Wednesday 29 April 2015

[Straits Times] Spare students the inconvenience of travel

SUNDAY'S report ("High-rise JC delayed by 'new LTA requirement'") noted that the new junior college cannot move into its interim campus in Bishan Street 14 in 2017 because St Joseph's Institution (SJI), which is occupying the site, cannot move out.
The reason for this is that upgrading works at its Malcolm Road site have not started.
In fact, the tender has yet to be awarded.
Why is this so?
SJI moved out of its Malcolm Road premises in December 2013.
What has been done since then?
The current Integrated Programme cohorts of Catholic High, Singapore Chinese Girls' and CHIJ St Nicholas Girls' schools were promised a new JC.
Many parents, myself included, living in the Bishan/Ang Mo Kio area chose to enrol our children in these schools because of the proximity of the schools and the promised JC to our homes.
We cannot help but feel played out by the way things have turned out.
Now, we are thinking of switching our children to the O-level track, so they can choose JCs nearer home when the time comes.
Another solution would be for SJI to move to the Mount Sinai site, so that the new JC can move into the Bishan campus.
It is bad enough that the Ministry of Education cannot deliver the new JC as promised.
At least spare the students the inconvenience of travelling to a far-off site.
Chia Guan Sey (Ms)