Low-cost Australian education in Singapore

[CrispyChicken]

Ok this is pure hypothetical, but after a some basic research and finding expat schools either hideously expensive or too hard to organise (application process, entry exams, wait lists, etc), I'm wondering if there would be a market for casual-based, Australian-standard, home style schooling in Singapore?
ie An experienced and qualified Australian school teacher runs a class of say 8-12 kids, and enrollment would be per term to cater for emergency or Short Term Stay type situations. Fees would be in the region $2000/term.

Anyone think this is a workable idea? (Yes I'm sure it's probably illegal, but I'm also sure I could make it work if there's a market for it).

If I move to Singapore my teacher wife will home schooling our child, so why not share the love and make a bit of pocket money on the side?

[The Ref]

Even if you average 10 kids at $2000pm with 4 terms that totals $80,000 per year. Assuming you would need a place to do this and insurance I dont think this would be viable.
Secondly, why would I risk my childrens education to an unknown home school - accreditation would help but there is more costs. Children would be of mixed age which is not great for the kids, and if either you child or wife are sick you would need a backup teacher.

You could aim it at people on waiting lists for International Schools, but I dont really think it would fly.

[CrispyChicken]

Thanks for the feedback, but this would be aimed at people who are in a situation where they have their kids sitting around for months waiting for a place at a real school. It would be completely unofficial (ie like home schooling, but by someone else who is actually qualified), but if you had the choice of your child watching TV all day or getting taught the NSW curriculum by a qualified teacher what would you choose? Even if you had no education and treated it like a child minding service with some learning thrown in?
10 kids might be too high, maybe 5 or 6 would be more appropriate. It could be done at home or down the local park.
In any case the detail could be worked out. I just see a need for some sort of casual educational options for the expats who don't have the time or money to go through an International School.
If I knew of an existing service like this I would send my child there, surely I'm not the only one?

[sundaymorningstaple]

I doubt very seriously it would fly with the authorities in the first place. You would have to initially get an entrepass and that would incompass having to invest at least 50K up front AND you would have to show a certain turnover and hiring of locals staff. Go here to have a read for more details:

http://www.mom.gov.sg/foreign-manpower/ ... fault.aspx

http://forum.singaporeexpats.com/ftopic78558.html

[CrispyChicken]

I think you misunderstand, this is not a real business, there is no paperwork or anything official, you are merely looking after someone's kids for cash, much like babysitting.
Think of it like home schooling your own child. You stay at home and teach your child some stuff. The only difference with this is that other people's kids are there too, and it's all cash.

[CrispyChicken]

I should also note, this is NOT designed to get rich. If my wife is at home, home-schooling, then why not help out some other people in the same boat for a little pocket money to help pay the bills?

[x9200]

So you will be deliberately running something illegal working without a proper pass and not paying taxes. Sounds like a good plan that would attract kids in need who want to be educated
More seriously you will risk anything from hefty fines to to be asked to leave the country or both.

[Jeppo]

So providing a service for money without paperwork or anything official is not a business?

[CrispyChicken]

Ok it's becoming obvious I'm asking the wrong crowd here.
Clearly no one understands the concept of babysitting so I guess I'll move on...

[sundaymorningstaple]

Babysitting is a job as well. Anything you get paid to do is a job and is subject to the laws of Singapore. ESPECIALLY if you are a foreigner.

[The Ref]

Ok it's becoming obvious I'm asking the wrong crowd here.
Clearly no one understands the concept of babysitting so I guess I'll move on...

I think the general understanding of board members may be more that you are giving credit. You are considering offering a serivce with no paperwork but costing $2000 per month.

As a comprison, people caught hiring a part time cleaner (also with no paperwork, and costing maybe $250 - $400 per month) who is not legal to work face fines of many thousands of dollars, and the person caught offering the service is fined and may be Jailed for up to 6 months. A case I heard of the cleaner was originally hired using an agency but the person using her was still fined over $8000. The Cleaners original employer was also fined for providing a pass on false pretenses.

In the following sentence the equivalent of the Employer would be the people paying you to provide the schooling service. While this relates to maids "About 85 employers were fined and five were jailed between two and six weeks, either for hiring the workers illegally or allowing their own maids to work elsewhere. "

I understand you wish to do this "off the books" but in doing so you are undertaking a very dangerous and highly risky venture where people who actually live in Singapore are suggesting it is the fast lane to deportation. In another thread a Singaporean citizen's wife is being deported for working as a dancer without a proper permit. Of course you may never be caught, but that is the risk you are taking.

It is possible you may have a better understanding of Singapore Law as neither SMS nor I are Lawyers, but it doesnt look like you understand the environment here.

[CrispyChicken]

I guess things are a lot stricter there then I thought (I know it's strict, but that is really extreme).
As you probably know, there is a cash economy everywhere and although it's technically not legal anywhere, most govts don't bother chasing the small fish (note it's $2000/term, not a week - this would work out to about $40/day). If you give your neighbour $40 to babysit your kids when you went out would the govt chase this up? How would they even find out?
As I said it's not a big plan to make a profitable business, it was just an idea to help some people out who are in a similar predicament. After all that, I asked my wife about it and she said she wasn't interested, she'd rather just be a stay at home mum and live the high life

[sundaymorningstaple]

She seems to be the realistic one. Good on 'er!