Parent pays nearly $6,000 a month in tuition fees

[Chenonceau]

nim:

Agree! they rather let the parents, the market force to decide!

If you leave it to market forces, the gap will widen. The system of Lords and Ladies of the Manor watching over serfs started out good but slowly degenerated into Haves and Have Nots... with one exploiting another. Capitalism started out good too, providing opportunities to serfs such as us to succeed and grow wealth. Yet, increasingly, market forces dictate to the poor lower and lower wages (because the poor have no bargaining power).

Left to itself, ANY system degenerates. The smart ones learn to exploit it and get away with more. The disciplined ones can accumulate resources and use it to get more. That's why some people can blow $6000 on tuition. They have more and can thus get more for themselves.

It is true that those who are poor are there because they did not work as hard... or did not know how to save money. In England at one stage, these people were shipped off forcibly to Australia. England didn't want the dregs of society to stay in England. If Singapore can do that, Singapore probably would... but we can't. If we allow too much differentiation, our society will break apart... and there will be violence and unrest.

The problem is still small enough. Solve it now, and avert the kind of happenings that put Gaddafi's corpse in a freezer room for people to gawk at. The rich and powerful will always be a minority... and therefore vulnerable when the majority of people decide to violently level the playing field. Singapore in the 1960s is no stranger to violence. It has happened before. It can happen again. The problem is very small now. We don't run the risk of violence yet. Does it mean we don't solve the problem?

Those who WANT differentiation are at the top and confident of winning. The top is always a minority and if we don't care for those lesser endowed, then it will be ourselves who will pay heavy price eventually. DD took 8 distinctions at A levels. Her boyfriend took 7. Do you think that with me as a Grandma and 2 parents such as these 2, our grandchildren cannot differentiate themselves? They are likely to be top too... and likely to be the minority.

We are proud of her... yes... but this pride is eclipsed when I think that there could be a possibility that she could die a violent death 40 years hence. Pride for the short-term and fear for the long-term. Think about that when you want differentiation at the top.

[Daddy D]

May the force be with you... Don't end up on the dark side though...


Right or wrong? Depends on the return of investments (ROI) in future.
If the kid earns $12K and gives his parents $6K allowance... Then 100% ROI.
If the kid ends up jobless and becomes 败家子... Then becomes negative 100% ROI.
:moneyflies: :moneyflies:

[pinky]

I have seen advertisements offering 'advice' for thesis writing here and

in yesterday's chinese papers, it reported bright students from elite U in
China who are paid to sit for exam for their clients. The syndicate bribe
the invigilators and 'matchmake' clients and the students so that they
look alike as much as possible. The students can go anywhere for their
clients and are paid about RMB2000 for a 2 hour paper. The toughest
is accounting qualifications exam and charges can go up to RM15,000
for 1 paper :yikes: .
So this phenomenon is very real and widespread. :evil:

[Oppsgal]

Daddy

May the force be with you... Don't end up on the dark side though...


Right or wrong? Depends on the return of investments (ROI) in future.
If the kid earns $12K and gives his parents $6K allowance... Then 100% ROI.
If the kid ends up jobless and becomes 败家子... Then becomes negative 100% ROI.
:moneyflies: :moneyflies:

jobless = 败家子 :?

I am jobless too.

[Emelyn]

pinky:

I have seen advertisements offering 'advice' for thesis writing here and

in yesterday's chinese papers, it reported bright students from elite U in
China who are paid to sit for exam for their clients. The syndicate bribe
the invigilators and 'matchmake' clients and the students so that they
look alike as much as possible. The students can go anywhere for their
clients and are paid about RMB2000 for a 2 hour paper. The toughest
is accounting qualifications exam and charges can go up to RM15,000
for 1 paper :yikes: .
So this phenomenon is very real and widespread. :evil:

Scary......is this a Asian thing ? Does this happen in European countries ?

[Daddy D]

Oppsgal:

Daddy

May the force be with you... Don't end up on the dark side though...


Right or wrong? Depends on the return of investments (ROI) in future.
If the kid earns $12K and gives his parents $6K allowance... Then 100% ROI.
If the kid ends up jobless and becomes 败家子... Then becomes negative 100% ROI.
:moneyflies: :moneyflies:

jobless = 败家子 :?

I am jobless too.

Duh... I must do the \"quoted out of context\" excuse liao...
Jobless OR becomes 败家子 can?

[pinky]

Daddy

May the force be with you... Don't end up on the dark side though...


Right or wrong? Depends on the return of investments (ROI) in future.
If the kid earns $12K and gives his parents $6K allowance... Then 100% ROI.
If the kid ends up jobless and becomes 败家子... Then becomes negative 100% ROI.
:moneyflies: :moneyflies:

aiyoh, pls don't use the chinese term leh bec it means someone who
bring down the family...because he refuse to look for jobs and expect handouts from parents/siblings. There are genuine cases whereby graduates cannot find jobs even though they have send out countless resumes or actively looking for job opportunities.

[doodbug]

Chenonceau:

In England at one stage, these people were shipped off forcibly to Australia. England didn't want the dregs of society to stay in England. If Singapore can do that, Singapore probably would... but we can't. .

Haha; no more Christmas Island to banish to.

My you are sounding like a politician. A blue Democrat!

:rahrah:

[Chenonceau]

doodbug:

Chenonceau:

In England at one stage, these people were shipped off forcibly to Australia. England didn't want the dregs of society to stay in England. If Singapore can do that, Singapore probably would... but we can't. .

Haha; no more Christmas Island to banish to.

My you are sounding like a politician. A blue Democrat!

:rahrah:

:oops: :oops: :oops:

[auntieauntie]

If a private school offers a better curriculum and teaching method for O and A levels, I would rather send my kid to that school than stay in a government school. There is something wrong with the education system if parents need to tax their children with more school work outside of regular school hours. There will be little time to play and be creative.


My sister’s daughter suffered a nervous breakdown because she constantly worries about her grades. It has come to a point where she is seeing a psychologist to help manage her anxieties. She attends all kinds of tuition classes and enrichment programmes. Did quite well in school but this took a toll on her mental well-being.

It looks like the girl may be looking into other options as she is currently unfit to continue with her A levels in the junior college. But her mom is quite adamant that she goes to a good university…

Anyway, I read that the London Edexcel IGCSE ‘A’ level course at Insworld Institute is structured such that each subject is divided into 6 units with examinations held every 6 months. Students can choose any number of units and are allowed to re-take examinations. The results are then accumulated as a full ‘A’ level certificate. So perhaps no need to cram so much info in the brain for 2 years before taking exams…Also, the school seems to have produced students that went to the Imperial College, UCL, Uni of Warwick, Uni of British Columbia etc…Perhaps it is something that my friend can consider. The girl has already done 1 year in JC so maybe can get advance standing to complete her A level.

Any comments other suggestions?