This document presents a project called "Free Rights, Education for Everyone (FREE)" which aims to improve the academic performance and quality of life of needy primary school students in Singapore by providing free tuition. The project will partner with World Vision Singapore and recruit volunteers to tutor around 12-15 students at various community centers. Details about preparing human resources, physical resources, and financing for the project are provided. The ongoing phase will involve selecting eligible students, conducting tutoring programs, and evaluating the project's effectiveness. Potential issues and solutions are also discussed.
3. Project Objectives
To improve the academic performances of the needy
students by providing free tuition
To improve the quality of life of the needy students
and their families
To ensure the emotional well-being of the needy
students
6. Partnering Organization
World Vision Singapore
Their Motto:
Caring for the needy people
Work with children, families and communities
worldwide who are affected by poverty and injustice
8. SMILE Foundation
Various states of India
Provide free education to poor children
SMILE has reached over 2 million beneficiaries across
22 states in India
10. Preparation Phase
Human Resource
12 – 15 Volunteers needed
At least 2 tutors in each community centre
Flexible tutoring schedule (liaise between students
and tutors)
Each volunteer will be entrusted with 4 students.
11. Human Resource
Criteria for volunteers:
Aged between 17 and 25 years old
At least GCE ‘O’-Level Certificate with reasonably
good results
Able to commit 1 hour 30 minutes per week for 6
months to 1 year
Exemplary behavior
Mature & Dedicated
12. Human Resource
Recruitment of Volunteers
Sign up online
http://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=d
Submission of documents:
A photocopy of NRIC
Results Slip
Supporting documentation of prior experience
(optional)
Teacher’s recommendation (optional)
14. Human Resource
Training of Volunteers:
Venue Clementi Community Club
Training includes:
Revision of latest PSLE syllabus
Methods of teaching or explaining
Ways to deal with problematic students
Expectations and tips to be a tutor
15. Human Resource
Publicity
Email to CIP department of all Junior Colleges and
Universities
Campaign at Vivocity
Collaboration with World Vision Singapore
Distribution of leaflets
Volunteers will be contacted after the processing of
their information.
17. Physical Resource
Teaching Materials
Textbooks
Stationery
Workbooks / Exercise books
Supplementary Notes (Printing at schools for a
lower cost)
Special Equipment (can be borrowed from school)
Partnering with NTUC
NTUC Annual Book Donation
18. Physical Resource
Venue of Tutoring
Thomson Community Centre
Bishan Community Club
Serangoon Community Centre
Bukit Panjang Community Club
Butik Batok Community Club
Clementi Community Club
Rental for a classroom: $26.70
Students who applied for the tutoring will be posted
to the nearest community centre to their house
19. Physical Resource
Logistics
Transportations will be arranged for special
equipment borrowed
Transportation will be provided for students who
stayed further from their venues
Charge per transfer for 9 students: $45
20. Preparation Phase
Financial Resource
Budget
No. Items Cost
1 Class Rental $26.70
2 Transport $45.00
3. Printing Fee $ 1.00
Total Cost $72.70
21. Preparation Phase
Financial Resource
Sponsorship from enterprises
Collaboration with World Vision Singapore
Fund Raising
Sale of Flag Day Coupon
23. On - Going Phase
Eligibility of Primary School Students for this Project
Low Income Family (< $2,000)
Dysfunctional Family
Unsatisfying Academic Performances
Average Score is below 70 marks
24. On - Going Phase
Tutoring Programs
Tutor will suit the pace of the students
Refreshments maybe provided
Mentoring
Revision of Syllabus
Clarification of Concepts
25. On - Going Phase
Ensuring Effectiveness of Project
Evaluation Forms for Parents
Evaluation Forms for Teachers
Evaluation Forms for Students
Semester Examination Results
26. On - Going Phase
E-mails, regarding continuation of programme, sent
to all the schools, tutors and parents involved.
Tutors encouraged to stay on.
Finalised list of groupings sent out by e-mail to all
involved parties by December.
27. Evaluation
Very Attractive
Beneficial to Singapore
Ensure a guaranteed future for the needy students
Resolving Singapore Social Problems
Feasible as Students can take part in it as their
Community Involvement Program
28. Potential Problems
Insufficient experience for tutors to handle students
Inadequate teaching experience
Unfamiliar with Primary School Teachers’ teaching
method
29. Possible Solutions
More teaching courses or
trainings for tutors
Recording of every lesson for
reflection
Interaction with Primary School
Teachers
30. Effectiveness of Project
Highly recommended to improve the education level
in Singapore
Aid in balance education for both rich and poor
students
Less social illness due to the unbalance distribution of
wealth
Good morning, Mrs Chan and fellow classmates. I am Jean and these are Aaron, Kimberly, Nicole and Victoria, all from group 4.
We have initiated a project which is known as FREE, which stands free rights, education for everyone.
The aims of the project is to improve the academic performances of the needy students by free tuition, improve the quality of life of the needy students and their family and ensure the emtional well-being of the needy students.
For our project, our target audience will be the children who come from low-income families in Singapore. Providing free tuition to them will be able to provide them an additional source of help. This will allow them to catch up in class, resulting in the improvement of grades. Thus, this can assure them with guaranteed future.
We would be partnering with World Vision Singapore in order to make this project more organized and resourceful.
They share the same motto as us to “Caring for the needy people”. They also work with children, families and communities worldwide who are affected by poverty and injustice.
Similar projects have been organised and they have prove how successful such projects could be.
In various states of India, SMILE foundation started in 2003 aims to provide free education to poor children from underprivileged sectors of the society. Ever since 2003, 2 million beneficiaries across 22 states in India have received free education from the SMILE project.
Next, we proceed to the preparation phase, including human resource, publicity, Physical and Financial Resource. Nicole will cover the part of human resource and publicity.
We have decided to recruit volunteers to carry out our project. We have decided that each volunteer tutor will be entrusted with 4 students, as we believe that this student-tutor ratio will be just right to cater to the needs of the students. We are estimating around 60 needy children with results below average that require extra tutoring from our volunteers, thus around 15 volunteers will be necessary to take part in this project. We will have at least 2 tutors to in each community centre. Tutors and posted students will liaise with each other and fix a common weekly schedule.
To be a volunteer in our project will be aged between 17 and 25 years of age. This will make tutoring a more interesting and fun process for both parties rather than a boring weekly chore. Next, we expect volunteers to have reasonably good results so that we can be assured that the students will be learning from someone capable of achieving good results. Moving on, commitment is also a very important aspect of this project. The volunteers will be required to commit weekly for at least 1.5 hours a week for around 6 months to a year. This is necessary because it will very hard for the students to progress if the tutor is constantly changing, due to the different teaching methods of different individuals. Moral character of the volunteers is also crucial for the development of the students’ character. As the tutor will be in close contact with the students for a long period of time, the example that the tutor shows will have an impact on the students, especially in the developing stage of character of the students.
For the recruitment of volunteers, they can simply sign up online via the link given. In the attachment column, they should include a scan copy of their NRIC, supporting documents of prior experience and a teacher’s recommendation. The two latter are optional. As part of the registration, the volunteers will be required to submit their a photocopy of their result slips, birth certificate and supporting documents of prior experience if applicable. This is to ensure that the volunteers we have recruited are indeed eligible and suitable for the carrying out of our project and the welfare of the needy students. We will collect the necessary documents from them on the first session of volunteer training.
This is the site for signing up.
Training will be provided for all volunteers taking part in the project. This is absolutely compulsory for each an every volunteer so that we can let them know what is expected of them as well as to guide them on how to go about giving tuition to the students. The training will be conducted at Clementi Community Club. To facilitate the training for the volunteers, we will be inviting an experienced volunteer tutor from the CDAC Supervised Homework Group Volunteer programme to conduct the session. This way, she can not only give useful tips on tutoring, but also share her experience in tutoring students and answer questions raised by the volunteers. After that is done, the volunteers will split into groups according to the subject they will be tutoring and revise the latest PSLE syllabus within their groups. This is crucial for the tutors so that they know exactly what is expected for their students in the PSLE exams and can help them work towards improving their grades for this major exam. Finally, discussion within the groups can be done to share opinions and advice on tutoring the students.
As for the publicity of our project so as to recruit volunteers, we will be sending emails to the CIP departments of various Junior Colleges and Universities in Singapore. The email will include a short write-up of what the FREE Project is about, and also the link to the online registration form. Interested students can then proceed to registering and take the first step in making a difference in a needy student’s life. An event will also be organized at Vivocity to promote this project, where leaflets will be given out with information about the project and details on how to sign up. Following up, I shall pass on to Kimberly.
Thanks, Nicole. I will be covering the next two portions of the Preparation Phase, which includes the Physical and Financial Resource. In the Part of Physical Resource, we have three main concerns, which are teaching material, venue for tutoring and logistics.
As for teaching materials, we understand that we ought to prepare textbooks, stationery, workbooks, supplementary notes and etc… In order to obtain textbooks, we will be partnering with NTUC. NTUC organizes an Annual Book Donation, allowing students from low-income family students to get free second-hand books which are still in usable condition. (rephrase yourself if it does not sound right) Supplementary notes can be printed in school printing services for a cheaper price. As for special equipment, we will try to borrow them from school. For example, we can borrow microscopes and projectors.
The venues for tutoring are as the following shown. The rental price of a classroom in a community club is $26.70. Primary school students who are interested and eligible for this program will be posted to the nearest community club so as to save transportation time and fee.
If we are borrowing heavy items or students are staying too far from the tutoring venue, transport can be provided. In case some students really have difficulty getting to our tuition class, a shuttle bus could always be rented to fetch the students to our class and back home. Rates form myBUS.com.sg: For a 9-Seater bus it cost 445 per transfer
Now, let’s focus on the financial resource. The simple table drafted out the budget that we need to open a class. In order to fit 60 students, the total amount needed is $400.50.
How can we gather such a sum of money? We decided to seek for sponsorship to support us in our good course and the collaboration with World Vision Singapore can also both supply us with financial and human resource. Besides, the sale of flag day coupon also allows us to publicize our events and collect donation from the public. Next, I shall pass on to Victoria to talk about the On going phase.
Covering on-going phase of this project. 1 st : we will set up a booth @ Vivocity to recruit volunteers. Leaflets and registration forms will be sent to schools to attract eligible students to register (students from low-income families only). Students posted to the Community Club nearest to their home. Group students, groups of 4 --- 1 tutor per group In the meantime, volunteers registering to participate as tutors – undergo interview @ Bishan Community Club Interview: assess level of commitment of registrant, sincerity Tutors will undergo training to enable them to communicate effectively with students and equip them with necessary social skills as a tutor. Lessons will then began in June. Every 3 months, a Feedback Form will be distributed to all parents and schools. Committee will reflect on the feedback received and find ways to make improvements.
Only some students are eligible for this programme: From low-income families (i.e. families with household income < $2000) Students from dysfunctional families Students who are from low-income families and/or dysfunctional families, AND have poor grades (i.e. scores lower than 70 marks **primary school standard)
Tutors are advised to go at a pace that’s comfortable with the students. Light refreshments are provided. Students may also submit an order form, at the start of the programme for the semester) to request for a meal of lunch or dinner for that day. A small monthly fee (approx. $12) needs to be paid, however. During the tuition: 1. Revision of syllabus: help students see the big picture of the syllabus and how different subjects are linked. 2. Clarify concepts or any misconceptions. 3. Homework: “Normal Level” & “Higher Level” homework. “ Normal Level” hmwk: focused on developing memory and understanding skills, fewer application questions. “ Higher Level” hmwk: focused on application and even analytical skills. 4. (if have spare time) Teach ahead of the school teachers: give an edge over the other students in school.
Evaluation Forms for teachers, parents and students to fill in and submit. Each Evaluation Form is different (because diff. role of participation in the project -> benefit in diff. ways) Looking at examination results -> look out for improvements. If there are improvements, how much improvement? Requesting for senior teachers (still teaching) to review the materials provided for the students.
E-mails, with regards to the continuation of the programme, sent out to schools, tutors and parents involved. These parties required to reply if they would like to continue with the programme. Tutors are encouraged to stay on <- formed bonds with the students, hence, able to communicate more effectively and be better able to teach the students. By December, the finalised list of groupings sent out to all the parties involved, informing them of the groupings and the groups’ respective tutors for the following year.
Free Right, Education for Everyone is a simple and yet attractive project which can benefit Singapore tremendously. In the education system of Singapore, almost every student starts to have tuition at a very young age. These tuitions can either help students to improve further or they are allowed to enhance their understandings on certain parts which they are unfamiliar with. However, this is unfair for students who are from low-income families. They are unable to afford expensive tuition fees and hence some of them may feel left out in class as they are unable to catch up in class. If free tuition is provided for them, they will be able to appreciate their education opportunity and hence work hard towards their goals. Then, they will also stand a chance to shine in future. Poverty is the root of most social ills. As people are poor, they are jealous of the rich, hence committing social crimes to express their dissatisfaction. By ensuring a guaranteed future for the needy students, less social illnesses will happen as the quality of life of most people are satisfying with sufficient education. This project is feasible as students will definitely support this project by taking part in them as a Community Involvement Program. Besides, the partnership with World Vision Singapore also allows us to obtain more support, resources and manpower.
However, as students without proper teaching training are involved in this project, they may have insufficient experience of being a tutor. Thus, they may still face problems handling students and explaining to students. This is possible as students who are lack of teaching experience, tend to judge every student with their own standards, hence exerting greater pressure on the needy students, instead of helping them. Apart from that, as these volunteers have graduated from primary school for quite some time, they may be unfamiliar with the answering techniques for PSLE.
In order to resolve the previous mentioned complications, I feel that more teaching courses and trainings can be organized for tutors. They can also record their lessons to review on their teaching techniques and hence sharing their experience with other tutors. I also believe that another very helpful method is seek consultations from Primary school teachers who are more familiar by interacting with them.
Think far. Every student is the future leader of Singapore. The balance in the education system can allow a fair competitions between students, allowing them fight with their true abilities and competencies. When every students have a guaranteed career in future, there will also be less social illness in Singapore, rescuing more people from the poverty cycle.