According to the article, “How to fund your child’s education”, in today’s Sunday Times (12 August 2012), we would need S$36,000 for a 4-year, non-medical degree now and S$55,218 in 20 years’ time.
And if the child cannot make it into any of our local universities or wants to do a course unavailable locally, a 4-year, non-medical US degree would set the parents back by US$230,000 now and US$700,000 in 20 years’ time.
Whew!
No wonder we need to be a dual income family and limit our family size to just one child. Or better yet, don’t have a child and then you’ll be rich enough to afford a yearly or twice yearly vacation to the Swiss Alps or somewhere exotic 🙂
Isn’t it ironic that on the front page of the same newspapers, headlines shout out, “Get married, have babies” and then you flip through the pages and read an article like this which scare potential parents from even thinking of having babies.
If you are a practical Singaporean (and which one of us, isn’t?) you would sit down and do your sums before even considering having a child. Reading such articles would put a damper on any baby making ideas 🙁
The experts then agree that it is a daunting sum and the solution is to start saving as soon as the child is born. Hmm….and that will probably give you enough funds for just one child right, Mr Expert? So I guess we are 14 years too late and 6 children too many!
So how? Don’t go to university? Since we can’t say, let’s not have children 😀
This is what we believe – God provides. Period. No ifs and buts. He just does. I don’t know how or when. But He does. Disclaimer? God will provide *if* that child is meant to go to university. Yes, I am saying that may be, just may be, not all our children will go to university. At this point in time, we are aiming for a basic degree for all of them but if the Lord should veto our plans, then so be it. It all depends on where and what God is calling them to go and be.
For those who are contemplating starting a family or adding to their family, please do not let articles like these deter you or worse, put fear in your heart. It is not of God. Put your trust in Him, not your financial planner 🙂 He will provide.
4 Comments on The High Price of University Education in Singapore
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I’ve not read the papers, and not thinking about university yet. Just discussing about primary school options and all the “to-dos” list is already overwhelming… To think that to get into a school that is literally beside our home will take us more than 40hours a year of volunteering, and not even a guarantee for a place with all that. 🙁 I’m asking for the Lord’s grace and wisdom to thread this next stage of parenthood and for integrity and faith to believe his providence and strength.
The volunteering option is meant for those with time on their hands or money. If you were a low level worker, you would not be able to get any time off to volunteer. So in that sense I think it is unfair. And now schools are getting picky over what TYPE of volunteers they want. Again, it rewards those with specialised skills. The masses are again left out of the equation.
I know it is easy for me to say, “Trust God” when my children of school going age are not in the system but what else is there? Worry to death? Coz even if you volunteer there is no guarantee as you have found out.
a big amen to that! thank you for sharing your thoughts. its good to read from another Christian SAHM in Singapore. I was just wondering where to get in touch with like minded Christian mothers and home maker. glad to find your blog! 🙂
Thanks Zara!