People Association's OBS School is a bloodsucker unit !!!

[kojakbt]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>23257.1 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>People Association is a bloody bloodysucker! Their Outward Bound School (OBS is part of PA's network according to the website) charges like $300+ per student to attend OBS. This is a bloody monopoly. Apparently all sec school students will have to attend once according to MOE's guideline.

My brother told me that he paid $300 over for his son (my nephew) to attend OBS. 5 days 4 nights. And according to my nephew, food was just maggie mee, some canned food and bread. My brother is not complaining about the hardship and indeed, he thought that it's a good idea to let my nephew rough it out and to experience some hardship in life. It's part of the learning process. But what he TULAN is the amount of money to be paid for going! He didn't think it's worth the $300+ fees.

According to my nephew, there are about 400+ students in his standard to go to OBS. There are about 20+ instructors. For the 4 nights, they pitch tent and slept outside. They cooked their own meals with simple food provided.

Assuming it's $300 per person, OBS is making more than $120,000 in these 5 days! My brother is well-to-do and can afford the $300+, but he wonder how those families from lower income group can cope.

It's ridiculous that PA (a PAP-linked body) is also so gian lui... some more students cannot anyhow opt out of this unless on Medical background.
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[kojakbt]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>23257.5 in reply to 23257.4 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>There are about 20 instructors according to my nephew. And est revenue more than $120,000 for the 5 days. Is it enough to pay off all the 20 instructors?
If this is org by some pte companies who won the MOE tender, I can still understand (but of course I will start questioning MOE why MOE didn't do their sums to begin with). But this is under PA! Is this a profit-oriented org?
Here. This is PA's motto on their website:

About Us

The People’s Association (PA) was established as a statutory board on 1 July 1960 to promote racial harmony and social cohesion.
We do so through our network of:

• Over 1,800 grassroots organisations
• Community Clubs
• Five Community Development Councils
• National Youth Council
• National Community Leadership Institute
• Outward Bound Singapore
• Water Venture outlets

To achieve our mission in building and bridging communities to achieve one people, one Singapore, we initiate and offer a wide range of programmes and services to cater to the needs and interests of Singaporeans from all walks of life.
Together with its grassroots organisations, PA constantly strives to improve and achieve service excellence. On 31 March 2005, PA introduced a service pledge which highlights service values that are critical to the organisation.
Our Mission

To Build and to Bridge Communities in achieving One People, One Singapore
Our Motto

Bringing People Together

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[kojakbt]

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD class=wintiny noWrap align=right>23257.6 in reply to 23257.4 </TD></TR><TR><TD height=8></TD></TR><TR><TD class=msgtxt>$300+ is pretty expensive for a family to pay for 5 days... say, for a family with $3000 family income per month, that's already more than 10% if their budget!

I would think for such an event, something like less than $100 is more tolerable. In any case, their revenue would be $50,000 for the whole event. It's still a respectable revenue.

Somewhere, it just dosen't add up... and mind u, this OBS thing is compulsory for all sec school students.

Sounds to me like we have been unwittingly subsidizing those fat asses in PA!
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[cleareyes]

Assuming it's $300 per person, OBS is making more than $120,000 in these 5 days! My brother is well-to-do and can afford the $300+, but he wonder how those families from lower income group can cope.

I find this abit odd

We have Edusave, so dont tell me edusave is not use to pay for such activities?

But to complain about the cost seem to be overboard. You seem to forgot that the trainers need to be paid as well and most dont come cheap.

 

[sadfcuk]

Yes, and when the shit hits the fan (student faints, some emergency happens), are you still able to stay calm and give the kid first aid or call for help, or just stand there to take the rap if all else fails?

Not to mention as OBS instructors, you have to be rugged and athletic at least to show the attendees the way of living life out in the wild.

Pay you $1500 per month to stay on the islands around Singapore for half a month, every month, will you do it?

$2000, will you do it? Or how much do you sincerely think is needed to convince someone to lead this kind of life as a job, when the comforts of Singapore is just a short boat ride away?

Cut them some slack man, the cost has been like $50/day ever since the late 1990s. Be glad they never hike up their prices much.

 

[soIsee]

Yes, and when the shit hits the fan (student faints, some emergency happens), are you still able to stay calm and give the kid first aid or call for help, or just stand there to take the rap if all else fails?

Not to mention as OBS instructors, you have to be rugged and athletic at least to show the attendees the way of living life out in the wild.

Pay you $1500 per month to stay on the islands around Singapore for half a month, every month, will you do it?

$2000, will you do it? Or how much do you sincerely think is needed to convince someone to lead this kind of life as a job, when the comforts of Singapore is just a short boat ride away?

Cut them some slack man, the cost has been like $50/day ever since the late 1990s. Be glad they never hike up their prices much.

If some PAP set up orgainsation like OBS was set up to provide peasants with an 'alternative' view to life, then do it for free.

It was the PAP's idea and therefore they MUST fully pay for it, NOT asking particpants to co-pay or part pay for it's activities!

Or else shaft the God damn idea back to the MIWs and tell them to shut down all such facilities!

 

[allanlee]

If some PAP set up orgainsation like OBS was set up to provide peasants with an 'alternative' view to life, then do it for free.

It was the PAP's idea and therefore they MUST fully pay for it, NOT asking particpants to co-pay or part pay for it's activities!

Or else shaft the God damn idea back to the MIWs and tell them to shut down all such facilities!

How come the TS got to pay $300?
I have sent many to attend various courses at OBS and NEVER had to pay at all....... the only expenses were incurred when the participants organised their end of course party which they have to foot the bill themselves....... otherwise everything else is FOC.

On the other hand, I believe private organisations or companies that wants to use the OBS are charged....... maybe the TS is from a private school?

 

[sadfcuk]

Well, not sure about the rules now. In the past when I went, it was just like allanlee said.

Maybe the rules have changed now? Students are expected to foot a % of the bill; no longer 100% subsidized by MOE.