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'A lesson in responsibility'
SINGAPORE - To ensure its pupils attend some Youth Olympic Games (YOG) events, a primary school has asked them for a $5 refundable deposit.
When contacted by MediaCorp, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary principal Clifford Chua said this was not an attempt to coerce the pupils to support the Games - an allegation that has surfaced in some quarters.
Mr Chua said it was "never the school's intent, nor is there such a necessity"; there was such "overwhelming response" that pupils had to ballot for the 100 tickets the school got for five YOG events.
However, as the school gave out the tickets for free, the intent was to "ensure that our children learn the value of responsibility and not take this rare opportunity for granted, by wasting the ticket and depriving others of the chance", he told MediaCorp.
The refundable deposit, he said, was only for games that fall on non-school days, to "reinforce this message". This was explained to parents and pupils, "and they have expressed support".
Despite the scheme, pupils who fail to turn up, even without a valid reason, will eventually get their deposits back, added Mr Chua. "Children are children. They tend not to value things that are given to them free. But really, the intention is to teach them to commit yourself and to behave responsibly," he said.
Other schools contacted by MediaCorp said response for YOG tickets has been very good. Several, including Nanyang Girls' High School, said they gave pupils from a sports co-curricular activity priority to tickets for the same YOG sport. The remainder is given out on a first-come-first-served basis.
At Bukit View Primary, the tickets are distributed equally among the levels. "We strongly encourage students to go, but if they do not want to, we get another student to go," said the school's subject head for physical education Goh Wee How.
So far, no student has declined a ticket, and the school has had full attendance for the first game it attended.
At Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), pupils are encouraged to co-pay $1 or $2 to encourage them to treasure the ticket, said principal Richard Lim. For those who are unable to pay, the school picks up the tab.
The school bought additional tickets, on top of those subsidised by the Education Ministry. All tickets have been taken up, he said.
Parents of Kuo Chuan pupils had mixed views about the school's move.
Technical support officer Md Alkaf, 32, said: "It's not the right way because if the student is really interested, he would turn up."
Housewife Michelle Bellido, 43, felt otherwise. She said: "Children may not realise it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It wouldn't be nice if someone who gets the tickets backs out when others ... are desperate to go."
Meanwhile, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said more tickets would be released on the spot if there are empty seats at an event that was initially sold out.
CHAO CHEEBYE DOG PRINCIPAL WANNA JUSTIFY FORCING STUDENTS TO ATTEND SUCKY YOG EVENTS! :oIo: JUST CALLED HIM TO FUCK HIM OVER THE PHONE! YOU GUYS CAN DO THAT TOO!
Principal
Mr Clifford Chua
To Contact the School
School Address : 8 Bishan Street 13 Singapore 579793
Telephone : + (65) 6 259 5396
Fax : + (65) 6258 8012
School Website:
SINGAPORE - To ensure its pupils attend some Youth Olympic Games (YOG) events, a primary school has asked them for a $5 refundable deposit.
When contacted by MediaCorp, Kuo Chuan Presbyterian Primary principal Clifford Chua said this was not an attempt to coerce the pupils to support the Games - an allegation that has surfaced in some quarters.
Mr Chua said it was "never the school's intent, nor is there such a necessity"; there was such "overwhelming response" that pupils had to ballot for the 100 tickets the school got for five YOG events.
However, as the school gave out the tickets for free, the intent was to "ensure that our children learn the value of responsibility and not take this rare opportunity for granted, by wasting the ticket and depriving others of the chance", he told MediaCorp.
The refundable deposit, he said, was only for games that fall on non-school days, to "reinforce this message". This was explained to parents and pupils, "and they have expressed support".
Despite the scheme, pupils who fail to turn up, even without a valid reason, will eventually get their deposits back, added Mr Chua. "Children are children. They tend not to value things that are given to them free. But really, the intention is to teach them to commit yourself and to behave responsibly," he said.
Other schools contacted by MediaCorp said response for YOG tickets has been very good. Several, including Nanyang Girls' High School, said they gave pupils from a sports co-curricular activity priority to tickets for the same YOG sport. The remainder is given out on a first-come-first-served basis.
At Bukit View Primary, the tickets are distributed equally among the levels. "We strongly encourage students to go, but if they do not want to, we get another student to go," said the school's subject head for physical education Goh Wee How.
So far, no student has declined a ticket, and the school has had full attendance for the first game it attended.
At Anglo-Chinese School (Primary), pupils are encouraged to co-pay $1 or $2 to encourage them to treasure the ticket, said principal Richard Lim. For those who are unable to pay, the school picks up the tab.
The school bought additional tickets, on top of those subsidised by the Education Ministry. All tickets have been taken up, he said.
Parents of Kuo Chuan pupils had mixed views about the school's move.
Technical support officer Md Alkaf, 32, said: "It's not the right way because if the student is really interested, he would turn up."
Housewife Michelle Bellido, 43, felt otherwise. She said: "Children may not realise it's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. It wouldn't be nice if someone who gets the tickets backs out when others ... are desperate to go."
Meanwhile, Community Development, Youth and Sports Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said more tickets would be released on the spot if there are empty seats at an event that was initially sold out.
CHAO CHEEBYE DOG PRINCIPAL WANNA JUSTIFY FORCING STUDENTS TO ATTEND SUCKY YOG EVENTS! :oIo: JUST CALLED HIM TO FUCK HIM OVER THE PHONE! YOU GUYS CAN DO THAT TOO!
Principal
Mr Clifford Chua
To Contact the School
School Address : 8 Bishan Street 13 Singapore 579793
Telephone : + (65) 6 259 5396
Fax : + (65) 6258 8012
School Website:
