Raffles Girls' School (Secondary) [*IP]
-
Fern-Leaf:
As much as I wish what you say could come true, these are the choices we make for our kids - to go to such schools and participate in their programmes. They are independent schools. We have a choice in not choosing them. They are not obliged to fulfil our wishes. Instead, we go to them, so we should pay the amount they clearly stated. Just like we can't demand that LV or Gucci be sold at $20 just because we want them. There are always other good government schools if we do not want to pay.
Since there are many schools do not charge high fees, why then made some schools charged high fees? Because of the two magic words : \"Independent Schools\"? Why should students who want, and are eligible, to study in those so-called \"independent schools\" being made to pay so much more than they would in most other schools?
I congratulate you for having the luxury to return to workforce, but I know of parents who do not have such luxury.
Of course we need to know the high fees before selecting the school, otherwise it would mean we were being conned! But the point is : why made students who are eligible to study in those schools pay such an astronomical fee? Mind you, we are talking about education for teenagers! We are talking about a country where its government boasts, far too often, about having provided equal opportunity to every child!
And while we were talking about EESIS, why don't abolish this 'bluff' scholarship and get students of every secondary school in Singapore to pay the same amount of school fee? As long as your kid's PSLE score got him/her into a school, you pay the same school fee just like parents of students in other schools. Simple and straightforward, no creative accounting, no impressive labels or words such as \"independent schools\", \"EESIS\" and \"subsidy\"!
By 'independent', it also means that they employ their own teachers and principals. Moe does not deploy teachers there. -
rains:
I think the fundamental question is – are the fees now getting too high as such limits the choices that some parents could make?
As much as I wish what you say could come true, these are the choices we make for our kids - to go to such schools and participate in their programmes. They are independent schools. We have a choice in not choosing them. They are not obliged to fulfil our wishes. Instead, we go to them, so we should pay the amount they clearly stated. Just like we can't demand that LV or Gucci be sold at $20 just because we want them. There are always other good government schools if we do not want to pay.Fern-Leaf:
Since there are many schools do not charge high fees, why then made some schools charged high fees? Because of the two magic words : \"Independent Schools\"? Why should students who want, and are eligible, to study in those so-called \"independent schools\" being made to pay so much more than they would in most other schools?
I congratulate you for having the luxury to return to workforce, but I know of parents who do not have such luxury.
Of course we need to know the high fees before selecting the school, otherwise it would mean we were being conned! But the point is : why made students who are eligible to study in those schools pay such an astronomical fee? Mind you, we are talking about education for teenagers! We are talking about a country where its government boasts, far too often, about having provided equal opportunity to every child!
And while we were talking about EESIS, why don't abolish this 'bluff' scholarship and get students of every secondary school in Singapore to pay the same amount of school fee? As long as your kid's PSLE score got him/her into a school, you pay the same school fee just like parents of students in other schools. Simple and straightforward, no creative accounting, no impressive labels or words such as \"independent schools\", \"EESIS\" and \"subsidy\"!
By 'independent', it also means that they employ their own teachers and principals. Moe does not deploy teachers there. -
onemore:
I think the fundamental question is – are the fees now getting too high as such limits the choices that some parents could make?
Are there that many independent schools in Singapore :? Like what some parents have pointed out, (apart from EEISS) there are financial assistance plans in place if one really cannot afford the fees. Everyone will be given that application form. -
VALyap:
hmm…. RGS or any IP schools, MOE provide financial assistance scheme. You can approach the school's authority, they will help you. If approved, the kid will pay the same fees as non=IP students are paying. hope this info can help :moneyflies:
IP schools do not necessarily mean they are independent schools. -
slmkhoo:
Which schools should be allowed to make more or less decisions is a matter between the schools and MOE, why should the students be made to pay a higher or lower fee depending on how much decisions a school made?
I don't know the details, but there are differences in school governance and decision-making which make independent schools more 'independent' than 'government' schools. If you are interested, I expect there is more information on the MOE website. If you compare with the completely self-funding schools such as international schools, the fees for the independent schools are quite modest, and MOE is obviously still providing a lot of funds to the schools.Fern-Leaf:
But the point is : why made students who are eligible to study in those schools pay such an astronomical fee? Mind you, we are talking about education for teenagers! We are talking about a country where its government boasts, far too often, about having provided equal opportunity to every child!
And while we were talking about EESIS, why don't abolish this 'bluff' scholarship and get students of every secondary school in Singapore to pay the same amount of school fee? As long as your kid's PSLE score got him/her into a school, you pay the same school fee just like parents of students in other schools. Simple and straightforward, no creative accounting, no impressive labels or words such as \"independent schools\", \"EESIS\" and \"subsidy\"!
While I would like the EESIS amount to increase, I wouldn't use 'bluff' to describe it. It does cover a significant portion of the school fees, and it is awarded on merit.
In terms of opportunity, there are sufficient secondary school places for all who make the grade, so taken on that level, there is equal opportunity.
I am surprised that you find it fit to compare schools meant for Singaporeans with international schools which are built for expatriates in mind.
You still don't get my point on EESIS : if the government makes every student of independent schools to pay $25 or $30 per month, just like all other secondary schools, it can keep its EESIS. If students' PSLE results are good enough to be admitted into independent schools, they should not be made to worry about whether their parents could afford to pay for their education in independent schools, or whether their parents are poor enough to win the government's sympathy to subsidise their fees in independent schools! Students should be focused on deciding which schools they are eligible to get in and which schools they would like to go in. -
rains:
Manufacturers and distributors of LV or Gucci are business people, they exist to make profits. Providing quality education to the citizens is the duty of a government - not a commerical venture!
As much as I wish what you say could come true, these are the choices we make for our kids - to go to such schools and participate in their programmes. They are independent schools. We have a choice in not choosing them. They are not obliged to fulfil our wishes. Instead, we go to them, so we should pay the amount they clearly stated. Just like we can't demand that LV or Gucci be sold at $20 just because we want them. There are always other good government schools if we do not want to pay.Fern-Leaf:
Since there are many schools do not charge high fees, why then made some schools charged high fees? Because of the two magic words : \"Independent Schools\"? Why should students who want, and are eligible, to study in those so-called \"independent schools\" being made to pay so much more than they would in most other schools?
I congratulate you for having the luxury to return to workforce, but I know of parents who do not have such luxury.
Of course we need to know the high fees before selecting the school, otherwise it would mean we were being conned! But the point is : why made students who are eligible to study in those schools pay such an astronomical fee? Mind you, we are talking about education for teenagers! We are talking about a country where its government boasts, far too often, about having provided equal opportunity to every child!
And while we were talking about EESIS, why don't abolish this 'bluff' scholarship and get students of every secondary school in Singapore to pay the same amount of school fee? As long as your kid's PSLE score got him/her into a school, you pay the same school fee just like parents of students in other schools. Simple and straightforward, no creative accounting, no impressive labels or words such as \"independent schools\", \"EESIS\" and \"subsidy\"!
By 'independent', it also means that they employ their own teachers and principals. Moe does not deploy teachers there.
Why should eligible students be forced to give up studying in their preferred schools just because their parents cannot afford to pay or are not poor enough to win the government's sympathy to provide them with financial assistance?
Whether MOE or the schools employed the teachers and principals is an issue between MOE and the schools, don't penalise the students by getting them to pay more than other students! -
keroppi:
onemore:
I think the fundamental question is – are the fees now getting too high as such limits the choices that some parents could make?
Are there that many independent schools in Singapore :? Like what some parents have pointed out, (apart from EEISS) there are financial assistance plans in place if one really cannot afford the fees. Everyone will be given that application form.
You should ask how many \"independent schools\" the government wants to name.
Even Wee Cho Yaw's grand children would be given the application form if they asked for one, who doesn't know!
Care to define what you meant by \"if one really cannot afford the fees\"? -
Fern-Leaf,
Since you feel so strongly about the unfairness of high school fees associated with independent schools, perhaps you’d like to write an impassioned letter to MOE who would be able to directly address your concerns.
We can’t help you on this RGS thread. We don’t deal with MOE policy matters. The parents here give support to each other on school matters, syllabus, CCA etc; where newer parents seek advice from the more experienced parents. We all chose RGS as the school for our daughters, having done our research and knowing full well that it is an independent school, what the school fees are, what the school offers in terms of academics and extra-curricular activities, what the standard of the school is, what the Rafflesian Spirit means and much more.
If you still feel strongly that independent schools are unfairly high in school fees, and you cannot justify sending your daughter to RGS as a matter of principle, I’m sure you could raise this with MOE as well. -
Fern-Leaf:
as long as the kids qualify and are admitted to the independent school, no one will be denied a place due to financial background. go and find out from the schools first before making a false accusation and blasting the MOE and school unnecessarily.
You still don't get my point on EESIS : if the government makes every student of independent schools to pay $25 or $30 per month, just like all other secondary schools, it can keep its EESIS. If students' PSLE results are good enough to be admitted into independent schools, they should not be made to worry about whether their parents could afford to pay for their education in independent schools, or whether their parents are poor enough to win the government's sympathy to subsidise their fees in independent schools! Students should be focused on deciding which schools they are eligible to get in and which schools they would like to go in.
all independent schools have financial assistance plan for needy children, even for non-compulosry items like overseas trip.
no kids in independent school is deprived.
you are so deprived in all the info -
Fern-Leaf:
keroppi:
[quote=\"onemore\"]I think the fundamental question is – are the fees now getting too high as such limits the choices that some parents could make?
Are there that many independent schools in Singapore :? Like what some parents have pointed out, (apart from EEISS) there are financial assistance plans in place if one really cannot afford the fees. Everyone will be given that application form.
You should ask how many \"independent schools\" the government wants to name.
Even Wee Cho Yaw's grand children would be given the application form if they asked for one, who doesn't know!
Care to define what you meant by \"if one really cannot afford the fees\"?[/quote]even if wee cho yaw's grand children were to be given the form, it does not mean he/she will get financial assistance if the family income does not justify financial assistance
if the family income of the kid justifies it, they will get it
being a grand child of wee cho yaw does not necessarily mean the grand child has a share of wee cho yaw's wealth
duh !
Hello! It looks like you're interested in this conversation, but you don't have an account yet.
Getting fed up of having to scroll through the same posts each visit? When you register for an account, you'll always come back to exactly where you were before, and choose to be notified of new replies (either via email, or push notification). You'll also be able to save bookmarks and upvote posts to show your appreciation to other community members.
With your input, this post could be even better 💗
Register Login