Punggol North PCF receives flak for $65 graduation tickets
Edvantage | Mon Sep 3 2012
Photo: Example of a kindergarten graduation ceremony.
SINGAPORE - A kindergarten run by Punggol North PAP Community Foundation (PCF) has received flak for charging parents $65 to attend a graduation concert.
The Straits Times reported that at least 30 parents have signed a petition asking the principal to reduce the price.
According to the paper, a parent, Ms Irene Lum, wrote in last month complaining about the cost of the event, which will be held at Kallang Theatre.
She had pointed out that the a child's graduation is an important part of the education journey and that it did not make sense to make it difficult for families to afford.
In response, the vice-chairman of the kindergarten, Lily Hugh, responded by explaining that the price included the costs of snacks, lunch and transport to and from rehearsals, as well as for the actual day.
She also justified the location by saying that it can hold parents from both Punggol North and South PCF kindergartens.
The Straits Times however, reported that some parents they had spoken to prefer a smaller ceremony.
Five other PCF branches that the paper spoke to said that parents are usually charged between $40 and $50. Most of this amount goes towards paying for costumes.
The events are also non-ticketed and tend to have cultural-themed performances such as Malay, Indian and Chinese-themed song-and-dance items.
Most of these centres hold their ceremonies at community function halls and open spaces in their estates, the paper reported.
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Edvantage | Mon Sep 3 2012
Photo: Example of a kindergarten graduation ceremony.
SINGAPORE - A kindergarten run by Punggol North PAP Community Foundation (PCF) has received flak for charging parents $65 to attend a graduation concert.
The Straits Times reported that at least 30 parents have signed a petition asking the principal to reduce the price.
According to the paper, a parent, Ms Irene Lum, wrote in last month complaining about the cost of the event, which will be held at Kallang Theatre.
She had pointed out that the a child's graduation is an important part of the education journey and that it did not make sense to make it difficult for families to afford.
In response, the vice-chairman of the kindergarten, Lily Hugh, responded by explaining that the price included the costs of snacks, lunch and transport to and from rehearsals, as well as for the actual day.
She also justified the location by saying that it can hold parents from both Punggol North and South PCF kindergartens.
The Straits Times however, reported that some parents they had spoken to prefer a smaller ceremony.
Five other PCF branches that the paper spoke to said that parents are usually charged between $40 and $50. Most of this amount goes towards paying for costumes.
The events are also non-ticketed and tend to have cultural-themed performances such as Malay, Indian and Chinese-themed song-and-dance items.
Most of these centres hold their ceremonies at community function halls and open spaces in their estates, the paper reported.
[email protected]
