Why increase fees of local students?

July 25, 2012

Today
From Leong Sze Hian
04:45 AM Jul 25, 2012

School fees for students who are permanent residents (PRs) and international students in government and government-aided schools will go up from January.

The fees will increase by S$50 to S$80 a month for students who are PRs and by S$115 to S$250 a month for international students. At the same time, miscellaneous fees are being increased for all students.

Whilst the principle of further differentiating fees by citizenship is a valid one, why is it that when fees are increased – be it for university, healthcare, etc – fees for Singaporeans are also raised?

It appears that the estimated additional revenue from PRs and foreigners may be about 10 times that of the increase in miscellaneous fees for all students.

If that is the case, why not keep the miscellaneous fees for Singaporeans at the current level or, better still, reduce them?

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About the Author

Leong
Leong Sze Hian has served as the president of 4 professional bodies, honorary consul of 2 countries, an alumnus of Harvard University, authored 4 books, quoted over 1500 times in the media , has been a radio talkshow host, a newspaper daily columnist, Wharton Fellow, SEACeM Fellow, columnist for theonlinecitizen and Malaysiakini, executive producer of Ilo Ilo (40 international awards), Hotel Mumbai (associate producer), invited to speak more than 200 times in about 40 countries, CIFA advisory board member, founding advisor to the Financial Planning Associations of 2 countries. He has 3 Masters, 2 Bachelors degrees and 13 professional  qualifications.