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\"?

rains:

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\"!

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.

By 'independent', it also means that they employ their own teachers and principals. Moe does not deploy teachers there.

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!

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!

slmkhoo:

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\"!

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.

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.

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 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.

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:

Fern-Leaf:

Hi,

Is standard in RGS too high? Do most of its girls go for private tuition? That will be another cost burden, in addition to its high school fee! After deducting EESIS, still need to pay $100 per month! Don't understand why education has to be so expensive! And I am just talking about secondary school education!

There are many other schools which don't charge such high fees. We considered carefully before selecting this school as we also find $100 a month steep, plus misc fees, computer etc. However, in the end, we decided to go for it for various reasons. I will probably be returning to the workforce (have been a SAHM for many years), so that will help. Since we knew the fees etc before selecting the school, although I would like EESIS to increase, I can't really complain (too much!).

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\"!

rachelmok2000:

According to the book that was given to all P6 students this year, Nanyang's cop last year was 262. Does that T score include the bonus points for students who take higher mother tongue?

This is what I believed so - after I learnt that my daughter's 3 bonus points on HMT cannot be used to boost her chance in her RGS application. Anyway, we guess she stands a reasonable chance to get in without the help of 3 bonus points.

wiimum:

I have been thinking though that it is about time the quantum for the EESIS be raised. It has been $200 for years now. But the fees of the IS have all been raised and many are at $300. Anyone going to start a petition?

I fully agreed with you! EESIS is designed to encourage top students to opt for independent schools, MOE or the government should not just walk away when parents of these students are subsequently caught in rising school fees as a result of getting their children to follow the path laid down by the government! Apart from high monthly school fee, there is annual miscellaneous fee of several hundred dollars which parents have to pay! It is killing the middle class parents who are not rich,
and not poor enough to be eligible for financial assistance!

Hi,

Is standard in RGS too high? Do most of its girls go for private tuition? That will be another cost burden, in addition to its high school fee! After deducting EESIS, still need to pay $100 per month! Don’t understand why education has to be so expensive! And I am just talking about secondary school education!