Doesn't mean I can't kick up a fuss when the situation calls for
it.
Actually the big hoo-ha is actually not just about the rise in the
tuition fees per se. It also has a lot to do with the timing of the
fee hike, as well as the manner in which the fee hike was
announced. First of all, to me it hardly makes sense for them to be
hiking the fees just one year after the previous hike. What, pray
tell, caused this mysterious 'rise in operating costs'? That's
evasive talk, I say.
Heck, I think this hoo-ha wouldn't be so loud if they had just did
all the fee rises they wanted to do the previous year. The way I
see it, they probably misjudged how much the fees had to be raised
last year. Well, hard cheese to them, I say. That's their problem.
Why should it be the problem of the students as well?
Secondly, the manner in which the fee hikes was introduced was
highly repugnant. No prior warning, no surveys and discussions with
the student body.... heck, the first time I knew about this hike
was through this thread. I still thought it was a rumour until I
counterchecked my NUSmail.
The least they could have done was to engage NUSSU in discussions
before announcing the hikes. The way I see it, in the decision to
hike the fees took many factors into consideration except for one:
the students.
Yeah, I agree that they're going to make more bursaries and
financial help available to needy students. Tell that to the
middle-income students who don't qualify for financial help but
still struggle to pay the bills. Tell that to students who have
already maxed out on financial help.
Truth be told, when I was in secondary school I harboured dreams of
being in NUS as a ticket to a better future. Right now though, I
just want to get my degree and buzz off.
Thanks for everything, Kent Ridge. I forgot what disillusionment
tasted like until you reminded me.
