Kinderland
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I just received a reply from school. They said the management is going to come up with a revised plan shortly. Let’s hope it’s something that can satisfy both parties.
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I wonder if this school fee revision plan is for all branches in Kinderland?
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PH.D.Mommy
One can’t just compare 5% inflation with 25% increase. This 25% includes many things. Don’t get me wrong that I support Kinderland (my younger child in primary level although he was with Kinderland for 2 yrs nor am I from the the childcare/kindergarten business). I am just stating what I see. As mentioned in the papers, this 25% increase is due to increase in quality of teachers, also other costs (like utilities & rental). Many businesses also complain about high rentals.
In the past, teachers’ qualification was "O" levels (I guess their salary was around $1300). Subsequently govt says the teachers must have early childhood diploma (certification). I don’t know their salary now (maybe $1600). This is 23% increase. karenjj said the increase is every 2 years, so their salary increase is 12% per year. How much increase in utilities? We can gauge if we dig out our home power bills 2 yrs ago & now to compare. For rental, prices go in trend with property prices. We have seen prices rocket ridiculously. Hence we see bigger increase over 2 yrs as compared to yearly / incremental increase. If we want to blame, blame the govt. They have brought the economy to such high cost of living.
Recently govt also said need to increase nurses’ salaries because there is shortage. There is shortage of preschool teachers too.
There were also an article last year about getting Indian Eng teachers (in primary level I think). There were many against due to the accent, may hinder children’s understanding / grasp what the teachers would be saying. We all know that govt has turn to cheap labour (pinoys, PRCs etc) to solve labour crunch. As a parent, I do not want foreigners from 3rd world countries to teach my children. I do not know whether preschool education will go the same path as hospitals (full of pinoys). I hope I don’t see India teachers teaching in our education sector in future. Not being racist but too many foreigners in many industries have caused social problems to Singaporeans and burden to our infrastructure. -
I have also received a reply from the school this morning:
Dear parents,
We refer to our letter dated 22nd March on Kinderland fee revision, which has been necessitated by the substantial increase in operating costs such as rental, utilities and teachers’ salaries.
Following feedback from some parents, our Management understands the concerns raised and has decided to address them with a revised plan which would be announced shortly.
We thank you for your understanding.
Yours sincerely, -
lovexuan,
If cost is causing you great discomfort, you can look for church kindergarten. They are generally warmer than non christian ones. Children adapt very fast.
I switched from Kinderland childcare (after 2 yrs) to church kindergarten because my son kept falling ill. The switch coincide with his birthday. We bought a cake and sang him birthday song with the class on the first day to settle him down. Another change he underwent was taking school bus from grandma’s house as opposed to I brought him to & fro. -
vfong1:
I wonder if this school fee revision plan is for all branches in Kinderland?
It applies to all Kinderland Preschools islandwide. Not sure about Childcare though. -
caroline3sg:
caroline3sg,lovexuan,
If cost is causing you great discomfort, you can look for church kindergarten. They are generally warmer than non christian ones. Children adapt very fast.
I switched from Kinderland childcare (after 2 yrs) to church kindergarten because my son kept falling ill. The switch coincide with his birthday. We bought a cake and sang him birthday song with the class on the first day to settle him down. Another change he underwent was taking school bus from grandma's house as opposed to I brought him to & fro.
Thanks for your advice.
Actually it's not about the cost factor but more about the rate of increase in school fees and no improvement in curriculum or teachers. I seriously don't mind paying if the school has always been fantastic and I have been satisfied all along. I just feel it's not worth paying so much. When I first enquired and registered my girl in late 2009, the fee was 800+. Then I received a notice about increase in school fees to 1129(I think!) in early 2010. But when my girl started school in January 2011, it went up to 1290 and nobody informed me about it at all until it was deducted from the GIRO account. Now in March 2012, it has gone up to 1610! How reasonable is that? The fee has almost doubled in a span of few years with no improvement in curriculum or teachers. Like you said, rising costs and all. Fine, I accept. But at least show some improvement that can be seen so that the increase would be justified. My girl's English teacher from last year cannot even speak proper English and made so much grammer and spelling mistakes in the communication book. Then now I have issues with her native Chinese teacher because I caught her shaking my daughter by the shoulders just because she could not write chinese characters neatly. Despite all these my girl still choose to stay on with the school because she really loves the environment and her friends. We have been to 5 schools(3 to 4 visits each) with fees within our budget before we finally settled down on this one. I would want my girl to choose the school for herself as she would be the one schooling, not me. But right now I don't know how she would react yet when her new sibling arrives so any changes in her routine is definitely out of the question for now. After being an only child for the past 4 years, I need to put myself in her shoes and take her feelings into consideration. It's not a matter of adapting easily or not but whether is it fair for me as her mother to do this to her at this time...just because of unjustified continous fee increase.
I have considered church kindergartens though my girl did not fancy any of it which I brought her to. Like I have said, at the end of the day it's my girl's choice. Honestly it doesn't matter to me which school my girl goes to as long as she is happy there. I can choose to let her stay in her current school. Save me the hassle and all. BUT who can guarantee the fee will not increase again next year? I am also open to the idea of switching to a new school of my girl's choice so I will not be caught in the profit making nonsense BUT would the school really be better than the current one? I really have to consider carefully. Stay put or leave... -
lovexuan
There are differences between Kinderland childcare & kindergarten. I have heard stories about Sunshine Place Kinderland kindergarten slap children. If I am in your position where I come to know the Chinese PRC shake my child on the shoulders, I would look for alternative centre after complaining to Principal.
PRC is notorious for being impatient. Are they qualified to be in preschool education? Teachers are not supposed to lay hands on children. With regards to the Eng teacher, it seems the quality is not improved after 1st or 2nd round of increase (by sending her for courses or the centre did not select teacher properly in the first place), thereby giving you the feeling of being exploited.
If I think the increase is not worth the quality that I expect (of course there is a certain level of threshold which you are experiencing now), I would source around solely based on the fact of possible subsequent abuse or standard of my child’s Eng being under the teacher on long term basis).
Besides children being happy in a centre, they should also be in safe environment. In whatever decisions we make, we always have our children’s welfare. We have to see bigger picture rather than solely on happiness and disregard the other criteria’s importance. -
caroline3sg:
caroline3sg,lovexuan
There are differences between Kinderland childcare & kindergarten. I have heard stories about Sunshine Place Kinderland kindergarten slap children. If I am in your position where I come to know the Chinese PRC shake my child on the shoulders, I would look for alternative centre after complaining to Principal.
PRC is notorious for being impatient. Are they qualified to be in preschool education? Teachers are not supposed to lay hands on children. With regards to the Eng teacher, it seems the quality is not improved after 1st or 2nd round of increase (by sending her for courses or the centre did not select teacher properly in the first place), thereby giving you the feeling of being exploited.
If I think the increase is not worth the quality that I expect (of course there is a certain level of threshold which you are experiencing now), I would source around solely based on the fact of possible subsequent abuse or standard of my child's Eng being under the teacher on long term basis).
Besides children being happy in a centre, they should also be in safe environment. In whatever decisions we make, we always have our children's welfare. We have to see bigger picture rather than solely on happiness and disregard the other criteria's importance.
I guess we never know what really takes place in school until we happen to witness it personally. I was hopping mad when I witnessed it and complained to the principal immediately. She told me she would revert to me in the evening which she did and told me the Chinese teacher denied so there was nothing she could do. So I sent an email to MOE and MCYS and both organisations sent officers down to investigate. They apologised, case closed and we decided to give the school a second chance as my girl said she's willing to forgive. This took place two months ago.
I think I am going to start school hunting again after my confinement. My reason for choosing Kinderland is also because I would not have to send my girl for enrichment classes since they have music literacy as well as a good reading programme incorporated into their curriculum. But I guess I would not mind sending her for enrichment classes outside school hours and opt for a kindergarten half the price if my girl chances upon a school that she fancies. Will have to see how. I am also interested in knowing what would their revised plan be... -
lovexuan
Don't expect music literacy & reading programme to be same as being skilled in a particular musical instrument / read notes / be rhythmic and able to read words respectively.
I find that kids generally read based on memory. There is no eye contact to the words. To be able to read, phonics is a must. And phonics taught in childcare or kindergarten is not internalised enough as compared to specialised providers.
The musical literacy programme to me is like introducing art to children. Both activities are in curriculum time for childcare. Crestar & Kinderland are partners, so naturally for Crester to make money, need to pay in Kinderland kindergarten.
Rather than paying for activities that you can't choose providers / quality, might as well pay money to one that is to your standard.
As I have gone through this stage, I suggest you to look into enrichment:
Music (if you are going into this)
1) dancing (ballet, tap dancing or whatever dance)
2) piano (either join Yamaha or engage private teacher)
Phonics
Zoophonics is recommended (few branches, Thomson Plaza, Bukit Timah Plaza etc) (note I am not related to this business, just that my son has been to it and I find it helpful), My colleague sent her girl to Growing up Gifted in United Square, same concept.
Read in a week is very academic and rhetoric, hence rather boring and dry.
(My boy no progress after 1 term, teacher wanted me to re-do 1st term. I withdrew and switched to zoophonics).
I Can Read is expensive. Some negative feedback is spend so much money still cannot read / pace very slow. Speed of literacy depends on child too as there are some who are strong advocators for it.
Abacus
Helps in mental calculation.
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