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http://edvantage.com.sg/edvantage/n...ee_school_closed_but_he_still_has_to_pay.html
No degree, no school, but still forced to pay
Edvantage | Wed Sep 22 2010
Man has to continue to pay $600 in monthly installments for the next three years, after closure of Brookes Business School.
One year after the closure of Brookes Business school, an ex-student is still suffering from the aftermath.
Malaysian Loo Boon Kiat, 32, took a bank loan to fund his part-time studies at Brookes. But now, he still has to pay the school fees by installment for another three years, even though he will no longer get a degree at the end of it.
The Singapore permanent resident contacted Wanbao after reading about the 101 students who banded together to sue the errant private school. They were awarded compensation of $2.18 million, but in a recent report, the students said they have yet to receive a single cent.
Brookes Business School had its operating license and registration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) revoked last July, after it was found to be issuing fake degrees.
Mr Loo had been taking a part-time degree course in business management at Brookes for over a year when the school suddenly shut its doors.
He told Wanbao that he was keen to upgrade himself for the chance to get a higher pay. He earns about $1,500 a month as a salesperson.
When a representative from Brookes told him that 85% of its students managed to get their degrees, Mr Loo was convinced and decided to enrol in the business degree offered by "RMIT".
However, he was unable to pay the more than $20,000 course fees required upfront, and opted to take a loan from the bank and pay by installment instead.
Under the installment plan, he has to pay $600 per month over the next five years.
Said Mr Loo: "Even though it is a huge burden financially, but for the sake of my future, I chose to go ahead with it."
After one and a half years of studies, Mr Loo said he felt something was amiss. He was always missing classes due to work, but the school did not seem to be bothered, and told him he could always make up for the classes next time.
Mr Loo was devastated he found out that the courses offered by Brookes, including his own, was a sham.
Said an infuriated Mr Loo: "I wasted two years of my life, and not only did I not get my degree, I still have to continue to make the monthly payments for another three years! It is very unfair."
No longer able to remit cash to sick mum
With a huge chunk of his monthly savings siphoned off to pay his course fees, Mr Loo has been unable to remit money to his sick mum for her medication.
Mr Loo's mother suffers from high-blood pressure and requires long-term medication and treatment.
Mr Loo says he used to save about $800 every month from his salary, and is able to give her mother half of his savings - about $400 - each month.
However, since he took up the degree programme with Brookes almost two years ago, he is left with only $200 in savings every month.
Occasionally, Mr Loo says he finds himself unable to pay the monthly installment fee. In order to avoid incurring interest on his loan, Mr Loo has resorted to borrowing from friends. He currently owes his friends about $6,000.
He feels bad that his predicament has affected his mother's treatmenAt.
Said Mr Loo: "I would like to get compensation from the school as well, like the others, but I don't have the money to hire a lawyer."
No degree, no school, but still forced to pay
Edvantage | Wed Sep 22 2010
Man has to continue to pay $600 in monthly installments for the next three years, after closure of Brookes Business School.
One year after the closure of Brookes Business school, an ex-student is still suffering from the aftermath.
Malaysian Loo Boon Kiat, 32, took a bank loan to fund his part-time studies at Brookes. But now, he still has to pay the school fees by installment for another three years, even though he will no longer get a degree at the end of it.
The Singapore permanent resident contacted Wanbao after reading about the 101 students who banded together to sue the errant private school. They were awarded compensation of $2.18 million, but in a recent report, the students said they have yet to receive a single cent.
Brookes Business School had its operating license and registration with the Ministry of Education (MOE) revoked last July, after it was found to be issuing fake degrees.
Mr Loo had been taking a part-time degree course in business management at Brookes for over a year when the school suddenly shut its doors.
He told Wanbao that he was keen to upgrade himself for the chance to get a higher pay. He earns about $1,500 a month as a salesperson.
When a representative from Brookes told him that 85% of its students managed to get their degrees, Mr Loo was convinced and decided to enrol in the business degree offered by "RMIT".
However, he was unable to pay the more than $20,000 course fees required upfront, and opted to take a loan from the bank and pay by installment instead.
Under the installment plan, he has to pay $600 per month over the next five years.
Said Mr Loo: "Even though it is a huge burden financially, but for the sake of my future, I chose to go ahead with it."
After one and a half years of studies, Mr Loo said he felt something was amiss. He was always missing classes due to work, but the school did not seem to be bothered, and told him he could always make up for the classes next time.
Mr Loo was devastated he found out that the courses offered by Brookes, including his own, was a sham.
Said an infuriated Mr Loo: "I wasted two years of my life, and not only did I not get my degree, I still have to continue to make the monthly payments for another three years! It is very unfair."
No longer able to remit cash to sick mum
With a huge chunk of his monthly savings siphoned off to pay his course fees, Mr Loo has been unable to remit money to his sick mum for her medication.
Mr Loo's mother suffers from high-blood pressure and requires long-term medication and treatment.
Mr Loo says he used to save about $800 every month from his salary, and is able to give her mother half of his savings - about $400 - each month.
However, since he took up the degree programme with Brookes almost two years ago, he is left with only $200 in savings every month.
Occasionally, Mr Loo says he finds himself unable to pay the monthly installment fee. In order to avoid incurring interest on his loan, Mr Loo has resorted to borrowing from friends. He currently owes his friends about $6,000.
He feels bad that his predicament has affected his mother's treatmenAt.
Said Mr Loo: "I would like to get compensation from the school as well, like the others, but I don't have the money to hire a lawyer."
:oIo:
