Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 1 Oct 2015
Starting next year, fees for international students attending local secondary schools will rise to $800 a month. It is a far cry from 2009, when students from outside the region paid just $226 a month - and that included miscellaneous fees. It is a steep jump even from the $650 a month they currently pay.
Meanwhile, younger international pupils who attend local primary schools will have to pay $550 a month - up from the $500 a month they pay now. In 2009, such pupils were charged just $156 a month, including miscellaneous fees.
This latest revision of school fees is a move to further differentiate fees by citizenship, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday in a statement.
International students and permanent residents (PRs) will be paying more to attend local primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges and centralised institutes, from next year.
Fees for Singapore citizens remain unchanged. Primary school education is free for Singaporeans, while those in secondary schools and at the pre-university level pay $5 and $6 respectively.
By Amelia Teng, The Straits Times, 1 Oct 2015
Meanwhile, younger international pupils who attend local primary schools will have to pay $550 a month - up from the $500 a month they pay now. In 2009, such pupils were charged just $156 a month, including miscellaneous fees.
This latest revision of school fees is a move to further differentiate fees by citizenship, the Ministry of Education (MOE) said yesterday in a statement.
International students and permanent residents (PRs) will be paying more to attend local primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges and centralised institutes, from next year.
Fees for Singapore citizens remain unchanged. Primary school education is free for Singaporeans, while those in secondary schools and at the pre-university level pay $5 and $6 respectively.
Till a few years back, PRs paid only marginally more than Singapore citizens to attend local schools.
The gap has steadily widened and PRs attending secondary schools will have to pay $160 a month from next year, compared with $120 now.
Those attending local primary schools, who now pay $90 a month, will have to pay $110 a month from next year.
Those attending local primary schools, who now pay $90 a month, will have to pay $110 a month from next year.
The MOE also said miscellaneous fees, which are used to defray the cost of teaching resources and materials used by students, will not change.
These fees, which apply to all students, including Singaporeans, are $6.50 at primary school, $10 for secondary school, and $13.50 at the pre-university level.
These fees, which apply to all students, including Singaporeans, are $6.50 at primary school, $10 for secondary school, and $13.50 at the pre-university level.
Fee hikes for non-Singaporeans go back to 2009, when Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Government would sharpen the distinction between citizens and non-citizens, in a move to enhance the privileges of being a citizen.
Higher school fees were implemented in January 2011, and increased again in 2013.
Higher school fees were implemented in January 2011, and increased again in 2013.
About 9 per cent of students in national schools now are PRs, and 5 per cent are international students.
Their fees remain competitive even after the increase.
Yearly fees at the international schools here, such as Stamford American International School, range from $25,000 to $40,000.
Madam Zhang Yun Ying, 39, who has lived in Singapore for more than 10 years, now pays $500 each month for her Primary 2 daughter to go to Farrer Park Primary School. "$500 is already quite a lot, and I really hope the fees will not go up again in the future," said the housewife from China.
"I hope to apply for PR status for my family next year," she said.
Madam Zhang Yun Ying, 39, who has lived in Singapore for more than 10 years, now pays $500 each month for her Primary 2 daughter to go to Farrer Park Primary School. "$500 is already quite a lot, and I really hope the fees will not go up again in the future," said the housewife from China.
"I hope to apply for PR status for my family next year," she said.
Should foreigners and permanent residents studying in local schools be charged more than Singaporeans? Is the raising of...
Posted by The Straits Times on Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Higher fees for foreign students a norm abroad
Contrary to Ms Jolene Tan Siyu's opinion that there is no functional reason for increasing school fees for foreigners and permanent residents (PRs) ("School fee hike may have divisive implications"; last Saturday), I stand by the Ministry of Education's (MOE) point that it is meant to "further differentiate fees by citizenship" ("Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools"; Oct 1).
When Singaporean students study overseas, they are regarded as foreigners, usually paying more than the country's citizens.
Likewise, here in Singapore, Singaporean students should be entitled to highly subsidised fees.
The move is not about making life harder and more expensive for PRs and foreigners here. When one moves abroad and experiences a whole new culture, there must be a price to pay. Are we going to say that other countries, such as the United States and Britain, are out to make life harder for international students too, by demanding high school fees?
Access to education will not be affected. Everyone here receives compulsory education up to Primary 6.
There are top-notch services and facilities here provided by the MOE. The right of children to study has not been denied, as there are schools in all regions of Singapore.
Jong Ching Yee (Miss)
ST Forum, 13 Oct 2015
Contrary to Ms Jolene Tan Siyu's opinion that there is no functional reason for increasing school fees for foreigners and permanent residents (PRs) ("School fee hike may have divisive implications"; last Saturday), I stand by the Ministry of Education's (MOE) point that it is meant to "further differentiate fees by citizenship" ("Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools"; Oct 1).
When Singaporean students study overseas, they are regarded as foreigners, usually paying more than the country's citizens.
Likewise, here in Singapore, Singaporean students should be entitled to highly subsidised fees.
The move is not about making life harder and more expensive for PRs and foreigners here. When one moves abroad and experiences a whole new culture, there must be a price to pay. Are we going to say that other countries, such as the United States and Britain, are out to make life harder for international students too, by demanding high school fees?
Access to education will not be affected. Everyone here receives compulsory education up to Primary 6.
There are top-notch services and facilities here provided by the MOE. The right of children to study has not been denied, as there are schools in all regions of Singapore.
Jong Ching Yee (Miss)
ST Forum, 13 Oct 2015
School fee hike may have divisive implications
I was deeply disheartened to read of the move to increase school fees for permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners attending local primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges and centralised institutes ("Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools"; Oct 1).
There appears to be no functional reason for this increase other than to "further differentiate fees by citizenship". For instance, the Ministry of Education has not suggested that it has become more expensive to provide places in schools for non-citizens.
We are led to conclude that this is simply about making life harder and more expensive for PRs and foreigners - some of whom will struggle tremendously to cope with such high fees.
Perhaps the move seeks to placate Singaporeans who believe that punishing foreigners somehow makes their own citizenship more valuable.
If so, this is a mistaken view.
While some disgruntled citizens may gain fleeting spiteful satisfaction from this move, it does nothing to improve the material conditions of their own lives.
PRs and foreigners in Singapore contribute to and enrich society in many ways, including paying taxes that help fund state education.
The latest move affects access to education, which is a fundamental right of all children. I urge the Government to rethink this status-based policy, as it has potentially divisive implications.
Jolene Tan Siyu (Ms)
ST Forum, 10 Oct 2015
I was deeply disheartened to read of the move to increase school fees for permanent residents (PRs) and foreigners attending local primary and secondary schools, as well as junior colleges and centralised institutes ("Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools"; Oct 1).
There appears to be no functional reason for this increase other than to "further differentiate fees by citizenship". For instance, the Ministry of Education has not suggested that it has become more expensive to provide places in schools for non-citizens.
We are led to conclude that this is simply about making life harder and more expensive for PRs and foreigners - some of whom will struggle tremendously to cope with such high fees.
Perhaps the move seeks to placate Singaporeans who believe that punishing foreigners somehow makes their own citizenship more valuable.
If so, this is a mistaken view.
While some disgruntled citizens may gain fleeting spiteful satisfaction from this move, it does nothing to improve the material conditions of their own lives.
PRs and foreigners in Singapore contribute to and enrich society in many ways, including paying taxes that help fund state education.
The latest move affects access to education, which is a fundamental right of all children. I urge the Government to rethink this status-based policy, as it has potentially divisive implications.
Jolene Tan Siyu (Ms)
ST Forum, 10 Oct 2015
School fee hike may boost citizenship
Unlike Ms Jolene Tan Siyu ("School fee hike may have divisive implications"; last Saturday), I support the Government's decision to increase schools fees for foreigners and permanent residents (PRs) ("Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools"; Oct 1).
This will encourage foreigners and PRs to take up citizenship to enlarge our local population.
Over the years, we have attracted foreigners, some highly talented, to become Singaporeans - contributing in one way or another to build a better Singapore, like what our forefathers did.
Conversely, the fee hike will discourage those with no intention of making Singapore their home from coming here to enjoy a cheap and good education before moving elsewhere.
No one owes Singapore a living. Neither does Singapore owe anyone a living.
Yeo Boon Eng (Ms)
ST Forum, 13 Oct 2015
Unlike Ms Jolene Tan Siyu ("School fee hike may have divisive implications"; last Saturday), I support the Government's decision to increase schools fees for foreigners and permanent residents (PRs) ("Fee hike for international students and PRs attending local schools"; Oct 1).
This will encourage foreigners and PRs to take up citizenship to enlarge our local population.
Over the years, we have attracted foreigners, some highly talented, to become Singaporeans - contributing in one way or another to build a better Singapore, like what our forefathers did.
Conversely, the fee hike will discourage those with no intention of making Singapore their home from coming here to enjoy a cheap and good education before moving elsewhere.
No one owes Singapore a living. Neither does Singapore owe anyone a living.
Yeo Boon Eng (Ms)
ST Forum, 13 Oct 2015
No comments:
Post a Comment