Charging lower tuition fees for true blue Singaporeans
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mod’s note
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tuition_czar:
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.
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.
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. -
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 . -
Dreamaurora:
long time ago, when traveling on domestic flights in China, foreigners' air ticket prices were at least 30% higher than local. It was gov't policy. We always told the governors that it is not sustainable ..... sooner than later it has to give way to fairness and commercial sense. Better for them to compete on open discount fares (current practice) than fare differentiation based on local / foreign.
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. -
I understand that as a foreigner i will encounter some sort of anti foreigner sentiment of various degrees here. Well at least its not as bad as some countries. I do agree recent government policies have increased these tensions and even i feel a bit uncomfortable at sudden surge of foreign workforce here.
As for the Malay foodstall example, i quote it just as an example lar, no particular grudge. I always speak to them in Malay and they are nice to me. But i actually see this incident of different charge personally before happening to other person. -
Dreamaurora:
aiya, I see then also lidat ...... 2 prata kosong charge me $2, and the Malay brother need pay only $1.40, just in front of me ...... but to me, okay lar, just let me enjoy the prata, can't afford to eat prata every day oso...I understand that as a foreigner i will encounter some sort of anti foreigner sentiment of various degrees here. Well at least its not as bad as some countries. I do agree recent government policies have increased these tensions and even i feel a bit uncomfortable at sudden surge of foreign workforce here.
As for the Malay foodstall example, i quote it just as an example lar, no particular grudge. I always speak to them in Malay and they are nice to me. But i actually see this incident of different charge personally before happening to other person.
but you foreigner has mastered the singlish liao har? -
Personally, there are many ways to give back. Just leave race, religion, nationality, gender, out of the equation. Sensitive lah. Wanna do so, do it quietly. Or tie up with CDAC to provide free tuition for needy families. For this can set Singapore Citizen as on of the criteria to receive the organisation’s tuition bursary.
Else will be like that promo for expat only by Starhub. Big hooha. -
verykiasu2010:
Been living here ever since secondary school days, haha. Married a Singaporean also. But still cannot get rid of my accent leh.
aiya, I see then also lidat ...... 2 prata kosong charge me $2, and the Malay brother need pay only $1.40, just in front of me ...... but to me, okay lar, just let me enjoy the prata, can't afford to eat prata every day oso...Dreamaurora:
I understand that as a foreigner i will encounter some sort of anti foreigner sentiment of various degrees here. Well at least its not as bad as some countries. I do agree recent government policies have increased these tensions and even i feel a bit uncomfortable at sudden surge of foreign workforce here.
As for the Malay foodstall example, i quote it just as an example lar, no particular grudge. I always speak to them in Malay and they are nice to me. But i actually see this incident of different charge personally before happening to other person.
but you foreigner has mastered the singlish liao har? -
Funz:
:celebrate:Personally, there are many ways to give back. Just leave race, religion, nationality, gender, out of the equation. Sensitive lah. Wanna do so, do it quietly. Or tie up with CDAC to provide free tuition for needy families. For this can set Singapore Citizen as on of the criteria to receive the organisation's tuition bursary.
Else will be like that promo for expat only by Starhub. Big hooha. -
I feel, if you do it as a provider out of your own initiative, it is fine.
But if consumer expects it from a private provider… it may not be that… practical…
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