etc). Sound quality is also an issue when recording/transmitting via phone. “Live” transmission would be worse cos dependent on WiFi speed. -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968946\" time=\"1585382144\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968946 time=1585382144 user_id=53606]
How do you keep your child continue practising without lessons? Even without exam, the finger muscle will loss memory through time, without keeping up w practice.Serendipity\" post_id=\"1968939\" time=\"1585379105\" user_id=\"9658:
Not for violin.So would you all go for a music lesson that's conducted via online means?
As it is, I regularly send videos to the violin teacher via WhatsApp, upon her request, so that she can check on kid’s progress during the week whenever he practices.
There are difficulties in the feedback & absorption/learning process via video.
She cannot observe all the angles correctly (neither can I keep moving around while filming for her to check LH fingering, check leg stance, check RH bow grip, zoom in to check vibrato etc etc). Sound quality is also an issue when recording/transmitting via phone. “Live” transmission would be worse cos dependent on WiFi speed.[/quote] -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968946\" time=\"1585382144\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968946 time=1585382144 user_id=53606]
What about for instruments like piano? Hmm...Serendipity\" post_id=\"1968939\" time=\"1585379105\" user_id=\"9658:
Not for violin.So would you all go for a music lesson that's conducted via online means?
As it is, I regularly send videos to the violin teacher via WhatsApp, upon her request, so that she can check on kid’s progress during the week whenever he practices.
There are difficulties in the feedback & absorption/learning process via video.
She cannot observe all the angles correctly (neither can I keep moving around while filming for her to check LH fingering, check leg stance, check RH bow grip, zoom in to check vibrato etc etc). Sound quality is also an issue when recording/transmitting via phone. “Live” transmission would be worse cos dependent on WiFi speed.[/quote] -
There are normally 8-9 students in my eldest son’s regular class. E-learning class suddenly become almost 20 students! Paying the same fee and so many more students? This is really unacceptable!
Tuition centres can really do what they like because there is no watchdog?
It is really sad that we can’t do anything and can only give in. -
6thisnthat9\" post_id=\"1968949\" time=\"1585383693\" user_id=\"145858:
How do you keep your child continue practising without lessons? Even without exam, the finger muscle will loss memory through time, without keeping up w practice.[/quote]He practices regularly anyway. Even in those weeks we skipped in-person lessons (Eg. when he was sick, busy with school exams, teacher on holiday), he still continues practising his scales and arpeggios, old pieces and new pieces. What he cannot do on his own is to learn a totally new piece himself. This needs the teacher to demonstrate & go thru with him the important points first.
Not for violin.zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968946\" time=\"1585382144\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968946 time=1585382144 user_id=53606]
So would you all go for a music lesson that's conducted via online means?
As it is, I regularly send videos to the violin teacher via WhatsApp, upon her request, so that she can check on kid’s progress during the week whenever he practices.
There are difficulties in the feedback & absorption/learning process via video.
She cannot observe all the angles correctly (neither can I keep moving around while filming for her to check LH fingering, check leg stance, check RH bow grip, zoom in to check vibrato etc etc). Sound quality is also an issue when recording/transmitting via phone. “Live” transmission would be worse cos dependent on WiFi speed.
We are fine even if exams are cancelled. Teacher doesn’t only teach him exam pieces. We do plenty of other pieces and also special requests like Chinese pop songs etc. -
zac's mum\" post_id=\"1968954\" time=\"1585384570\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968954 time=1585384570 user_id=53606]
He practices regularly anyway. Even in those weeks we skipped in-person lessons (Eg. when he was sick, busy with school exams, teacher on holiday), he still continues practising his scales and arpeggios, old pieces and new pieces. What he cannot do on his own is to learn a totally new piece himself. This needs the teacher to demonstrate & go thru with him the important points first.6thisnthat9\" post_id=\"1968949\" time=\"1585383693\" user_id=\"145858:
How do you keep your child continue practising without lessons? Even without exam, the finger muscle will loss memory through time, without keeping up w practice.[/quote][quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1968946 time=1585382144 user_id=53606]
Not for violin.
As it is, I regularly send videos to the violin teacher via WhatsApp, upon her request, so that she can check on kid’s progress during the week whenever he practices.
There are difficulties in the feedback & absorption/learning process via video.
She cannot observe all the angles correctly (neither can I keep moving around while filming for her to check LH fingering, check leg stance, check RH bow grip, zoom in to check vibrato etc etc). Sound quality is also an issue when recording/transmitting via phone. “Live” transmission would be worse cos dependent on WiFi speed.
We are fine even if exams are cancelled. Teacher doesn’t only teach him exam pieces. We do plenty of other pieces and also special requests like Chinese pop songs etc.[/quote]Yes. Agree. But to do everything the same for 5 weeks or more, will be challenging, no?