http://www.todayonline.com/Singapor...ly-poly-fee-hikes-only-to-new-intake--Iswaran
'Unfair' to apply poly fee hikes only to new intake: Iswaran
by Ong Dai Lin 06:05 AM Feb 15, 2011
Ong Dai Lin
[email protected]
SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State (Education) S Iswaran said yesterday it would be unfair for the latest fee increases in polytechnics to be applied only to the new intake and that these fee hikes have been applied across the board traditionally.
Member of Parliament Josephine Teo (Bishan-Toa Payoh) had asked if the polytechnics could follow the universities' practice of applying fee increases to new cohorts. Such a move would assure parents whose children are already enrolled in polytechnics, she said.
In reply, Mr Iswaran said there was a "magnitude of difference" between polytechnic and university school fees, with the latter at least thrice of the former.
If a polytechnic student has difficulties because of the fee increase, which Mr Iswaran described as marginal, help will be provided, he reiterated.
He said polytechnic fees had remained constant between 2007 and 2009, which was due to the Goods and Services Tax increase and then the economic downturn. The fees were increased last year and this year, by $50 each time.
Mr Iswaran said the latest hike was necessary to meet rising costs and to allow polytechnics to continue investing in capability-building initiatives in order to deliver high-quality education.
"Where justified, it's preferable to have regular but small fee increases rather than a significant hike in any one year," he said and added the government continues to subsidise about 86 per cent of the cost of polytechnic education.
When asked if the fee hikes could have been delayed, Mr Iswaran said it could have been done on principle, but a balance also needed to be struck.
This story is available only online
'Unfair' to apply poly fee hikes only to new intake: Iswaran
Ong Dai Lin
[email protected]
SINGAPORE - Senior Minister of State (Education) S Iswaran said yesterday it would be unfair for the latest fee increases in polytechnics to be applied only to the new intake and that these fee hikes have been applied across the board traditionally.
Member of Parliament Josephine Teo (Bishan-Toa Payoh) had asked if the polytechnics could follow the universities' practice of applying fee increases to new cohorts. Such a move would assure parents whose children are already enrolled in polytechnics, she said.
In reply, Mr Iswaran said there was a "magnitude of difference" between polytechnic and university school fees, with the latter at least thrice of the former.
If a polytechnic student has difficulties because of the fee increase, which Mr Iswaran described as marginal, help will be provided, he reiterated.
He said polytechnic fees had remained constant between 2007 and 2009, which was due to the Goods and Services Tax increase and then the economic downturn. The fees were increased last year and this year, by $50 each time.
Mr Iswaran said the latest hike was necessary to meet rising costs and to allow polytechnics to continue investing in capability-building initiatives in order to deliver high-quality education.
"Where justified, it's preferable to have regular but small fee increases rather than a significant hike in any one year," he said and added the government continues to subsidise about 86 per cent of the cost of polytechnic education.
When asked if the fee hikes could have been delayed, Mr Iswaran said it could have been done on principle, but a balance also needed to be struck.
This story is available only online
