NTU hostel hikes: What is the problem?

last SG · 2005-12-14T20:58:33+00:00

if U chio like joanne peh then U can get on the JCRC recommended list every year...of course stay good room lar...

waitrose SG

I read the news regarding the students' unhappiness over the increased rental of hostel. I just don't understand why. Most of these students are Singaporean who already have a place to stay in Singapore, some of them even stayed quite near to NTU. So in the first place, they don't even need to stay in the hostel. Anyway, nobody forced them to stay in the hostel. If they are not happy with the rent, they don't have to stay there. Why all the fuss about this?

To put everything into perspective, the hostels here are actually very cheap as compared to those in UK and many other places. So don't complain.

dragg SG

it will be very unsingaporean-like if they dont complain.

Mr. Green

waitrose SG

Voicing unhappiness over essential issues are ok, for example bus prices. This is something we cannot do without unless we walk or cycle to work. So compaining over bus price hikes is reasonable to me. But like I said, I believe more than half of those students stayed within one hour or so journey from NTU. So if they feel that the rents are too expensive, then stay at home lah!

If there's demand, the price will definitely goes up. If they stopped staying at the hostel, leaving many rooms empty, I am sure they will lower the rental again.

dragg SG

you have to understand why students are so keen to stay at hostels.

ditzy SG

Its a good sign that property prices are on the rise again. So rising rent rates reflects that. Laughing

DriftingGuy SG

I have a friend who lives in pasir ris whos studying in NTU.

He takes bus/mrt from home since he doesn't live in a hostel. The whole trip requires 1.5 hours to 2 hours thanks to the ulu location of NTU.

Yes, it is a big problem.

ditzy SG

Hey, but it beats going overseas right? Laughing

nightzip SG

sometimes when you stay in hostel, it helps you such that you can do ur FYP all the way till 1-2am, then walk back to hostel and wash up and sleep by 2:30am, wake up next morning 9 or 10am.

gives you more time to study for exams, do projects etc.

Anyway in order to FURTHER NTU STUDENTS' CREDIBILITY on the overt pricing, maybe they can compare NUS hostel pricings against NTU's.

Then, hopefully it gives them more ground to negate the rise of housing. Very Happy

798 SG

it's a good thing. hopefully this increase can make ntu build more rooms for rent. Very Happy

waitrose SG

I have no problem over those students who stayed at the east side of Singapore. I also stayed in the east when I studied in NTU and I stayed in the hostel throughout my years in NTU. In those years, there's only one MRT line, which doesn't pass through my place.

But I find it very stupid to be competing very hard (those points are very very difficult and time consuming to earn) for a room to stay with fellow students who stayed in Clementi or Jurong. And now I am sure some of those students who are complaining about the prices stayed in Clementi or worst Jurong.

798 SG

it never a good environment to study in 'overcrowding' ntu cos it is located at far west. travelling takes time, hope ntu do something.

i really no idea why there is so much increase in school fee, rent and something seem to improve for the study environment.

NTU is made from hell.

darknessfall SG

of cse must complain lah...dun complain, then whats the point of studying? Laughing

last time i stayed in hostel, luckily for me...3 years nv change the price..only after i graduate did they decided to raise the rent...haha Razz

anyway, staying in hostel is an experience, know more pp and of cse, more ECAs for u lah....u be busier with those hall stuffs, but kind of good in your resume next time u know?

Not forgetting all the fun u be getting, in the middle of the night jus head off for supper or chat with gals...haha Wink ..not an everyday thing u can do when u are at home right? Cool

waitrose SG

Yah lor. With so many good things, why complain so much? Want fresh and want cheap oso. How can?

Anyway, I don't think the petition will help lah. If the petition can lower the price, then maybe the entire NTU should petition to have free hostel. So I think they just have to take it or leave it because I am sure there are many more students who didn't meet the room application 'criteria' but don't mind paying the little bit more to stay in the hostel.

BillyBong SG

It is natural for people to be upset when prices go up and not down.

This same group of people have every right to be upset; from the interview with Dr Er Meng Hwa, the prices hike is what from 150+ bucks to 200+? That's a 25% increase? I don't have all the details but i hope it's progressive like the previous school fee hike. A one time jump in cost will surely be difficult to accept.

waitrose SG

As far as I know, they actually upgraded the hall from ‘HDB’ standard to ‘Condo’ standard. So IMHO, that increased is okay.

BillyBong SG

Really? Condo standard?

Where is the air-conditioned gym? Where are the exclusive tennis courts per hall? Do the rooms have air-conditioning? Where's my hall swimming pool?

No price hike is OKAY unless it is justified. And a 25% increase certainly demands more than just a decent explanation.

798 SG

waitrose, which hall you used to stay before?

waitrose SG

From the news I read, there's air-conditioning (where I don't know), lift and electronic card keys. I would say that's a lot of improvement as compared to previously where there are no air-con, no lift and open access to everybody.

There's always complains about perverts lurking in female toilets. So this added security is itself worthy of the hike.

I stayed in hall 2, hall 9 and hall 11. Hall 9 and 11 are more expensive than hall 2 but obviously they are better (newer too). So no complains from me at least. But in those halls, there's no lift and I actually stayed at the top floor. So a lift would be really good.

798 SG

hall 9 and 11 got personaL toilets or not?

somehow i think $160+/mth is mostly for most halls. i lived in hall 12, then hall 2. hall 12 is much newer than hall 2 but most the rentel same price. hall 12 does not has personal toilet cos of public toilet a few step away from room but i find it good cos dun need to buy toilet paper or clean the toilet myself. Laughing

leddy SG

But like I said, I believe more than half of those students stayed within one hour or so journey from NTU. So if they feel that the rents are too expensive, then stay at home lah!

that is just what u think... i stay in chua chu kang, it takes me 1.5 hrs to go to ntu due to it's ulu location... imagine the ppl staying in the east who goes to ntu, it is very very troublesome... so many ppl who cannot afford still opt to stay in hall coz of the time and distance it takes to go to ntu. raising hostel fees just make it more expensive for students... i believe they raise the fees becoz they feel the hall has an inelastic demand, students still have to stay hall even if the prices are higher now.. which is why students are complaining.. they have the pay whether they like it or not...

compared to nus, it is at the better location, going to school is more convenient than ntu. having higher prices is okie, coz those who can afford to stay will stay in hall, those can't just take transport to school.

in ntu, if u stay in the east, whether u can afford or not... most of those east ppl will have to stay hall... if they raise the fees, it just adds to the burden of the students.