Living in Singapore
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lee_yl\" post_id=\"2131814\" time=\"1711950372\" user_id=\"17023:
For the bond, it is not only money problem, it also involves \"Integrity\". When you accept the scholarship with the bond, you are promising to serve the Government for 6 years because tax payers are paying for your overseas education. If you are not sure whether you are willing to serve the Government after graduation, then don't take the money lah. Even your parents can afford to pay and break the bond, it is already a break of contract. If you don't have a good reason for breaking the bond (your promise), who would like to employ such person?
Sounds logical but the irony is, Mr K’s parents probably had no money to help him break bond that’s why he had to endure 6yrs doing something he didn’t really enjoy and likely got burnt out early. This is unlike the pastry girl whose parents can afford to help her break bond. -
Found these financial aids info on RI website:
https://www.ri.edu.sg/admissions/fees-and-financial-aid
Saw these paragraphs
if you are a Singaporean consideringy RI but are concerned that costs may be an issue, rest assured that there are resources available that can assist you with:
1. School Fees
2. Supplementary Fees
3. Enrichment Activities and Purchases
4. Living Expense
The amount of support you will receive will depend on your family’s gross household income or gross per capita income.
Drop us an email for more information.
Recipients awarded both the ESIS and ISB (Tier 4) need only pay up to $24.45 per month for their school fees (including supplementary fees) for the academic year. Those awarded Tiers 1-3 ISB subsidy need not pay any school fees (including supplementary fees).
Recipients awarded the ESIS but not ISB will have to pay $135 per month for their school fees (including supplementary fees) in the academic year.
Seems like can find out before hand what are the financial supports available before applying for RI. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2131843\" time=\"1711957868\" user_id=\"28674:
I believe this is until not so long ago, resources were put in to promote early reading programme. Many initiatives to reach out to general public and provide well stocked books for children. They have program to reach out to specific underprivileged group too. With new tech, audiobooks, Internet and AII believe in general, these can help bridge the gap, between high ses and average hdb families . For bottom group, i believe govt is doing something too.
In my far-off day, people barely prepared for PSLE. Tuition was rare. In those days, yes, a kid from a humble background with talent could be identified through the PSLE. But now, with those parents who are able to afford it paying for tuition, enrichment classes, sometimes more than one per subject, or taking time off work to coach intensively, I doubt the PSLE is able to serve that purpose.
Kids from more humble backgrounds get off with a slow start in languages, and may not have a home conducive to studies (and may not be mature enough to study despite these difficulties). They usually won't have managed to catch up sufficiently by 12, however bright they are.
As for psle, only moe has access to the numbers. How many or if even one bright kid has been uncovered by psle which otherwise would have been hidden. Even average hdb children are now doing enrichment like piano or art or sports. Parents would have discovered their child's own potential if they displayed even just a hint of smartness.
I kind of agree that it will be hard for underprivileged children in rental public housing to move out of their situation. Unless parents can spend enough time with them eg bringing them to the library and reading to them regularly. Instead of just giving them mobile phones to play with. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2131874\" time=\"1712030487\" user_id=\"175278:
The uncertainty is often due to where the tiers are drawn, whether they will change, and how stable the family's income is. And it's really hard to qualify as the income ceiling is low. And there is the \"poverty trap\" segment - the family may just bust the ceiling at some point and not have the support that year, putting a big strain on family finances. This makes it very stressful for the family and the child, and it's no wonder that some will feel that they should avoid these schools because of the costs.
Seems like can find out before hand what are the financial supports available before applying for RI. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2131860\" time=\"1711980241\" user_id=\"175278:
Smarter doesn’t equal “raw talent”.
“SES” is the headline? And if we go deeper:
“The richer the parents, the smarter and more successful their children.” “Smarter” = raw talent?
I don’t and have never deny rich family has advantages. But it’s not the same as saying only students from high SES have talents and motivations? Raw talents and motivations are important to do well in studies , in both humble or affluent backgrounds is still true?
Even RI demographic is 50/50 private/HDB dwellers mix- statistically even.
My earlier post is to argue not from affluent background does not mean cannot overcome disadvantage relatively to the affluent.
How do you know it’s inherent or through subsequent development, like having SAHM, surrounded by books since young, attended the best enrichment classes…
Imagine two children having the same intelligence, go to the same primary school, child A’s parents can offer a good learning environment at home and best tuition vs child B whose parents quarrel everyday and can’t afford tutors, who do you think will do well in PSLE? Child A will likely do well and go to a good secondary school and gets into a virtuous cycle where the advantages will just accumulate over time.
It’s not cannot just that it is getting tougher. Social mobility is slowing down in Singapore as compared to decades ago. Govt is aware of it and trying to uplift the less privileged group, especially those born in 1rm and 2rm rental flat, to prevent the poverty cycle from perpetuating. -
slmkhoo\" post_id=\"2131886\" time=\"1712040002\" user_id=\"28674:
But from what I see the income ceiling is quite “generous”. On that RI financial aids page there is a link to a MOE’s Independent School Bursary criteria assessment page. I tried out by entering $10K monthly household income, and 6 household members, and the assessments outcome is qualified for Independent School Bursary, and monthly school fee is $37.5. Unless the criteria change wildly from year to year? Such that $10K, 6 household member will not qualify for some years? It’s seem quite unlikely to me. Even if that house hold income goes higher than $10K, or $10k no longer meet the criteria, I think $10K monthly income should not be too hard pressed for $135 monthly school fees (assuming still covered by ESIS, which I think almost all sporean RI students will receive)
The uncertainty is often due to where the tiers are drawn, whether they will change, and how stable the family's income is. And it's really hard to qualify as the income ceiling is low. And there is the \"poverty trap\" segment - the family may just bust the ceiling at some point and not have the support that year, putting a big strain on family finances. This makes it very stressful for the family and the child, and it's no wonder that some will feel that they should avoid these schools because of the costs.
I also found this MOE doc on income eligibility criteria for various types of bursaries
https://www.moe.gov.sg/-/media/files/news/press/2022/annex---moe-financial-assistance-schemes-2022.pdf -
People can read This is What Inequality Looks Like by Teo You Yenn.
Certainly, some may believe policy adjustments (related to many of the things mentioned above) can and should be made (I don't care to enter the debate).
Keep in mind (in relation to some of the things mentioned above), no measurement system is ever 100% accurate and no allocation system is ever 100% equitable.
Personally, I think people should look at all of the privilege or advantages they/their kids have or have had so far. Often, people that have so much can only focus on what they don't have or what seems unfair to them (I am not exempt). -
As it relates to IP, I don’t think MOE ever said whatever kids make it there are 100% the top 4,000 (or whatever the number is) academically capable kids in the country. Yet, it seems like many here just want to point fingers at someone that may not be doing as well as someone else that’s not in IP or claim that this is why IP doesn’t work. For many, IP has probably been a homerun, irrespective of whether they are in the top couple/few percent or outside of the top 10%. If the complaint is mainly on the social aspects, I guess I understand.
Further, in academics (or sports or work) there is no measure of innate ability. We observe output, which is some function of ability and effort (and variance or luck), and that is all that matters. Combined with the above, I’m not sure why there seems to be continued jabs at those who got there via tuition. Quite possibly, many forms of “home support,” both academic and non-academic, are even more effective (and a privilege). We should be grateful if our kids don’t need additional support rather than throw knives at those who do.
Anyways, whether some tweaks should still be made, that may be the case. -
bbbay\" post_id=\"2133871\" time=\"1715732021\" user_id=\"175278:
Lol. I never knew that.
There was once a town in US named Singapore:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore,_Michigan#:~:text=Singapore%20is%20a%20ghost%20town,ravaged%20by%20fires%20in%201871. -
ChiefKiasu\" post_id=\"2133878\" time=\"1715741043\" user_id=\"3:
I just found out about it from our new PM’s interview by foreigner correspondent. Our new PM found out about this Singapore town during his undergraduate days in US.
Lol. I never knew that.
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