Aristocare
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NickleBee Tutors:
:goodpost:Came across this discussion regarding the fraudulent actions of a tutor who made rather bombastic claims of being both a former GEP student and a trained MOE GEP teacher when he was actually neither. It also appears that he has recently been outed as not even being a NUS Double Mathematics Graduate to begin with and is instead a physiotherapist with a diploma from Nanyang Polytechnic.
Just a little background of myself. I was from the Gifted Education Programme in Rosyth Primary, following which I gained admission into Raffles Institution Gifted Education Programme (in the days before IP) and did my 'A' Levels at Victoria JC (despite me being an 'O' Level 2 pointer as I wanted a change of academic environment). I am currently an accountancy undergrad and the owner of NickleBee Tutors which I set up together with a couple of friends in the MOE teaching service. I specialize in teaching Mathematics to both GEP and High Ability students. I have been providing tutoring and mentoring services in Maths to Gifted Education Programme, High Ability and Integrated Programme students for a while now, and what started out as a means to pay my way through college has become a passion for me.
I will not dwell on the morality and legalities of the tutor who was caught lying. Instead, I would like to shed some light on what parents can do to protect themselves and their child from such frauds in future.
I have noticed that many parents I come across in my years of tutoring are surprised when I bring a portfolio of all my credentials and academic certificates on the first lesson. I took me a while to realize that it is not standard practice for tutors and educators to present their credentials during the first lesson and that most parents take the tutor's education background claims at face value without further checks. I have only this to say, as parents, you would be putting your child's education and future into the hands of a stranger. The least you could do is to check the Tutor's credentials so as to ensure that the tutor does have an excellent knowledge the subject he is supposed to teach. If the tutor's certificates arouse suspicion, you can call MOE or the tutor's previous schools to ascertain if the tutor is truly who he claims to be. After all, as former US president Ronald Reagan like to put it : \"Trust, but verify\".
While it is true that tutors with excellent credentials, a good track record and who are in demand, usually charge high fees (Economics 101), it does not mean that a tutor with sky high rates must be really good. Every child is different and what works for another child might not work with your's. It is a good idea to sit nearby (but not at the same table as doing so would be rather distracting) during the first couple of lessons and observe the dynamics between the tutor and your child and also to ascertain that the tutor knows what he is teaching.
Last but not least, there has been a recent trend of placing student testimonials on the tutoring centre's website. I never do feature testimonials on my website as I am of the opinion that since testimonials can be faked quite easily, I would rather place my student's exam marks, school academic prizes and PSLE certificates on my website and let the results speak for themselves. Of course, one could argue that the students' results could be altered and it is indeed a valid point. However, I believe that tutors should display the utmost integrity and honesty in all dealings with parents and if the tutor can't even do something as simple as placing up his student's results unembellished, he shouldn't even be teaching in the first place.
These are just my personal opinions on this matter and I thank you for taking the time to read this.
Thank you for the tips. -
I understand that K***** once boasted to us parents that through his "hard" work in giving tuition he now owns 3 fully paid up landed properties.
I guess many of us parents have a stake in these properties.
Does anyone know how we can get our tution money back since his has definitely misrepresented himself!
Also, for those kids who have been tutored by a "GEP expert" and subsequently ended not in GEP, can the kids’ parents sue him? -
Aristo_uncare:
Go read Mr Brown website on Gifted My AssI understand that K***** once boasted to us parents that through his \"hard\" work in giving tuition he now owns 3 fully paid up landed properties.
I guess many of us parents have a stake in these properties.
Does anyone know how we can get our tution money back since his has definitely misrepresented himself!
Also, for those kids who have been tutored by a \"GEP expert\" and subsequently ended not in GEP, can the kids’ parents sue him?
http://www.mrbrown.com/blog/2012/07/gifted-my-ass.html
and check out on A lawyer's response on the Misrepresentation Act
The challenging question is how much you should be compensated. It depends on how much you have paid.
Probably better to seek expert legal advice.
At the end of the day, did he provide a teaching \"service\" or did he not? -
It is important to check the tutor’s credentials. But I understand that most of the real 武林高手 prefers to guide kids on a part time basis as they have a day job
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Letter by Case published on the forum page of The Straits Times today.
Tutor breached law: Case
Published on Aug 08, 2012
WE ARE appalled by the disregard for ethical practices by the tutor described in the report (\"Private tutor who charges high fees\"; July 29), who made false representation to consumers.
His behaviour is clearly unacceptable and has tarnished the image of the tuition industry.
In our view, the tutor has breached Section 4(b) of the Consumer Protection Fair Trading Act. Consumers have the right to seek legal recourse against the tuition centre for such a breach.
Consumers are urged to do their due diligence and check claims by the tutors they engage for their children. They should ask the tutors for their credentials before they engage them.
Lim Biow Chuan
President
Consumers Association of Singapore (Case) -
Aristo_uncare:
I will be very disappointed if he can get away unpunished with 3 landed properties or more just like that.I understand that K***** once boasted to us parents that through his \"hard\" work in giving tuition he now owns 3 fully paid up landed properties.
I guess many of us parents have a stake in these properties.
Does anyone know how we can get our tution money back since his has definitely misrepresented himself!
Also, for those kids who have been tutored by a \"GEP expert\" and subsequently ended not in GEP, can the kids’ parents sue him?
There should be at least a few parents here engaged his service before. For those parents, maybe can gather and discuss the available options e.g. seek advice from Case, engage a lawyer together and share the cost.
Since he is so gifted in lying, IRAS should at least take a look at the income tax he paid for the past few years. -
On page B2 of The Straits Times today - Case speaks out against private tutor. Kelvin Ong \"wondered how the consumer watchdog would be helping his pupils' parents pursue the case.\" Until now, he still believes he can get away?!? :mad: If so, there will many more Kelvin Ong in the market soon.
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8228:
On page B2 of The Straits Times today - Case speaks out against private tutor. Kelvin Ong \"wondered how the consumer watchdog would be helping his pupils' parents pursue the case.\" Until now, he still believes he can get away?!? :mad: If so, there will many more Kelvin Ong in the market soon.
is flea market, and a flee market, because is a free market -
But is aristocare registered as a tuition center?
Could be the so called free lance tuition at home. -
8228:
:scratchhead: Would those parents who have sent kids to him wanted to admit that their kids have been tutored for GEP and not get it, so they sought refund? I wonder how many of such parents would not want to surface this for \"face\" reasons, thereby allowing these \"fakes\" to get away with it
I will be very disappointed if he can get away unpunished with 3 landed properties or more just like that.Aristo_uncare:
I understand that K***** once boasted to us parents that through his \"hard\" work in giving tuition he now owns 3 fully paid up landed properties.
I guess many of us parents have a stake in these properties.
Does anyone know how we can get our tution money back since his has definitely misrepresented himself!
Also, for those kids who have been tutored by a \"GEP expert\" and subsequently ended not in GEP, can the kids’ parents sue him?
There should be at least a few parents here engaged his service before. For those parents, maybe can gather and discuss the available options e.g. seek advice from Case, engage a lawyer together and share the cost.
Since he is so gifted in lying, IRAS should at least take a look at the income tax he paid for the past few years.
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