Another new international school in Singapore

A $300m international school, The Stamford American International School, is officially opened today. It provides American education leading to the International Baccalaureate (IB) program and education for children from 2 to 15 year olds.

Stamford aims to be the “leading American international school in Singapore”. There is no conflict with the established Singapore American School which serves expatriates. It just adds to the extensive range of international schools available for expat children in the island.

Tuition fees are in the region of $12,620 for a half-day nursery class, and secondary school education costs at least $31,000. “English as an Additional Language” costs $5,000 a year.

The school is located in Upper Serangoon near to the Woodleigh MRT station.

Higher school fees for permanent residents

SINGAPORE: School fees for students who are permanent residents (PRs) and international students in government and government-aided schools will go up from January 2013.


The fees will increase by S$50-$80 per month for students who are PRs and by S$115-$250 per month for international students.

School fees for students who are Singaporean citizens will remain unchanged....From CNA

The above is announced by the Ministry of Education. Fees for citizens will remain unchanged to differentiate between citizens and non citizens.

What is education all about?

Real Education? Partially published in The New Paper, Pg 17 on Monday 01.01.2007
Education is the long term solution to most of our problems.
However, we must not confuse academic qualifications with education! Simply put, having a qualification or degree or certificate, is not the same thing as being educated.
An educated person is one who can differentiate right from wrong most of the time.
He or she will have the guts to stand up for justice and equality.
Educated people know that their responsibility is to protect the weak from the oppression of the uneducated strong.
They will help the needy in appropriate ways, by teaching the poor how to fish, as well as giving them the fish when necessary.
Educated citizens admit their mistakes, and more importantly, dare to acknowledge their errors. They know they will bounce back from failure to success with such feedback.
Being educated means that there will be impartiality and thus there will be narrowing of the double standards that we now observe in modern society.
Education is a never-ending process where everyone values lifelong learning. Otherwise how else can an enlightened person be tolerant, open-minded, and patient while at some times being aware that there are no solutions to some problems.
Being socially responsible is a hallmark of education. Educated industrialists will not pollute the environment, even though that translates into lesser net profit or maybe losses. Only uneducated businesspeople would, for instance, sell fake milk powder, which causes deaths in babies and infants. There is a great difference, therefore, between a socially-responsible entrepreneur and a business person!
A Chinese politician once said, "White cat, black cat or flower cat, as long as it can catch the rats, it's a good cat!" So does it matter to the company or establishment who contributes the solutions, so as long as these solutions can help? Must one always have a degree, or a professional qualification, before one's proposals, thoughts and solutions are taken by society to be valid or authoritative?
There is this joke that PhD stands for Permanent head Damage. So what, if the sixty-year old security guard or that sixty-two-year old tea lady can tell you what to do?
Is it very shameful to accept feasible solutions from senior workers who are unqualified and is it necessary that those without qualification are incompetent ?
What has happened to the maxim Substance over form ? Why must the trend be image over substance ? We must change our mindset if we want to survive ! The time is now or never.
Real gold is not afraid of fire. In order to make this radical definition of education widely accepted, real educators must be prepared for a very hard struggle to overturn the years of conditioning and misconception.
And the story of the three blind men and the elephant should remind us that you are right but at the same time I am not wrong as the truth has many appearances.
Will there be queue-jumpers or drunken drivers when Singaporeans are truly educated?
When will there be educated Singaporeans who can have meals with his or her maid at the same table, eating the same food, at the same time?
Will there be educated global citizens who treat every human equally regardless of color, religion, class or sex?
It is very difficult, but with passion everyone can be truly educated!
Food for thought - Is the over-emphasis on paper qualification dangerous?
Challenge - Who will join me to solve most of our problems by advocating real education?
July 2006 © Jonathan CHEE Fook Heng Author of Entrepreneurship Made Simple?
Nominee, Spirit of Enterprise Award 2007 AJ Mgt Svcs’ PR Consultant : Ms Catherine Lim +65 9726 7237

Tourism & Hospitality Management Programme at Western University, Cambodia

More regulations on Private Schools

‘Private schools will be banned form using misleading advertising claims such as “guaranteed success in life” under a new code released yesterday.’ This about sums up the new initiative of the Council for Private Education(CPE).

Private schools that used to glorify their abilities with big claims and achievements will no longer be allowed to do so under the new regulation on private education in the island. Advertisements have to be truthful, claims have to be substantiated, be fair to other education providers, observe social values and maintain integrity and responsibility without attempts to exploit fears and concerns of prospective students.

According to the CPE’s CEO, Henry Heng, ‘Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that students and prospective students are given accurate information upon which they can make informed decisions.’

The latest development is good for the industry and students can feel better now that the CPE is taking proactive actions to restrain the excessive freedom of private schools in their advertising for students. What is unfortunate is that as educators, they should be more circumscribed and avoid such measures taken by the CPE. Private schools have a big responsibility in not only education per se but also in the imparting of good values and social responsibilities to their students through their good conduct and business practices.

Association of Consultants for International Students (Singapore)

Encouraged by the Singapore Tourism Board (STB), the Association, ACIS(S), was formed on March 2005 to serve the needs of the international students consulting service industry, setting the industrial standard for student recruiting companies/agents, and to contribute in promoting Singapore Education thereby helping Singapore Government's effort in establishing Singapore as a world class education hub. It is to be the link between the international students, schools, related education institutions, local and overseas agents, and Government's agencies. Besides setting industrial standard for its members through a set of stringent code of practice, the main objectives of ACIS(S) is also to promote and protect its members’ interests, the education providers, the students, and the overall reputation of Singapore as a quality education centre, thus complementing our Government’s effort in building Singapore as a world class education hub.

Members of ACIS(S) are individual agents, companies and organisations engaged in activities related to overseas students studying in Singapore. While working towards these objectives, ACIS(S) members are expected to abide by its Constitution, By-Laws and Code of Practice. These define a minimum standard and quality of service as expected of their respective professions. Towards this end, the Association has been strongly advocating the need for its members to have a thorough professional knowledge of the Singapore education, the Private Education Institutions (PEIs) that they are representing, private education regulatory body, private education regulations, EduTrust, Student Pass application requirements and procedures, the living condition and accommodation range in Singapore. ACIS(S) has a training package to train our members and local and overseas non-member agents on all of the above.

Over the years, ACIS(S) has been actively pursuing closer working relationship and collaboration with government agencies such as STB (please refer to www.stb.gov.sg), the Council for Private Education (CPE, a Government's regulatory body for private education, please refer to www.cpe.org.sg), International Enterprise Singapore, SPRING Singapore, Consumers Association of Singapore (CASE) and the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE), and non-government associations such as the Association of Private Schools and Colleges (APSC) (please refer to www.apsc.org.sg), and other similar student agents association overseas. We have been working closely with the APSC in organising joint Singapore Education Seminars and Fairs overseas. and one such Fair was held in early September this year in Phnom Penh. The aim of the Fair is to generate businesses and networking for members, EduTrust certified PEIs in Singapore and overseas education institutions and student agents.

All local and international consultants in the education industry can contact Mr Yio Eng Chiang, President of ACISS, for more information on the Association or on Singapore education at 96433676.

Please refer to www.asiss.com.sg for details

Cambodia Education Mission and Exhibition 2012

Organised by: Association of Private Schools and Colleges, APSC. ACISS, the Association of Consultants for International Students(Singapore) is the organising consultant for this fair.

Cambodia Education Mission and Exhibition
9 - 12 May 2012
Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Closing Date for Registration: 2nd April 2012

All PEIs and Singapore education institutions are encouraged to participate in this fair to market themselves to their Cambodia counterparts. The fair will also offer a good opportunity to meet the major Cambodian education specialists and govt officials to establish business ties.

Places are limited and registration will be on a first-come first-served basis.

For enquiries, please contact the Secretariat at:
Email : secretariat@apsc.org.sg
Or
Mr Seeto Kin Meng
Tel : +65 6370 8842
Email : kinmeng_seeto@apsc.org.sg

Participation Fees

SGD $3,450.00 per delegate (APSC Member)
SGD $3,850.00 per delegate (Non-APSC Member)
(Payment accepted in Singapore Dollars Only)
Fee Includes
· Invitation to Cocktail Reception-cum-Networking on 11 May 2012
· Airport/Land Transfer
· Hotel Accommodation for 4 days/3nights
· Hiring of exhibition hall and booth
· Buffet Lunch on 10th and 12thMay 2012
· Engagement of interpreters
· Publicity

Term and Condition:
1. Open to all Singapore EduTrusted private education institutes (PEI)
2. Open to Association of Private Schools and Colleges (APSC) Singapore
member PEIs

Tentative Programme
The tentative itinerary for 4 days Mission and Exhibition in Phnom Penh,
Cambodia.
(SIN–PNH–SIN, 9 – 12 May 2012) is as follows:
DAY TO DAY ITINREARY
AY-TO-DAY ITINERARY
Date/Time Activities Comments
9 May (Wed)
0700 Assemble for group check-in For group check-in only
0815 Depart SIN to Phnom Penh, Cambodia For groups flying via
budget airlines
0930 Arrive in Phnom Penh, Cambodia Transfer to Hotel
1030 Hotel Check-in Sunway Hotel
1130 - 1200 Assemble at lobby for event briefing
1200 - 1700 Free & Easy
Date/Time Activities Comments
10 May (Thu)
0830 Assemble at Grand Wat Phnom Sunway
Hotel Exhibition Hall (2nd Floor)
0900 Introduction for Face-to Face Dialogue
between participating PEIs and invited PEIs
from Cambodia
0930 – 1200 Face-to Face Dialogue between participating
PEIs and invited PEIs from Cambodia
1200 – 1300 Lunch
1300 – 1700 Own follow-up arrangement
Date/Time Activities Comments
11 May (Fri)
0900 – 1700 Own follow-up arrangement
1700 – 1730 Return to hotel
1730 – 1800 Assemble at Grand Wat Phnom Sunway
Hotel 2nd Floor
1800 Opening Ceremony – Grand Wat Phnom Sunway Hotel
1830 – 1900 Pre-dinner cocktail
1900 Dinner – Grand Mekong Sunway Hotel
Date/Time Activities Comments
12 May (Sat)
0730 Hotel Check-out
0745 Assemble at Grand Wat Phnom Sunway Hotel
0800 - 1600 Exhibition – Grand Wat Phnom
1600 - 1615 End of exhibition Closing booth – End of
exhibition
1630 Depart to airport
1810 - 2110 Depart Phnom Penh to Singapore
2110 Arrive @ Singapore Changi Airport
The above proposed schedule and itinerary is subject to change without prior
notice.
Exhibitor Profile
• Universities / Colleges / Schools
• Executive and Entrepreneurial Education Institutes
• Vocational Education Institutes
• Professional Education Institutes
• Education Recruitment Consultants
Visitor Profile
• School leavers ready to enter university or higher education institutions
• Schools and education institutes seeking for cooperation with abroad
• Government official in education circle
• Education-related Associations
• Officially approved education service agencies
• Parents and students

More tightening of regulations on private education

Only 353 private schools are left after the last round of flushing. The number of schools left standing in another round of qualification checks and tightening will see the number shrinks to about 100. For the moment, 200 of the schools are only operating under a one year provisional license issued by the Council of Private Education and they have to satisfy more stringent criteria if their licenses are to be extended.

The stage is set for the number of private schools to go down. And this is not a bad thing really as those that survived the cut will be stronger and more credible operators, with better management and finances. Foreign students could feel safer to register in private schools here by next year and have lesser fear of being thrown out of their classes midway for all the bad reasons.

The restructuring and strict regulations will be for the better of everyone. This is what Singapore stood for. The deregulation craze to allow shady characters to do as they pleased was an uncalled for exuberance that Singapore had to pay a high price for it. Hope this crazy deregulation thing will be tighten across other industries as well. When people are left on their own to make money at all costs, the real thugs beneath the thin façade of civility will surface quickly to the demise of the industry, but not after leaving behind a carnage of victims.

Another private school closes

Tyndale Institute, run by a Guo Qiao Li, is closing and Guo Qiao Li will be facing charges of breaking private education regulations. She had operated two other schools that were also in trouble. The school was conducting first degree course linked to University of Sunderland in England. In 2008, her other school, Shines College also ran foul of the regulations and she and her managers were charged in court.

About 200 students were affected and efforts are being made to transfer them to other private schools. Half of the students are foreigners and have paid fees of $10,000 to $20,000 each. The tightening of regulations and enforcement had helped in a big way to protect the tuition fees of these students and to minimize disruption in their studies. It could have been worst for the students if the system is not in place for such failures.

At its peak there were more than 1,000 private schools operating here. The stringent regulations introduced to curb unreliable operators have shrunk the number of private schools to 350 today. The state of private schools in the island has stabilized somewhat but it will take more time to weed out all the weak operators and provide students with a more reliable education environment here.

Reputable private school goes under

It had good reputation, accredited with the Singapore Quality Class, which means good business practices. It was profitable. The boss also helped other foreign students in their paying their fees, gave places in the school to students when their schools folded.

Cambridge Institute, better known for English Language classes, is folding up when it ran up hundreds of thousands in debt and unable to pay its teachers. The affected students are being transferred to Bristol Business School and Coleman College, both have EduTrust certificates and are authorized to take in foreign students.

While it is good that private students’ welfare and well being are now better handled, the repeated failures of private school is something to worry about if the Singapore brand as an Educational Hub is worth protecting. It cannot go on like this. As it is, the number of foreign students coming here is already declining. It will affect the business for sure.