Aristocare

[Zeng]

tuition_czar:

Anyone read the Sunday Times today? Looks like the spotlight is painfully trained on GEP private tuition of late, especially this self proclaimed \"doctor\" who strives to \"heal the academic ailments of students\". The columnist (in my opinion) rightfully questioned the tutor's ridiculous policy of only accepting kids who meet a certain minimum grade requirement.


Btw, If you do a quick search on Google, it isn't all that difficult to discover who the Sunday Times writer was talking about.

This was discussed previously in KSP threads:
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=72&t=30726&start=60
http://www.kiasuparents.com/kiasu/forum/viewtopic.php?f=29&t=6795&start=10

3rd Sunday in a row ST is highlighting those who are selling Hope for GEP.
Some forumers here think authorities should ban GEP training but this will be very hard to implement.

A more effective way is for ST or authorities to demystify and educate the public on exactly what these centers offer as part of training. Just checking the credentials of tutors is not enough. Is it worthwhile to pay $500 per session for these worksheets/GA tests etc? Do parents know exactly what services are offered other than faithfully paying the monthly fees and sending their kids puncturely for these lessons?

How is it possible for an untrained person to sell hope at such a high price for so many years? One may be busted but many more may be (or already) joining this very lucrative business bec hope runs eternal in the human heart.

[weatherbee]

Imami:

weatherbee:

I think all tuition teachers should have a license or something. Just like if you want to be a driving instructor, real estate agent or insurance agent, u will need to go through tests and obtain license. Don't know why tuition teachers don't need license.

Good idea and it is about time that this suggestion is looked into seriously and implemented! But having said that, will we be driving out the good tutors who can teach?

If they are good tutors and are serious about teaching, they will go and obtain the license. All MOE teachers also need to go through NIE eventually. Does it then filter out good teachers? I think we seriously need to look at this. Let private tutors go through tests or trainings or something to obtain license to teach and don't allow MOE teachers to moonlight. MOE teachers are using us taxpayers money to go through training and they get paid every month yet still want to earn more from tuition. Last time I had MOE teachers blatantly demand $80/hr but need to keep changing tuition time due to school commitment.

[Imami]

weatherbee:

Imami:

[quote=\"weatherbee\"]I think all tuition teachers should have a license or something. Just like if you want to be a driving instructor, real estate agent or insurance agent, u will need to go through tests and obtain license. Don't know why tuition teachers don't need license.

Good idea and it is about time that this suggestion is looked into seriously and implemented! But having said that, will we be driving out the good tutors who can teach?

If they are good tutors and are serious about teaching, they will go and obtain the license. All MOE teachers also need to go through NIE eventually. Does it then filter out good teachers? I think we seriously need to look at this. Let private tutors go through tests or trainings or something to obtain license to teach and don't allow MOE teachers to moonlight. MOE teachers are using us taxpayers money to go through training and they get paid every month yet still want to earn more from tuition. Last time I had MOE teachers blatantly demand $80/hr but need to keep changing tuition time due to school commitment.[/quote]Don’t get me wrong, I support the licensing scheme. But because of that very good tutor I had, I wondered if some very good tutors would be turned away. But yes, 100% support the MOE Teachers cannot moonlight.

[Zeng]

tuition_czar:

I am contemplating setting up an evaluation facility on my site where we will post objective and unbiased detailed reviews of undercover lesson sit-ins with various high profile educators (1-1 tutors and centres), though we will have to scratch our heads with regards to sourcing for willing undercover teacher/parent volunteers.


Any suggestions would be most welcome.

Very difficult to do when it involves students.

Maybe a better way is to get ST or some volunteers to interview parents or talk to those who are unhappy about the services and find out more for the benefit of everyone. For a start, the high cost of GEP training. Whats so special about the worksheets or teaching that parents are willing to pay up to $100-300/hr. Are parents buying into the attractive promo, cv etc. Nobody complained of Kelvin Ong speaking poor english, the cramped bedroom, teaching etc until this episode was highlighted in the press.

[ks2011]

Zeng:

Very difficult to do when it involves students.

Maybe a better way is to get ST or some volunteers to interview parents or talk to those who are unhappy about the services and find out more for the benefit of everyone. For a start, the high cost of GEP training. Whats so special about the worksheets or teaching that parents are willing to pay up to $100-300/hr. Are parents buying into the attractive promo, cv etc. Nobody complained of Kelvin Ong speaking poor english, the cramped bedroom, teaching etc until this episode was highlighted in the press.

Because these parents believed that he was teaching GEP classes at ACS.

[optimistforum]

Why not try home-tutoring. It is more fulfilling.


I have managed to source books from around the world. I am every tutors nightmare as I have better resources than them - and I let them know it too!!

I buy GEP books from India and Australia. I have already placed links for them in this section. It’s better than suspect or incompetent tutor agencies.

[Aristo_uncare]

any parents managed to claim FULL refunds from kelvin ong the liar and crook??Should BE FULL NOt PARTIAL REFUND as he misrepresented himself.He shows no remorse for his deeds.He still boast that he not scared of police/CAD/tax officials as all his properties all paid up in full in cash.In fact his parents still got the nerve to ask parents to send pupils back to him! :mad: hE STILL GIVING TUITION AT 28 LENTOR PLACE CONTACT NO-96448591.

Any of you know of a good lawyer to sue him for cheating and deceit.Maybe we should take class action

[Aristo_uncare]

For parents who got partial refunds did the crook Kelvin ong wee loong get you to sign document as full and final settlement.???His assesment books also sold in Malaysia and Hong Kong,what are the authorities in Singapore doing to prevent him for tarnishing the reputation of Singapore? :yikes:

[phtthp]

they even post his handphone, personal email here.


scroll right to bottom - it mention how he
\"operate from his home which is a hdb flat using a small room with mahjong tables for desks\".

perhaps the same scenario repeat .... at his \"28 Lentor Place\" ?

http://www.edupoll.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=233&sid=0370c28a4c2396275f5317014c4c4462

[Zeng]

Aristo_uncare:

any parents managed to claim FULL refunds from kelvin ong the liar and crook??Should BE FULL NOt PARTIAL REFUND as he misrepresented himself.He shows no remorse for his deeds.He still boast that he not scared of police/CAD/tax officials as all his properties all paid up in full in cash.In fact his parents still got the nerve to ask parents to send pupils back to him! :mad: hE STILL GIVING TUITION AT 28 LENTOR PLACE CONTACT NO-96448591.

Any of you know of a good lawyer to sue him for cheating and deceit.Maybe we should take class action

It was previously reported in ST that some parents got back 1 month of refund after negotiations. You might wish to contact the ST reporter who started this thread and did the breaking report to do a follow up report and perhaps assist to gather affected parents. Should be a very big number over 8 years. You need a contact person to initate and usually the numbers will grow. Would be very surprised that any parent managed to get a full refund. Why would he want to do that voluntarily? He was quoted in ST that he has closed the center and \"case closed\". Are u sure the center is still opened and he is still giving tuition? Quite hard to believe.