Charging lower tuition fees for true blue Singaporeans

[kooky83]

It won’t make sense, assuming tutors are profit-maximizing. Why would they do something for less money?

[schweppes]

nansk:

whitecorp:

I had a rather interesting discussion with my student after his lesson today, where we broached the topic of tutors setting different tuition fee structures-a lower one so that born and bred here Singaporeans can benefit financially; foreigners and PRs on the other hand will not get to enjoy this privilege.


Are you against or in favor of such an implementation?

For the record I am not xenophobic.

\"Are you against or in favor of such an implementation?\"
That depends. How blue will you accept? Light blue can or must be midnight blue? If my dark blue is mixed with my spouse's white, will that change my kids' prospects of getting cheaper tuition? You must specify clearly in black-and-blue (oops, I mean black-and-white) for us to decide.

maybe should be 50 shades of pink (IC) :rotflmao: :rotflmao:

[Carnagejane]

whitecorp:

Dreamaurora:

If one is a commercial entity, I see no reason why this distinction has to be made. It will cause much unhappiness over existing students or customers (i.e. why suddenly your local students pay lesser fees than mine) and you will be basically alienating the PRs and foreigners who will go for your competitors who charge fairly. For government institutions the different fees are okay because the locals are subsidised with taxpayers' money, but commercial entities are not.

Right, I guess perhaps you are unfamiliar with the term social responsibility. And a good start would be to help your own kind. At times it isn't simply about making lots of money. Why do you think I even created a free resource site for other students to grab whatever they desire?

I reckon even if there is price differentiation, the rubber band of economics won't bounce back sharply and smack me hard in the face. So long as I can deliver the goods, people will still come knocking. Peace.

:goodpost:

[Carnagejane]

Dreamaurora:

schweppes:

Instead of charging lower fees to only \"true blue Sporeans, personally, I would rather \"reward\" my loyal customers or students who have been with me for a few years. For example, no increase in fees or maybe have a discounted pricing for sibling, something alongst those lines.


And if I really want to practice social responsibility and help a fellow Sporean, maybe can tutor for free 2-3 students who are on financial assistance for one year? At least, we are really helping students who genuinely need tuition but whose parents can't afford it.

I agree with your much more elegant solution to 'social responsibility'. While I do not fault whitecorp for wanting help his fellow Singaporeans, we have to be careful here lest we got caught in a slippery slope. Whitecorp's suggestion does reek of xenophobia (even if he does not intend it that way) and like what jedamum said it can easily be construed as an advertising gimmick. It's kind of like how some Malay food stalls sometimes overcharge non Malays.

I beg you not to comment, you make me retch. Whitecorp does not sound xenophobic. You go boy whitecorp.

[Carnagejane]

kooky83:

It won't make sense, assuming tutors are profit-maximizing. Why would they do something for less money?

If you look past s11, it makes sense. If not, it does not make CENTS.

[limlim]

Lilac66:

Short of banning tuition centres, the teachers in school should identify the children who really need extra coaching in their work, send them for tuition and the tuition centres are operated with subsidies from govt.

In that sense, it'll benefit those that truly need it

I mentioned in another thread that.. if tuition is a \"need\" and not a \"want\", it should be administered by the school..

Just like drugs.. to avoid abuse and unnecessary over-dosage to poor kids..

[Lilac66]

limlim:

Lilac66:

Short of banning tuition centres, the teachers in school should identify the children who really need extra coaching in their work, send them for tuition and the tuition centres are operated with subsidies from govt.

In that sense, it'll benefit those that truly need it

I mentioned in another thread that.. if tuition is a \"need\" and not a \"want\", it should be administered by the school..

Just like drugs.. to avoid abuse and unnecessary over-dosage to poor kids..

This pt I fully agree!

[tankee]

mod’s note


Kindly be reminded to focus your discussion on the topic and not at each other.

There will always be differences opinion, do agree to disagree.

Name calling and vulgarities are not welcomed here. We are all mature adults, let’s set good example for all children.

Please help to maintain harmony in this forum.

Thank you.

[Dreamaurora]

tuition_czar:

Relating this to politics is a bit stretching it. I believe Whitecorp's motivation is very simple and innocent, to give financial discounts to locals. What is so wrong with that? At least he demonstrates willingness in considering to help his fellow Singaporeans.

Open your eyes wide and read carefully, he did not mention anything about not teaching(or helping) everyone equally. It is not as if he teaches more stuff to some, and hides material from others.

That's why I commended him on trying to help his fellow Singaporeans and I do wish more people are willing to do that, but we must be careful about how people perceive us also. Maybe xenophobia is too a strong word, but I think at least you can see how a foreigner like me perceive this action.

When you are the one being marginalised (for lack of better word), you will tend to view things negatively even if it is not so. Take the example of Malay food stall I quoted earlier, it is no secret that some Malay food stalls will give cheaper prices for their fellow Malay brethren. But let's say if you are a non Malay and queue at the same time and you see the Malay person in front of you get cheaper price even though he orders the same thing as you, you will not think 'oh, it's ok, the Malay auntie just looking after her own people'. You will think 'why the Malay auntie tried to chop carrot me'. You see what I mean?

The suggestion of giving free tuition I feel is better as this can be done much more low profile and minimum conflict as possible. Putting separate prices black and white I still think is not a good idea. Imagine you go to a restaurant and the menu cost different for foreigners and locals. Yes, the locals will not mind, but the foreigners will mind. That being said, if really want to give cheaper price for locals, I think must be done as discreetly as possible and if the foreign parents ask why is this so, one must not give the actual reasons.

[verykiasu2010]

lots of conjectures with regard to so-called preferential treatment of foreigners by the government because they are perceived to be rich


xenophobic

great great majority of students in MOE schools are local citizens

therefore if local citizens are given discounts on tuition fees based on nationality, then a great majority of perhaps even 100% of the tuition students will be paying the same discounted fees. so what is the difference ? just a lower profit margin.

call me cynical. it is just a nuanced way of marketing for tuition. nothing wrong either. I also browsed the website. Yes, free take away are there. Applause ! Well done!

But the provider is running a business. Freebies will need to be paid from somewhere. Where else but from tuition fees ? Provider also need income … this discussion will then generate interest in that website and help achieve the thread starter’s objective – drawing people to that website and hopefully sign up for paid tuition

Of course thread starter can always defend and dispute no, purely altruistic etc…

As I said I am cynical, but ksp has a dedicated section for marketing of services of all kinds .