Discover Yahoo! With Your Friends

Learn more
 

YOUR FRIENDS' ACTIVITY

    Polytechnics, ITEs to raise school fees for AY 2012

    By Fann Sim | Yahoo! Newsroom – Sat, Feb 11, 2012

    Local polytechnics and the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) will be raising fees for all Singaporean students, new permanent residents (PR) and international students for the upcoming Academic Year (AY) 2012.
     
    PRs and international polytechnic students will see the largest hike compared to Singapore citizen students.
     
    In polytechnics, fees for new students who are PRs will increase by 22 per cent to $4,500 per academic year while international students will have to pay $7,500.
     
    Fees for new citizen students will jump by 2.3 per cent to $2,250 from $2,200.
     
    Fees for existing students who are PRs or international students will also increase, but by smaller amounts while the Polytechnic-Foreign Specialised Institution (Poly-FSI) degree courses will also be affected.
     
    The fees apply to all five polytechnics namely Nanyang Polytechnic, Ngee Ann Polytechnic, Republic Polytechnic, Singapore Polytechnic and Temasek Polytechnic.
     
    Fare hike for Polytechnic students. (Screengrab from press release)
     
    According to Channel NewsAsia, ITE’s annual school fees for both the Nitec and Higher Nitec courses will be affected.

    For new students taking the Nitec courses:
    - Singapore citizens: 7 per cent increase from $280 to $300
    - PRs: 114 per cent increase from $1,870 to $4,400
    - International students: 167 per cent increase from $3,740 to $10,000

    For new students taking the Higher Nitec courses:
    - Singapore citizens: 3.8 per cent increase from $516 to $536
    - PRs: 107 per cent increase from $3,450 to $7,150
    - International students: 160 per cent increase from $6,880 to $17,870
     
    For Singaporean students taking the Technical Engineer Diploma course, fees will go up by 2.3 per cent from $2,200 to $2,250 per year.
     
    For the Technical Diploma in Culinary Arts course, fees will go up by 2 per cent from $2,510 to $2,560.
     
    Existing PR and international ITE students admitted before the upcoming AY will also pay higher fees based on the fee structure at the point of their admission.
     
    The polytechnics and ITE said the fee increases are necessary to help them defray the increasing cost of delivering a high quality education.
     
    "The higher fee increases for PR and international students are to more clearly differentiate the privileges enjoyed by citizens over PRs and international students," the polytechnics added in a joint press statement.

    Some parents said that they were disappointed to hear about the news.

    Josephine Lim, a housewife with a 17-year-old son who recently got his posting result, felt that the increment should be announced earlier before O-level students made their choices.

    "I feel a little disappointed that the polytechnics announced this only after the posting results are out. For students who are PRs and international students, this announcement may make a difference to their study options," Lim said.

    Nicole Lai, 21, who will be entering one of the polytechnics said,"I think it's unfair for them to suddenly raise prices just like that. My parents are helping to pay for my education but with this hike, I may have to work part-time to lessen the financial burden."

    However, another concerned parent felt that it is good that the government is differentiating citizens from PRs and international students.

    "The fee hike definitely differentiates citizens from PRs and internationals students," said 47-year-old engineer Sim Leong Chuan.

    "With such a steep increase, the international students might reconsider coming to Singapore to study and in turn, we may see more vacanies open up for our own local students," Sim added.

    How do you feel about this article?

    Loading...
     
    • thethethe
      thethethe  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Singapreans must know,
      If you dun cahange them, PAP will change you from:
      Happy to sad,
      Rich to poor.
      So, do not be blurr blurr and keep trying to believe them that they (PAP) will change.
      Vote wisely on GE2016 and change our singapore to a better future.
      Remamber, should not believe any more "Sorry" from PAP again........
      • steven Lin
        steven Lin 3 months ago
        2pid PAP propaganda, Other party will 100% make it worse...
    • William
      William  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Guys, please dun blame the govt.
      There is a real urgent need to increase the fees so that the surplus can be used to sponsor the student they invited from the China village.
      They really need the surplus to substain the livelihood of the family's member who come together with that sponsor child.
      This child will be well taken care of as this "new citizen" will be grateful to PAP and will vote for them till the end of their life.
    • retro
      retro  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      It goes further to show, the attitude of the Government. They decided to MILK THE COW TILL BLOOD COMES. Tell us to save cost and spend wisely. YOU SUCK.
      • thethethe
        thethethe 3 months ago
        Yes, they keep ask save to save cost and spend wisely, why ?
        Ensure them got all the cow to milk.
      • Hosehbo
        Hosehbo 3 months ago
        Give you S$ 100 for rebate, and later suck you dry including your saving of S$ 200. They have been doing this for years......why 60% of the locals still don't see it???
    • ho
      ho  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      where is the usless white rambuTan he nowhere after PE he is coward person same as his son (Patrick) dare to do don't dare to admit
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Sun will raise and will down...
      PAP will raise but never down.. maybe need to shoot them down...
      • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
        hahaha good one peter
      • Kimgold
        Kimgold 3 months ago
        Agreed, agreed, agreed. But where to get a loaded gun?
      • Wealthy Assets
        Wealthy Assets 3 months ago
        Tear down the PAP (HDB, LTA, URA, MOE, MOH etc ) and their commerical entities DBS, SMRT, SIA, Keppel, Sembawang etc

        They are simply blood suckers
    • thethethe
      thethethe  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Yes, Keep vote for PAP and you will die with cock stand.
      If you keep believe PAP, you sure to be suffer day by day.
      • Acala
        Acala 3 months ago
        Vote for PAP & this is what we get...
        What Exactly Are The Oppositions Doing!!! during GE they talk about lowing costs & such... now they just disappear...
      • Jd
        Jd 3 months ago
        PAP are the majority in the parliament. They can blindly ignore Opposition team's vote.
    • peter
      peter  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      what quality you talking about ... Singaporean with Singapore School cannot get a jobs with Singapore qualification and foreigner with their so call,not so good qualification as you claimed .. but they get their jobs easily... so you tell me .... which is better
      • steven Lin
        steven Lin 3 months ago
        they are better because they have jobs experiences of related field rather then Singapore kids whose parent give them a wrong mindset of "you should Finish your studies Before going out to the society to work".that's bullshit and ruin your kids life!!!!
    • mlm.pro
      mlm.pro  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      seems pap not not keen to promote singapore as education hub.sudden change of heart-i wonder why??
    • gnow
      gnow  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Everything is on the way up. The taxi fare, electrical tariff, tuition fee, etc. Even the population in up. Is there nothing coming down?
    • peter
      peter  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      people from other country came here with their so call not so quality certificate ..get their jobs faster then Singaporean ..yet ..our school tell us that their education is better.. aND BETTER QUALITY.../ IF YOU WANT MORE MONEY ,WHY NOT SAY SO .... DAMN IT
    • wwe
      wwe  •  3 months ago
      We got a reduction in Ministerial pay, where did the money go?
      can we use this reduction saved($$) to "offset" this educational cost?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      This is bad as i was in Higher Nitec last tyme.
    • Karl
      Karl  •  3 months ago
      From the string of price hikes coming up, it looks like the ruling party is going to drive out all the reminding of the natives so they can plan ahead of their newly created citizenships to keep them in power, singaporeans are finshed for good.
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Where $$$$$ is to be tapped, greedy PAP will not let it slipped it's fingers! These greedy million dollars ministers have turned every sectors in Singapore into big money churning machines. Now even education is not spared. They knowingly create more and more PAP haters bcos they know jolly well that if they dont suck us dry now, come 2016 they'll never get the chance anymore. We must stay united and KICK their ass out!!
    • ng
      ng  •  3 months ago
      TIN PEI LING MUST BE VERY HAPPY B4 GE SHE CLAIMS OUR EDUCATION FEE IS VERY LOW AND INCOME GAP NOT GOVT FAULT SO PAY PEANUTS GET MONKEY VERY BIG THANKS TO 60% NO BACKBONE
    • Seido
      Seido  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Well Done GOV, call us sgean to have more kids, now u start increase the education, food, transport and all other stuff.
      WAT A GOOD MOTIVATION MOVE by U !!!!!!!!
    • Spore's Got F Talent
      Spore's Got F Talent  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      This is too way too obvious, old trick reusing at its best
      1) This big difference in prices is to trick PR and foreigners to take up citizenship.
      2) Those who are still unwilling will have to pay the high price thus recuperating the amounts spent on scholarships and operating costs subsidies given to PRs and foreigners
      3) Current citizens will also feel that the government is finally listening to the people to set big difference in benefits between citizens, PRs and foreigners, thus repairing the damaged image of the government

      Stage 2 of Preparation for GE 2016 has begun
      May the Citizenship/Blood Transfusion begin
      2011 voting population 2.3 mil
      2016 voting population 4 mil, where did the big jump come from?

      Guys, comment to bump this post
    • Joseph
      Joseph  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      My dad is a 'Ka lang Gu Ni', earning less than 50 dollars a day, and I am still studying in Polytechnic. My heart breaks when I see him working so hard everyday in order to pay my school fees and have decent meals to eat for the 2 of us. I wish the minister could see clearly that not all families are having a 4 digit income earning more than $3000 over per month. Several families in Singapore are struggling to even survive the cost of living everyday.
    • Northern L
      Northern L  •  3 months ago
      INFLATION....INFLATION....
    • We Got Screwed LOL
      We Got Screwed LOL  •  3 months ago
      Hmmm the Gov want the Singaporeans to hv more babies but they increased the price of education. Why not the Singapore gov subsidize the Singaporeans education and charge loads of money on the foreigners. Hey anyway Singapore is supposedly to hv the best education system in the world right. I am sure those foreigners won't mind paying.
     Post a comment
    More from Yahoo! Singapore