Singapore Expats

sundaymorningstaple wrote:Mayby PNGMK knows, but my children are all married and the one that has children will have a couple more years to worry about it, but they will go through the local system.

No I don't. There is no easy way for a third party to vet schools. As a parent I would recommend:

1. Looking for plagiarized textbooks (sign of financial distress). Canadian did this for awhile.
2. Relying on online programs too much (say more than 1/4 of your kids time) - common tactic to reduce teaching overhead.
3. Combing classes to the point of ridiculousness (sticking 8th grade geometry students in with 11th grade calculus as per one International School).
4. Revising schedules to reduce contact time (a strategy to stretch teachers more)
5. Not openly stating when they last were vetted for accrediatation
6. Hiring friends and family instead of professionals (shockingly common). ASK to see your teacher's credentials and CERTIFICATION to combat this. Another cheapout scam.
7. No clear plan for the next campus

Excellent advice, thank you.

I'm reading this post 5 years later as I'm having a really bad experience with the school. It has been thoroughly disappointing for us and an utter waste of money. It's very clear that the school is pursuing profit versus the well being of my son. Without proper justification they have put him in an early intervention class and as parents we have seen him regress in his behaviours ( he is a confident, friendly and happy boy). I keep pursuing the reasoning behind this but am being given completely foolish responses by the psychologist who is supposed to be highly trained and educated. "He gets over excited when playing with other kids". " he is reluctant to change from one activity to the next". Things that I think are just normal behaviours for a 4/5 year old child. I am putting in a formal complaint to the CPE as there have been so many other issues I've experienced in the short 6 weeks my son has been at school. no replies to e-mails from the teacher. The bus system issues. Unfortunately I would never recommend this school given my experience. It's poorly run, the facilities seem basic (in comparison with other International Schools in singapore) and the staff seem unresponsive.

As expected

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