HomeStay

Sunday, July 10, 2011

Home Stay in Singapore

We're a couple with a 12 year old son staying in a Condominium at Sembawang. We provide homestay accommodation for young foreign students in Singapore. The homestay is within close proximity to public transport; next to MRT and bus station. All rooms are fully furnished and include:

• Daily nutritious meals & fruit
• Spacious air-conditioned room with personal wardrobe, study area, study table
• Pillows, bedding, towels (bath & face)
• Shower wash, shampoo & toiletries
• Bathroom with shower & heater facilities
• Daily housekeeping
• Swimming Pool & BBQ pits, 24 hr security
• Laundry & ironing service
• Broadband internet access
• Daily tuition & homework supervision
• Airport transfer
• 24 hours guardian care & emergency support
• Term reports on student’s academic, behavior and character progress
• Regular dine-out & activities for students

HOMESTAY RATES
Contact us today to discuss how we can meet your child’s needs. Contact us if you plan to send your child to continue his/her studies in Singapore. Email us at desrealestate@yahoo.com

House Rules

No Smoking in the house.
Air Con in room is allowed to be turn on when students are in it. Air con/Lights must be turn off when students leaves the room. Air con privileges may be forfeited if this is not complied as wastage of energy is strictly not condone.
No stove top cooking is permitted.
Laundry must be neatly placed in the laundry basket provided. (Laundry not placed in the basket will not be washed.)
Curfew is 2230 hours
Shoes must be neatly placed on the shoe racked provided.
Masterbed room are strictly off limits.
Permission must be obtained to use the swimming pool and students must dry themselves thoroughly before entering house after use of pool.
No bringing of friends home unless permission is granted by guardians.
Rooms are off bounds to students of the opposite genders.
Students are to inform guardians a day before regarding having meals at home or else they will have to provide for their own meals.

General Courtesy

Inform guardians if there's a change in your tuition dates and times.
Utensils are to be placed in the wash basin after your meals.
Rubbish are to be thrown into rubbish bins provided.
Keep phones, laptops, audio equipment volume to a considerate level.
Switch off lights and close windows in common areas before bed.
No shouting/screaming or swearing in the house.

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Why Education in Singapore

Education has always been key in the growth and development of Singapore, particularly in the years following our independence in 1965. With the focus on a knowledge-based economy as the driver in the 21^st century global community, education is even more crucial to shaping our country's future.

An education in Singapore provides the opportunity to be part of our network system that promotes excellence in a progressive and cosmopolitan community. As a premier hub for educational excellence, Singapore offers several advantages such as a stable economy, well-developed infrastructure and accessibility, a multi-cultural and vibrant city with a high quality of life.

With more than 80,000 overseas students from 120 countries in our various institutions, ranging from the public schools, the three local universities, polytechnics, international universities with local campuses and private schools, Singapore is an established education destination for international students.

The quality of research and education offered has also lured leading lecturers and professors from around the world. We enjoy a thriving economy, safe and clean living and studying environment, a cosmopolitan society and an array of food choices. Living and dining is relatively inexpensive and Singapore boasts some of the best entertainment and leisure outlets in Asia.

Quality Education

While there are many secondary reasons to choose Singapore as the place to study, the main factor is the quality of education. In this respect, Singapore leads the way.

– Kindergartens –
A structured 3-year pre-school education programme for children aged 4 to 6. The 3-year programme consists of Nursery, Kindergarten 1 and 2. Kindergartens function daily, five days a week, with schooling hours averaging 3 hours to 4 hours each day.

– Primary Education –
A structured 6-year compulsory education programme which consisting of a 4-year foundation stage from Primary 1 to 4 and a 2-year orientation stage from Primary 5 to 6. The overall aim of primary education is to give students a good grasp of the English language, Mother Tongue and Mathematics. At the end of the 6^th year, students have to sit for the national examination: Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE), which determines the next major step in education for them.

– Secondary Education –
A 4-5 years programme which places students in the Special, Express, Normal (Academic) or Normal (Technical) course, according to how they perform at PSLE. The different curricular are designed to match the student’s learning abilities and interests.

At the end of this stage of education, students have to sit for a national examination, either the GCE ‘O’ Levels (for Special/Express courses) or the GCE ‘N’ Levels (for Normal/ Technical course – students who do well for their GCE ‘N’ Levels may wish to progress to the 5^th year to take the GCE ‘O’ Levels).

– Pre-University Education –
This is a 2-year programme that prepares students for the GCE ‘A’ Levels examination. Depending on their course of studies and final grades, graduating students may be eligible to pursue their degree at our local universities.

– Polytechnics –
These institutions were set up with the mission to train middle-level professionals to support the technological and economic development of Singapore. Reflecting the wide range of abilities, aptitudes and interests of their students, the polytechnics seek to train students with relevant and specific skills for the workplace to give Singapore a competitive edge as we move into a knowledge-based economy.

Today, polytechnic graduates are valued as practice-oriented and knowledgeable middle-level professionals, much sought after by industry. There are currently five polytechnics in Singapore, all offering local diplomas in various fields such as engineering, business studies, info-communications and mass communications. Students who excel by the end of the 3^rd year have the option the continue pursuing a degree.

– Singapore Universities –

Singapore’s university education aspires to prepare students not only for today’s world but also for a world where there will be jobs that have yet to be invented and challenges not yet foreseen. Singapore has three local universities, Nanyang Technological University (NTU), National University of Singapore (NUS) and Singapore Management University (SMU), all offering internationally recognised degrees.

– International Universities –

In recent years, leading foreign universities have either been actively setting up physical campuses in Singapore or entering into joint collaborations/programmes with our local universities and polytechnics. Some of the leading international institutions with an Asian Campus located in Singapore includes:

Studies / Tuition Expenses

The current (2009) total monthly school and miscellaneous fees for government and government-aided schools is about:

	Asean	Non-Asean
Primary schools	$146	$156
Secondary schools	$211	$226
Junior College/ Centralised institue	$352	$372

	2010		2011		2012
	Asean	Non-Asean	Asean	Non-Asean	Asean	Non-Asean
Primary	$146	$156	$196	$256	$246	$356
Secondary	$211	$226	$276	$356	$341	$486
Junior College / Centralised Institute	$352	$372	$452	$572	$552	$772

For tertiary institutions, tuition fees are subjected to changes each year. Please refer to the respective institution’s website for the latest figures.

For studies at a local university or polytechnic, the Ministry of Education provides a Tuition Fee Grant that subsidizes up to 80% of tuition fees and is available to all students. As an international student, you are eligible for the same grant subject to the signing of a deed with the Singapore government undertaking to work in a Singapore-registered company for three years, upon completion of your programme.

More information can be obtained at either the following websites or at the respective institutions’ website.

Ministry of Education (MOE) @ www.moe.edu.sg

Singapore Education @ www.singaporeedu.gov.sg

HomeStay

No Smoking in the house.
Air Con in room is allowed to be turn on when students are in it. Air con/Lights must be turn off when students leaves the room. Air con privileges may be forfeited if this is not complied as wastage of energy is strictly not condone.
No stove top cooking is permitted.
Laundry must be neatly placed in the laundry basket provided. (Laundry not placed in the basket will not be washed.)
Curfew is 2230 hours
Shoes must be neatly placed on the shoe racked provided.
Masterbed room are strictly off limits.
Permission must be obtained to use the swimming pool and students must dry themselves thoroughly before entering house after use of pool.
No bringing of friends home unless permission is granted by guardians.
Rooms are off bounds to students of the opposite genders.
Students are to inform guardians a day before regarding having meals at home or else they will have to provide for their own meals.