UWC - paying for places

[Dorian]

I know such a scheme now exists at Tanglin but friends with children at UWC say a similar scheme does not exist there?

Does anyone know how much of a difference this new initiative is making to length of waiting lists?

I wouldn't have thought that many will be in a position to take advantage of the scheme (ourselves included).

[skye]

UWC has introduced a very similar scheme, but slightly more expensive I think. Details are on the two schools' websites. The number of places which will be allocated this way is capped, so shouldn't make a huge difference but if I had put down a deposit and waited my turn for a place it would still stick in my throat. Their target market is big companies moving senior people here who won't come without a guaranteed school place for their little darlings. Worst thing is that it isn't a debenture scheme where the places are usually transferrable, transferability of this scheme is extremely limited.

[Dorian]

What strikes me as odd as that many UWC parents seem to be in the dark about it? My friend said I was wrong as she said she'd have heard of it. Her daughter is at UWC.

Thanks.

I imagine on the plus side the extra money will benefit exisiting children at the school, facilities etc.

A friend said that this scheme has been operating for years in Hong Kong and they are doing similar here now.

[cbavasi]

dorian - just sent you PM with info i got from tanglin today about that very subject.

[Dorian]

Many thanks, have replied.

[skye]

Not exactly like Hong Kong. Lots of places have a debenture scheme where you buy the right to a place in school, a bit like a transferrable club membership. It has a resale value and can be transferred between children. That's not what TTS and UWC have introduced here, where it is a one time only advantage unless the child leaves within a very short window. It is more in the way of a "donation" which gives a one-off placement advantage.

[sundaymorningstaple]

So some of the schools are now operating like the officials of the Indonesian Government? Graft will facilitate the cutting of the queue? Sad. So much for the teaching of ethics.......

[skye]

To be fair, SMS, no individual connected with the schools will make a financial profit from these payments. The money will be used to improve school facilities for students and subsidise scholarship places. As trust schools the management do plough money back into improving materials and facilities.

[sundaymorningstaple]

Fair enough, but I just think it's sad that "those that have the most" get to jump the queue. What happens when the brightest kids don't have a chance because somebody else's parents just happened to have more money. I know nobody as an individual profits from the grease and the money is plowed back into the facilities.....

Well that's not entirely true either is it. The "Rich Parents"'s kids profit even if they aren't the most deserving. Oh well, another bastion falls I guess .....

[sprite]

It's very similar to the debenture system in use in Hong Kong as stated by earlier. I see nothing wrong with it. You know a lot of these schools were created specifically to educate the children of businessmen working here. It is in the Articles of Association filed with the government. Why shouldn't a corporation be allowed to pay to ensure this happens?

From what I understand, individuals can not use the nominee program only corporations. How else are they going to build that new campus? A bake sale?

When BP wants to move 50 more families here, but the schools have waitlists -- what do you think happens? The Singapore government, as long as they want those 50 families (and for now they still do) will put pressure on the schools to create more space.

The system is a win-win. New campus gets built, all the names come off the waitlist.

[Stay Cool]

Well that's not entirely true either is it. The "Rich Parents"'s kids profit even if they aren't the most deserving. Oh well, another bastion falls I guess .....[/quote]

Many parents who send their children to International Schools have their the school paid by their employer as expatriates or they are on local contracts that has the fee component factored in. So aren't expatriate parents who send their kids to these schools relatively speaking 'rich' anyway? Think of the poor child who has no opportunity of education at all. ..........how is the extra money raised going to help them?

Most companies that are making a phlanthropic donation to the schools to reserve a small percentage of places have in the past made substantial contribution to these International Schools to help support deserving scholars. Most already have had their employees children at the school over several years! This way they are simply increasing their contribution further, and also giving the children of parents who have their children on the waitlist the opportunity to get off the waitlist sooner rather than later. This is a win/win outcome all around - for the Singapore economy, the corporations and individual parents who have children on waitlists.

UWC is welcoming parents with open arms to make applications right now for admission at its East campus for Aug 2008 - 2016. The criteria for entry has not changed for corporations and standards are not being compromised.

Let us join UWC and open our "eyes, minds and hearts" and embrace this positive change.............

[Stay Cool]

[quote="Dorian"]What strikes me as odd as that many UWC parents seem to be in the dark about it? My friend said I was wrong as she said she'd have heard of it. Her daughter is at UWC.


As UWC parent I get my e-Brief each Friday and have received all communication from the School on the new campus and their noninee program and any updates on school activities, events etc.

Are your email contact details updated on the School database when there is a change? It is the best and quickest form of communication........oh and with all those house moves over the holidays .........addresses may not be uptodate to receive hard copy correspondence ....( I was caught in that situation myself !).....

[sprite]

Think of the poor child who has no opportunity of education at all. ..........how is the extra money raised going to help them?

Well, when the new campus is built, more scholarship positions will be available and more service trips will take place to more areas, reaching more people.