Pre-school fees

[micollh]

yeah… tt’s what i thought too… preschool is for all below 7… it can be 3 hour kindergarten, half/full childcare as they are having lessons too beside in childcare…

[nicolenonis]

Hi!

Thank you very much for your opnions.

If i may ask another question in relation to this topic.

Do you think these elit pre-school education are raising an unfair advantage for those who can afford?

I totally agree that we have to consider what kind of teacher are in that school and to evaluate the compound to make the best decision for our kids. But if we don't put much emphasize for the moment on these considerstion (just for discussion sake), instead we look at what our children can get the most out of their pre-school time.

Do you think children from the not elit school would lose out (in any aspect that you can think of, need not necessarily be just education) to the those that are?

Really appraciate your opinions

[ConcernedDaddy]

Hi Nicolenonis


A kid coming from a well to do family (I hate to use the word ‘elite’) will have a higher probability (not 100%) that he/she will do well in the future. Simply, their parents will have more resources to help them turn out successful. This is a fact of any capitalist society. I would not think this is unfair.

Hence it is important, in a generally meritocratic education system, like the primary school system in Singapore, the playing field is levelled somewhat and the chances of success for kids from less well-to-do families are increased.

However, it is really too early for pre-schoolers to gain too much of an advantage by being enrolled in an "elite" pre-school or not. Fact is, attending an "elite" school or not, those "elite" kids are likely to have an edge over others in their later lives anyway, as their parents are more well-to-do (more resources/connections). The choice of pre-school only plays an incidental but not determinant role in their future success.

For parents who feel "financially pressured" sending their kids to the "elite" pre-schools but yet are afraid of losing out by not doing so, my advice is simple. Send them to a good quality above average preschool and save the difference that would have been otherwise dumped on the astronomical "elite" school fees. Use the savings and be ready to provide for a good university education when they grow up.

When we look at the resume of any job seekers, you will pay more attention if the candidate has a Harvard or Oxford degree. No one will care whether he/she enrolled in Eton or PCF at 3 years old. (no offence to either schools, I am not saying Eton and PCF are comparable - they are not). My point is, FOR those parents who do not have unlimited resources, between splurging 20K for pre-school and university, go for the latter. For parents who are way better off financially in the first place, it doesnt matter.

There are so many pre-schools nowadays trying to brand and move up to the "premium/elite" label. Most are actually unheard of 5 years ago, and now they have the audacity to charge above 1000 bucks a month. They are just capitalizing on parents’ mentality that "expensive = best". Dont be lazy, learn to see what you are actually paying for.

[DesertWind]

I read in the newspapers a couple of time already that some parents were putting their kids into a very popular and expensive (about SGD1.5K per month) pre-school but during the interview told the reporter that they were really feeling the pinch. Each month they were so tempted to withdraw due to their tight budget but for the sake of their child/children each month they doggedly persevere.


My question is Why? My heart actually breaks for such parents because they love their kids so much that they put them into a very expensive pre-school which they can ill-afford. I feel they should just find one good and affordable pre-school and be done. It is so early in the education journey yet.

But who am I to judge or comment since we are all kiasu (that's why we are here! :>) and at some point or the other would probably go crazy (and irrational?) when it comes to P1 registration to the school of choice.....

[phtthp]

you dun need to pay $1, 500 per month pre-school education for your child. $1.5 per month is very ex!


it is not right to think that by paying $1, 500 per month to attend this type of elite kindergarten - it can give your child an early good headstart at P1. In fact, the owners of these expensive pre-schools are preying and playing on the mindset of such parents.

by paying so much, naturally the expectations of the parents are high !

the first thing to ask for - is to see a copy of their daily timetable schedule. Ask to find out everyday - how much hands on montessori exposure is your child being exposed to - per subject, per child for English, Maths ?

another thing. Although Chinese is a non montessori subject, also ask - how much Chinese your child is exposed to, everyday ? if the reply says - Oh well! only 2 times per week, and each time is 45 mins per duration, definitely you know it is not enough. Out of 5 times per week so long from Monday - Friday, you your child get to learn Chinese only twice a week ? That's very little ! Furthermore if you hardly speak to your child at home in Mandarin or expose child to Chinese at home, make it even worse, right ? When comes to language(s), minimum exposure must be 45 mins to 1 hour everyday, not alternate days kind of stuff. Because it is in the kindergarten that foundation must be set properly, esp. where language(s) are concerned.

for young kids - learning languages, absorbing vocabulary naturally everyday is like eating meals. Can your child stop eating meals for one day ? No, can't. Thus, learning English & Chinese has to be an everyday affair.

actually, there are some good montessori kindergarten charging around $450 - $600 per month (ie. half price of $1.5k) that can prepare your child well ready for P1. For those that practise good montessori teaching methods (not the 'fake' pre-schools), if the school feels that your child is advanced learner, they won't just stop at K2. They'll go beyond K2 - into P1. Because for montessori teaching method concept which is different from traditional classroom teaching method, the child doesn't stop learning.

besides pre-school attendance, another important factor is conducive, warm & supportive home environment.

[auntieM]

Sometimes parents put their kids in ‘elite’ pre-school just to keep up with the Joneses… …

[phtthp]

hi auntieM,


Yes, you’re right! That can also be one of the reasons.

sometimes people just want social status - to be associated & mix with the rich, upper income class & famous, where > three quarters kids tend to stay in pte, landed property or pte condominium.

if people ask - so, which kindergarten is your child studying ? It makes them feel good if they can reply - Oh well! my child is in such & such named… elite, expensive pre-school.

[kboon2009]

I think parents also feel less guilty if they send to elite school, as they cannot spend time with their children. Everyday work hard to cope with the inflation…

[Musings]

I just heard about a family from China who send their kid to Eton Preschool. The kid is about to enter P1 next year in the same school as my DS. However, the kid only knows very rudimentary English and will clearly have difficulties coping in P1.


I was shocked that Eton Preschool could not have done more for this kid given the exorbitant fees they charged. I feel sorry for the family who clearly entrusted their child’s education to what is considered a ‘top’ school and yet find their child ill prepared.

So paying higher fees does not necessarily guarantee success.

[auntieM]

Among the ‘elites’… …EtonHouse seems to be catered mainly for the FTs/expats…

My DS spent ore than 2 years in the Mountbatten branch and I really don’t have much good things to say…
Heard from friends they are ‘worse’ now… …