This will spur them to think long-term about presence here
By Amelia Tan, The Straits Times, 22 Mar 2012
THE Government will be releasing more land for international schools to use, so that Singapore continues to attract foreigners to live and work here.
Second Minister for Trade and Industry S.Iswaran said that leasing out land for long-term use by international schools will encourage them to take a long-term view of their presence here.
He said the Government has been encouraging international schools 'to set high standards and to invest in the resources that are commensurate with the expectations of parents and students in this global environment that we live in'.
Mr Iswaran was speaking at the official opening of the new $140 million Canadian International School (CIS) in Jurong West. It sits on a 43,000 sqm plot of land, which has been leased from the Government for 30 years.
Mr Iswaran was speaking at the official opening of the new $140 million Canadian International School (CIS) in Jurong West. It sits on a 43,000 sqm plot of land, which has been leased from the Government for 30 years.
The Jurong West campus currently has about 1,800 students aged between three and 18 years. The school plans to meet the maximum capacity of 3,300 in about three to five years. A further 750 students study at its Tanjong Katong campus.
CIS founder and chief executive Thomas Tang told The Straits Times: 'I considered setting up an international school in Hong Kong but there was not enough land. I decided that it was a better idea to set up another campus for CIS in Singapore as the Government has been so helpful in providing us the land.'
CIS head Glenn Odland said being allocated a big plot of land means the Jurong West campus can offer a wide array of arts and sports facilities that help students develop their interests and talents in these areas. The facilities on the campus include a 500-seat auditorium, drama studios, an Olympic-length swimming pool and a soccer pitch.
Market research by Stamford American International School shows that there are about 38,000 students in the 32 international schools in Singapore.
About four years ago, many were full and the popular ones had long waiting lists. The shortage of places was so dire that it was a stumbling block for companies looking to bring in expatriate employees and their families. But the situation has eased in recent years, with the Government releasing more land to build international schools.
Canadian Tracy Doberstein, 33, a part-time IT consultant who has two children studying at the CIS Jurong West campus, said having access to good-quality education is a key reason her family will be based in Singapore for the long term.
'We have been here for 11 years,' she said. 'My children are nine and eight years old now. And we hope to stay on for nine more years so that they can finish their high school education here.'
* 4 new sites for foreign schools
State land for international schools' growth to ensure enough 'high-quality places'
By Stacey Chia, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2012
INTERNATIONAL schools looking to expand their campuses will now have a chance to do so, with four new land parcels soon to be released by the Government.
A Request for Interest (RFI) exercise, which awards state land sites to foreign schools, was launched yesterday by an inter-agency committee led by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
The four new sites have estimated land areas ranging from 1.7ha to 5ha.
Three of the sites - in Depot Road, Pasir Ris and Punggol - will have a lease period of 30 years.
The fourth, an interim site in Bedok, will be available until the end of 2015.
An EDB spokesman said the exercise gives foreign schools the option to expand and ensure sufficient 'high-quality places', given the schools' popularity here.
Said Mr Alvin Tan, an EDB assistant managing director: 'As international businesses grow their activities in and from Singapore, we continue to see demand for places in international schools.'
This demand was most apparent four years ago, when many international schools were full, or had waiting lists.
To address this issue, the Government began releasing more land for international schools - through the first and second RFI exercises, launched in 2008 and 2010 respectively.
This is the third such exercise.
Although the situation has eased somewhat since 2008, some international schools say they continue to face a space crunch amid growing demand.
Mr Chris Herring, director of the International Community School in Clementi, said the school plans to submit a proposal as it is operating near the maximum capacity of 450 students.
'We've utilised every available space, and I've had to turn people away on numerous occasions,' he said.
Mr Malcolm Kay, superintendent of the Stamford American International School, said the latest exercise may also attract new players into the market.
The school, which is located in Serangoon, was among those that were awarded a plot of land in the first RFI exercise in 2008.
'Healthy competition can only make current schools lift their game and improve the quality of education overall,' Mr Kay said.
Market research by Cognita, an international education group that runs the Stamford American International School in Singapore, showed that there were about 38,000 students in the 32 international schools here for the 2011/2012 enrolment.
The RFI proposals, which are due on July 2, will be evaluated on criteria set by the EDB.
These include the quality of the proposal, the school's track record and ability to meet market demand, and its finances.
To date, 17 international schools are using state property for their campuses
* 4 new sites for foreign schools
State land for international schools' growth to ensure enough 'high-quality places'
By Stacey Chia, The Straits Times, 4 Apr 2012
INTERNATIONAL schools looking to expand their campuses will now have a chance to do so, with four new land parcels soon to be released by the Government.
A Request for Interest (RFI) exercise, which awards state land sites to foreign schools, was launched yesterday by an inter-agency committee led by the Economic Development Board (EDB).
The four new sites have estimated land areas ranging from 1.7ha to 5ha.
Three of the sites - in Depot Road, Pasir Ris and Punggol - will have a lease period of 30 years.
The fourth, an interim site in Bedok, will be available until the end of 2015.
An EDB spokesman said the exercise gives foreign schools the option to expand and ensure sufficient 'high-quality places', given the schools' popularity here.
Said Mr Alvin Tan, an EDB assistant managing director: 'As international businesses grow their activities in and from Singapore, we continue to see demand for places in international schools.'
This demand was most apparent four years ago, when many international schools were full, or had waiting lists.
To address this issue, the Government began releasing more land for international schools - through the first and second RFI exercises, launched in 2008 and 2010 respectively.
This is the third such exercise.
Although the situation has eased somewhat since 2008, some international schools say they continue to face a space crunch amid growing demand.
Mr Chris Herring, director of the International Community School in Clementi, said the school plans to submit a proposal as it is operating near the maximum capacity of 450 students.
'We've utilised every available space, and I've had to turn people away on numerous occasions,' he said.
Mr Malcolm Kay, superintendent of the Stamford American International School, said the latest exercise may also attract new players into the market.
The school, which is located in Serangoon, was among those that were awarded a plot of land in the first RFI exercise in 2008.
'Healthy competition can only make current schools lift their game and improve the quality of education overall,' Mr Kay said.
Market research by Cognita, an international education group that runs the Stamford American International School in Singapore, showed that there were about 38,000 students in the 32 international schools here for the 2011/2012 enrolment.
The RFI proposals, which are due on July 2, will be evaluated on criteria set by the EDB.
These include the quality of the proposal, the school's track record and ability to meet market demand, and its finances.
To date, 17 international schools are using state property for their campuses
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