Singapore Expats

Is there any International Schools which have lower fees? We have to pay the fees from our own wallet...

Lower than what?

have a look at sundaymorningstaple link and fone up all the schools. you will have to do your own leg work.

Well I can pass you some info tho for preschoolers... my criteria was to choose a 100% chinese based preschool (there is none, all are bilingual)...

was told that CNIS is "cheaper" than other International Schools (I think they even say that on their marketing material) but as I was not interested in the british, aussie, american, UWC, etc... I have no idea what they charge.

CNIS is about S$16k per year. They also have alot of holidays, ie 2 months in summer, 2 weeks over CNY and Xmas. 830 to 3pm with lunch.

As a comparison I did look into Patschoolhouse, which would have been S$14k per year but I think with much less holidays and I think up to 2pm.

I'd suggest searching this forum for other postings on CNIS. Several parents (myself included) have taken time to comment on their experience at the school.

We are only staying here for 10 months. We are living in Bukit Timah road. Our girl is seven in couple of weeks and would start her school at home next August. Going to school here is not compulsory for her but we would like to give her the opportunity to find friends and learn English, which is not her first language. The only problem is that we are paying the school fees ourselves and we are not getting big salaries in here. I wish she could go to a kindergarten but that doesn't seem to be an option. Going to a local school for such a short period is maybe quite difficult also. Our son is 3 and for him it should be easier to find something.

Yes I saw the posting on CNIS and was quite skeptical going to the school. The admissions officer is also not the "greatest" salesperson over the phone and I had alot of reservations before going.

While there though I spoke to several teachers and viewed the classes and the environment and there are quite a number of new teachers... I guess here are my pros and cons... (bearing in mind I want them to go to a chinese medium), if the company was not paying for fee's I would consider sending them to a local school...

The pros - I liked that they were exposed to chinese brush and ink for art (my children's great grandfather was an artist and this is my easy way introduction without me pulling out my own brush set, which I should probably do).

I was not sure about the small classes as my kids are quite social animals and the school they now go to the class sizes are closer to 20, with one teacher, here there are 2 teachers.

One son picks up language so fast that I think the small class may benefit him alot, the other son is not speaking as early and the small class may help him.

I plan for them to come to CNIS for primary school so I think the nursery into primary transition does not require yet another change of school

They haven't started yet so I don't know how it will all pan out, since I have also experienced a school where my older son did not like it at all. I didn't like their school menu which doesn't seem too healthy.

I was pro patschoolhouse before visiting the school but I visited 3 branches, not all their teachers are beijing trained (not such a big deal in an isolated negative) but I found each branch sort of having different negatives, like one branch the classes are separated by cubby holes so there were 6 classes under one hall, even tho it was Xmas break with less kids, I found the noise unbearable, how do they hear themselves?

Another branch was too close to the bus stop I could smell the fumes and one other branch would require me to go into orchard road everyday which doesn't seem like a nice idea (to me).

CNIS may not be the best school but its always worth seeing it for yourself, asking those question yourself and getting a feel for it, choosing a school is a big choice and cost shouldnt be the only factor.

Hi,

I'm one of the parents who posted previously about CNIS. I think I only posted after the first week, but things went from bad to worse, and we have since taken our kids out.

It sounds like you are looking primarily for a social outlet for your pre-schooler in an English/Chinese environment--this must be the only grade level with 2 teachers. For that purpose, maybe this school will be fine.

good luck

Moi
oletko liittynyt singaporen suomalaisiin? He jarjestavat joka kuussa aamukahvit, sielta voisi saada vinkkeja.

Oletko kysynyt tarhoista, ottavatko he teidan vanhemman sisaan? Tarhoihin on usein jonotuslista, valitettavasti...

Singaporessa voi tehda paljon asioita, missa oppii englantia, myos koulun ulkopuolella. Miten olisi vaikka Julia Gabriel?

Meidan lapsi kay White Lodge nimista tarhaa. Olen tyytyvainen. Kesalla voisi olla tilaakin, kun moni on lomalla. Kannttaisiko kysya, jos olonne taalla on vain tuon 10kk?

MinniMe wrote:Moi
oletko liittynyt singaporen suomalaisiin? He jarjestavat joka kuussa aamukahvit, sielta voisi saada vinkkeja.

Oletko kysynyt tarhoista, ottavatko he teidan vanhemman sisaan? Tarhoihin on usein jonotuslista, valitettavasti...

Singaporessa voi tehda paljon asioita, missa oppii englantia, myos koulun ulkopuolella. Miten olisi vaikka Julia Gabriel?

Meidan lapsi kay White Lodge nimista tarhaa. Olen tyytyvainen. Kesalla voisi olla tilaakin, kun moni on lomalla. Kannttaisiko kysya, jos olonne taalla on vain tuon 10kk?

yes, very useful info for everyone to share in a forum.

Ups, totally in my thoughts this morning, sorry

"have you tried to contact different kindergardens?" Ours go to White Lodge, maybe in the summertime they have space, if your stay in Spore is only 10 months.

There are also other options to be in English speaking environments, like Julia Gabriel?

Remember there are waitlists for many kindergardens...

Quickly said...

I do believe there is a homeschool group that has frequent social events. I do not know the name - (maybe someone else here does?) or I think you can search on Google.
Sounds like both parents are working which may give you less time, however an alternative is to homeschool and use forums like this for meet ups and playdates.
My daughter is 6 and a half and is open to new friends. we live in the East....

teemukarjalainen wrote:Is there any International Schools which have lower fees? We have to pay the fees from our own wallet...

It’s the ongoing fees, which you’re expected to pay every year, like administration & infrastructure that are the killers. Big school with big overheads seem to demand HUGE fees. Plus these schools seem to think expats are swimming in money.

Rosemount Kindergarten is a relatively small private expat school and we found their fees are much smaller too. We've been going there for a year and a half and we’re very happy with the quality.

Well worth looking into. It might just fit the bill - Good luck

daytripper65 wrote:Hi,

I'm one of the parents who posted previously about CNIS. I think I only posted after the first week, but things went from bad to worse, and we have since taken our kids out.

It sounds like you are looking primarily for a social outlet for your pre-schooler in an English/Chinese environment--this must be the only grade level with 2 teachers. For that purpose, maybe this school will be fine.

good luck

I just herd recently that other parents have pulled their children out from CNIS as well, seems to be an exodus of students (and teachers as well)