Parent Donated $ to Get Child into School in West

[makapaaa]

[h=2]Singapore schools are becoming as corrupt as China schools[/h]

August 25th, 2012 |

Author: Contributions

I lived in China for 3 years due to my husband’s posting. I paid a sum of money to get a school place. I was ‘taught’ all parents have to prepare gifts for each teacher on their Teachers Day or Chinese New Year. The wealthier ones give expensive, branded gifts while most will give gift vouchers. It is compulsory for all to give.

The teachers will of course reserve different treatment for each child, depending on the value of his/her gifts.

When it comes to final exam, if the child lacks a certain amount of marks to get promoted or go to a better class, we will have the privilege of paying RMB1000 per mark to the school to make up. It is definitely bribery and very common in China.

Coming back to Singapore, to get into a good Secondary school in the west, I have to ‘donate’ money for a school place. Then come Teachers Day, many of my son’s classmates gave gifts to the teachers. I have to follow suit too as my son stood out like a sore thumb as the only one who didn’t prepare gifts.

Chatting with other parents who returned from overseas postings, they face similar situation like us. Now we can buy school places or respect for a sum of money.

Singapore schools are becoming as corrupt as China schools.
.
concerned mother
* Comment first appeared in: Catholic High School openly solicits gifts from parents for its teachers
.

 

[makapaaa]

[h=2]Catholic High School openly solicits gifts from parents for its teachers[/h]

August 24th, 2012 |

Author: Editorial

Please click on snapshot for the whole memo

The Catholic High School (CHS) is openly soliciting for “gifts and presents” from the parents of its students, to “touch the teacher’s life”, in its coming Teachers’ Day Celebration.
According to the CHS memo which was forwarded to TR Emeritus (TRE) by a parent, the event is organized by CHS Management Committee, CHS Alumni and the Parent Support Group (PSG).
The memo wrote that the PSG Exco is appealing to parents who would like to show their heartfelt gratitute to contribute a present to this event, and listed the ’proposed’ presents as ”shopping vouchers, dining vouchers, current digital gadgets or home appliance, tour packages, etc”.
Parents are asked to deposit the gifts into a box at the Primary or Secondary School’s General office by 27th August 2012.
The memo also listed the contact person for parents with enquiries as Bee Yen (Primary) and Winy Quek (Secondary).
Commenting on the memo as a parent, John said:

Teachers are well-paid, and have an iron-bowl career in the civil service. Just like politicians, they should not expect showers of material gifts as they are in the public service. It’s an honorable service, nonetheless, and doesn’t need to be compensated lavishly.
In my days, I simple gave flowers and candy. What has the school system turned into nowadays? Whose idea is it to disallow the students to give directly? What’s the danger behind that? Is there a 3rd party(event management) involved that is cashing in?
Is it just me that is appalled by this idea? Cruises, electronic toys, vouchers, etc? Is Singapore really trying to live up to being the richest city in the world?
​

In a follow-up email from the same parent received just 5 minutes ago, TRE learnt that many parents had complained and that the memo was withdrawn.
However, it is not known at this moment in time if the “gift receiving” was also withdrawn or merely the memo was.
.
Editor’s note: As far as TRE knows, students are not allowed to give presents to a certain specific teacher. By organizing a dinner and dance event and giving the presents away as gifts (say in a lucky draw), then it is not ‘wrong’.

 

[Cruxx]

Moral rectitude can't put food on the table. Be pragmatic, Singaporeans.

 

[syed putra]

I dunno why they bother. You are either born with it, or you don't have it.

 

[larue]

No Catholic high student is going to be advantaged or disadvantaged based on whether or not they give anything. What's the fucking fuss?

Why didn't this very concerned mother take her concerns to MoE? Let's hear what she says when MOE asks for details.