Funz:

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:

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.

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...

but you foreigner has mastered the singlish liao har?

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.

Dreamaurora:

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.

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.

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:

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

kooky83:

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

tuition_czar:

limlim:

[quote=\"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.

Not practical to expect a private organization to provide incentive to local students.



.I rather they ban or restrict tuition all together. And IMPROVE the national education program at govt schools.

How about free gifts for local patrons to casinos instead of a $100 levy..

Or cheaper opium for locals....... :evil:

On the other hand, I feel that public transport could implement such a scheme.. they have an obligation and national duty to serve the nation. After all, some of the infrastructure is funded by the state.

If the \"tuition or enrichment\" classes is organized by the school, then, I agree with such a scheme, if the school endorse it.

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.