Criteria for a Good Student Care Service (BASC)

[jetsetter]

wcc:

I visited one BASC, with intention to place my kid there. My kid is in afternoon session. I noticed that the BASC settings is quite like a classroom, with students doing work at the desks. I was wondering if a kid goes there in the morning, sit at a desk in BASC (doing some work, most probably) till noon time, then proceed to school, continue to sit at a desk...will the kid be too exhausted by late afternoon, affecting her concentration in school? Any one has any comments to share?

My exact sentiments...though you wrote this post 3 years ago.

MSF (& MOE for those school-based BASC) should really sit up and take a closer look at this \"cowboy\" sector, instead of always brushing it aside, maintaining they'd only adopt a \"light touch\" approach on BASCs.

First and foremost, BASCs should not be in HDB underground bomb shelters. I wonder if MSF (the former MCYS) officers have ever gotten out of their cushy offices and visited/raided any of those underground \"chicken coops\" where many 6-12yos juveniles spend at least 5 hours revising their schoolwork? I was appalled by the deplorable state of affairs (of BASCs) when I went in cognito to some underground BASCs a few wks ago. I felt like I'd just stumbled into some concentration camp or refugee zone or Dickensian children's home (no offence to those whose kids are in underground BASCs). :yikes:

Although all BASC operators were told they must ensure each child has 3 sqm space, excl ancillary areas, I notice they all confined the children to their unergonomic chairs within a cramped aircon classroom, from 2-3.30pm and 4-6pm. The only time the students could get out of their \"chicken coop\" was when they took their afternoon snacks. No nap for BASC kids, meaning they must rest their heads on the desks.

I also observed that many kids didn't even wanna shower; they did their homework and attended tuition in their grubby uniforms for 5 hours! I dunno if it's cos most BASCs' toilets and bathrooms are in worser conditions than those smaller cc operators or ground level kopitiams. Underground BASC toilets, obviously, have no windows or proper ventilation. One can imagine how musty the kids' towels would smell had all 100 of them showered there.

During their in-between lesson breaks, i.e. after afternoon tea, some children just sat on the floor along fire escape routes or next to the pantry area where pails and detergents stood, to watch telly or play card games during the hols...In some BASCs, the eating area was so small that the children just faced the wall with their backs to a narrow corridor to consume their food.

Talking about food, some BASCs just wanna cut costs by cooking simple meals using electric hotplates or cookers. Not sure if that's hazardous or not but being located underground, the whole area is sure to stink the high heavens after each cooking session. I find that BASC meals are so much worse than that prepared for preschoolers in the cheapest of all cc operators. The more practical centres would cater food from halal-certified caterers.

In 1 BASC, all the students' 4kg school bags were strewn on the floor, blocking the exit /fire escape path. The centre doesn't have space for personal lockers.

Was not impressed by some of the more established ones. The so called \"supervisors\" they hired looked like back-to-work women with O-level or A-level degrees. I asked 1 aunty who'd give my child HYPY tingxie. She looked at me and said, \"me lor\". I was like, \"aunty you know HYPY or not?!\" Problem is MSF doesn't require BASC supervisors and tutors to be minimally certified, unlike early childhood teachers in preschools who must possess certain specialised diplomas. The centre manager or franchisee is usually the ones with tertiary qualifications and possibly the only one in the whole centre who has the compulsory first aid certification.

The shophouse-type of BASCs were quite interesting--HDB-type of kitchen on level 2 with an aunty cooking at a kitchen stove while students sat in the kitchen to take their lunch. 1 BASC built its windowless unisex bathrooms & toilets in the centre of the shophouse at level 1, when WC were originally built near the backdoor (like HDB clinic WCs are always located at the back with a small window).

Most void-deck BASCs are quite airy and bright, compared to underground and shophouse-type of premises. But 1 BASIC located at a void deck had the messiest bathroom I've ever seen. Dozens of shampoos parked near the faucets; common flipflops on very wet bathroom tiles (I think it's cos I went after 50 of them showered in there!)...Next to the bathroom was Hell's Kitchen with dozens of pots and pans stacked up on the kitchen cabinets next to pails of soiled utensils. I wonder why NEA isn't grading and certifying BASC kitchens? That BASC looked like a 大杂院 located in some developing country in Asia.

Enuff said... :siam: We need to build some premium BASCs in Singapore, please!

[scngia]

I am puzzle how the BASC can be survived as based on my simple calculation, average cost per child is about $12-14 per days based on 25 days per month. Estimate cost is around $300-$350 without paying extra tuition fees. Does not meet basic rules min 35% gross margin for any type of business

[Oscaruby]

It's really a long thread. Seems like the hotness continues.


I agree with one of the posts saying that the children should enjoy their time at the BASC, not only just doing homework.

I'm from Jurong West and one BASC (Sapphire Learning Centre) that I know provides complimentary aesthetic drawing program for the kids.

[accordvtec]

I need to enrol my son for student care in 2015.

Can anyone introduce a good option?
Prefer to be in east, can be around the following area:
Katong / Mountbatten / Kembangan / Haig rd / Bedok / Eunos / Marine Parade, etc.
Any good intros will be much appreciated.

[neodammerung]

Anybody has their kids in Bukit Timah Primary? What BASC do you use?

[kjtigger]

Anyone have feedback for First Love SC and Lakeside BASC located at Jurong west? Any comments or any feedback Is greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[jetsetter]

Exclusion clause in PCF centre's enrolment form raises concern


Source - Straits Times
Date - 06 Jan 2015
Author - Calvin Yang

WHEN Mr Victor Nonis picked up an enrolment form for his eight-year-old son from the PCF Nanyang Student Care Centre in Jurong West, he was shocked by one particular clause.

It excluded the centre's teachers from responsibility for injury resulting from their negligence.

\"I felt that it was unfair. I understand that the centre has to protect itself, but to whose benefit?\" said the self-employed 54-year-old.

\"These kids are still young and they can't look after themselves. The centre should be responsible for the safety of the children.\"

The form has been used at the centre in Jurong West Street 91 since it began operations in 1998. Currently, it has 50 pupils.

\"We are reviewing the form with a view to doing away with that clause,\" said a PAP Community Foundation (PCF) spokesman.

A check with a dozen other student care operators, which run centres either in schools or in the community, showed that such an exclusion clause is rare. But it is still sometimes used for outdoor activities, such as excursions.

\"Our centres do not have such a clause and we do not believe in excluding ourselves and external parties we engage from such responsibilities,\" said Ms Yau Sow Shan, a divisional manager with QSF The Enablers, which runs seven student care centres. \"The safety of pupils comes first.\"

Nascans managing director Seah Wee Khee, whose 10 school- based centres do not have such a clause, said: \"When parents entrust their child to you for their daily academic and character development, they also entrust their child's safety to you.

\"Such a clause will be useful and reasonable only if the accident is caused by the child's own actions, beyond reasonable care by the centre staff.\"

But lawyers here say such negligence exemptions have limited or no legal effect.

Under Section 2(1) of the Unfair Contract Terms Act, a party \"cannot exclude or restrict liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence by relying on such a term or notice\".

\"Such clauses will not carry weight,\" said Ms Gloria James, a lawyer with Gloria James-Civetta and Co.

Lawyer Amolat Singh from law firm Amolat and Partners noted that indemnity forms are no different. \"They have no legal effect and give only cold comfort to those seeking refuge behind such legalistic sounding terms and sentences.\"

According to guidelines providing by the Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF), it is a care centre's responsibility to provide a safe environment.

\"Centres may have different administrative policies and contractual terms between them and parents,\" said an MSF spokesman, adding that it has raised the concern to PCF. \"Our ministry will look into feedback or complaints, and we may conduct investigations if necessary.\"

Several parents The Straits Times spoke to said that student care centres should not run away from their primary responsibility, which is to care for their pupils.

\"The children are young and they may hurt themselves,\" said Madam Lee Cher Ching, who has two sons attending a school- based centre. \"Such a clause makes us parents feel uncomfortable.\"

Mr Nonis decided to send his son to Brilliant Student Care Centre, which is also near his Jurong West home, even though it also has a similar exclusion form.

\"I like the centre's programme - they offer tuition for all subjects,\" he said. \"Parents have to work and they have no choice but to send their child to a student care centre.\"

[taykn26]

Hi


any good student care near SVPS or in Bukit Panjang to recommend?

[dkiasu]

hi all,


any recommendation for student care centre around commonwealth?

[karentanmy]

Hi All,

Any comments for PCS Student Care? Planning to enrol my son there next year.
TIA.m