Pricier and pricier hall fees
FEATURE by Josheen Wee
"Vibrant nightlife’, ‘rich culture’ and ‘a once-in-a-lifetime experience,’ these are some of the common phrases one can use to describe their stay in hall. However, what seems to be so fun-filled and memorable may no longer be the case as the question of affordability comes into play. Indeed, the rise in hall fees in recent years by as much as 25 per cent has become a major talking point among those staying in hall in the National University of Singapore (NUS), especially when compared to the halls in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Justifiable if the rise in hall fees meant better facilities and privileges for those staying on campus – but this does not seem to be the case either.
The idea of affordable education even in universities has been strongly welcomed by the government. Yet, “the implementation of a three-year-plan by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to slowly increase school fees over a period of three years has not only seen a rise in school fees recently but also hall fees as well”, as disclosed by Zhang Han, who was the NUSSU welfare secretary of 2010/2011. What cost $75 a week before 2010 slowly increased to $90 a week in 2010 and has now become $100 a week.
The rise in hall fees which was announced by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) in 2009 was also part of efforts to reduce the demand of students wanting to stay in halls due to limited spaces.
Since the implementation of higher hall fees, there have been many complaints describing the rise as far from justifiable – students expect at the very least, certain upgrades in facilities or services as fees amount to almost $500 more each semester. However, besides the newly renovated Raffles Hall which boasts the newest rooms and facilities, hardly anything else has changed.
Gloria Lee, a Year Four Communications and New Media major a resident of Sheares Hall since she entered university commented, “I only paid $75 a week when I was in Year One. Now, I am in Year Fourand I am paying $25 more each week, yet I do not see any improvements at all around me – or at least there is nothing thatis worth the $25 more I am paying for each week,”
Similarly, Samuela Chang, a Year ThreeCommunications and New Media major, who has stayed in Kent Ridge Hall for the past three years, also felt that “nothing has changed”. With a large frown on her face, she described the rise in hall fees as “too much”.
Many comparisons have been made between NUS and NTU halls as well, as the latter is said to contain newer facilities and buildings at much more affordable prices. According to Teo Chun Yang, a first year business student from NTU Hall 16, the fees in NTU range from $180 to $220 a month – about half the price per week compared to NUS.
In addition, the bigger hall rooms and permit to install air-cons in NTU only make the rise in feesin NUS less justifiable. “I have visited NUS halls several times. Apart from slightly better facilities like gyms and games rooms in NUS, I do not really think that there is a lot of difference between the halls. The difference in price is definitely not justifiable,” Chun Yang added.
Nevertheless, the goal of reducing demand seemed to work well following the rise. According to Zhang Han, whose primary goal then was to help students in NUS fight for more spaces in hall said, “because of this rise, the demand for hall has dropped both among both hall seniors and incoming freshies.”
Sheares Hall itself serves as an apt example, with the demand for hall rooms dropping significantly. Where there used to be up to 75 seniors in a block who would choose to continue staying on in the next year, last year saw an all-time low of only 39 seniors who decided to stay on. Although many of them did not stay on for different reasons, for the majority of them, it was because of the rise in hall fees.
Of course, other halls have been hit with this problem as well. In Temasek Hall, Year Two engineering student Han You Xiang, who discontinued his stay there after his first year, said he did so because he could not afford such a big rise. “It is a 25 per cent increase!” He exclaimed.
This has now become a headache for many halls because seniors have always been the ones bringing out the hall culture to the freshies and “showing them the ropes”. With so few seniors left, it is no wonder that many are saying that “the hall spirit is dying”, said Terrance Lim, who is part of the Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC) in Sheares Hall.
Attempts to resolve this problem by offering hall scholarships such as the Dunearn Road Hostels or Sheares Hall (SH) Alumni Bursary to assist deserving but financially needy students who can contribute to hall life are being implemented. For Leonard Boey, who was the very first recipient of the $4000 scholarship, the scholarship meant a lot to him and his hall. “Before this, there was no way I could afford hall stay anymore,” he said.
According to the President of Sheares Hall, Na Kok Yong, “it is a pleasure to continue seeing those who have contributed so much keep the hall culture alive.” However, with a shake of his head, he added, “But too many have been leaving that sometimes you don’t even know if you should continue staying on yourself.”
The huge jump in hall fees has indeed caused a stir. But as of now, only time will tell how much this rise in fees has affected the demand for hall residency.
"Vibrant nightlife’, ‘rich culture’ and ‘a once-in-a-lifetime experience,’ these are some of the common phrases one can use to describe their stay in hall. However, what seems to be so fun-filled and memorable may no longer be the case as the question of affordability comes into play. Indeed, the rise in hall fees in recent years by as much as 25 per cent has become a major talking point among those staying in hall in the National University of Singapore (NUS), especially when compared to the halls in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU). Justifiable if the rise in hall fees meant better facilities and privileges for those staying on campus – but this does not seem to be the case either.
The idea of affordable education even in universities has been strongly welcomed by the government. Yet, “the implementation of a three-year-plan by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to slowly increase school fees over a period of three years has not only seen a rise in school fees recently but also hall fees as well”, as disclosed by Zhang Han, who was the NUSSU welfare secretary of 2010/2011. What cost $75 a week before 2010 slowly increased to $90 a week in 2010 and has now become $100 a week.
The rise in hall fees which was announced by the Office of Student Affairs (OSA) in 2009 was also part of efforts to reduce the demand of students wanting to stay in halls due to limited spaces.
Since the implementation of higher hall fees, there have been many complaints describing the rise as far from justifiable – students expect at the very least, certain upgrades in facilities or services as fees amount to almost $500 more each semester. However, besides the newly renovated Raffles Hall which boasts the newest rooms and facilities, hardly anything else has changed.
Gloria Lee, a Year Four Communications and New Media major a resident of Sheares Hall since she entered university commented, “I only paid $75 a week when I was in Year One. Now, I am in Year Fourand I am paying $25 more each week, yet I do not see any improvements at all around me – or at least there is nothing thatis worth the $25 more I am paying for each week,”
Similarly, Samuela Chang, a Year ThreeCommunications and New Media major, who has stayed in Kent Ridge Hall for the past three years, also felt that “nothing has changed”. With a large frown on her face, she described the rise in hall fees as “too much”.
Many comparisons have been made between NUS and NTU halls as well, as the latter is said to contain newer facilities and buildings at much more affordable prices. According to Teo Chun Yang, a first year business student from NTU Hall 16, the fees in NTU range from $180 to $220 a month – about half the price per week compared to NUS.
In addition, the bigger hall rooms and permit to install air-cons in NTU only make the rise in feesin NUS less justifiable. “I have visited NUS halls several times. Apart from slightly better facilities like gyms and games rooms in NUS, I do not really think that there is a lot of difference between the halls. The difference in price is definitely not justifiable,” Chun Yang added.
Nevertheless, the goal of reducing demand seemed to work well following the rise. According to Zhang Han, whose primary goal then was to help students in NUS fight for more spaces in hall said, “because of this rise, the demand for hall has dropped both among both hall seniors and incoming freshies.”
Sheares Hall itself serves as an apt example, with the demand for hall rooms dropping significantly. Where there used to be up to 75 seniors in a block who would choose to continue staying on in the next year, last year saw an all-time low of only 39 seniors who decided to stay on. Although many of them did not stay on for different reasons, for the majority of them, it was because of the rise in hall fees.
Of course, other halls have been hit with this problem as well. In Temasek Hall, Year Two engineering student Han You Xiang, who discontinued his stay there after his first year, said he did so because he could not afford such a big rise. “It is a 25 per cent increase!” He exclaimed.
This has now become a headache for many halls because seniors have always been the ones bringing out the hall culture to the freshies and “showing them the ropes”. With so few seniors left, it is no wonder that many are saying that “the hall spirit is dying”, said Terrance Lim, who is part of the Junior Common Room Committee (JCRC) in Sheares Hall.
Attempts to resolve this problem by offering hall scholarships such as the Dunearn Road Hostels or Sheares Hall (SH) Alumni Bursary to assist deserving but financially needy students who can contribute to hall life are being implemented. For Leonard Boey, who was the very first recipient of the $4000 scholarship, the scholarship meant a lot to him and his hall. “Before this, there was no way I could afford hall stay anymore,” he said.
According to the President of Sheares Hall, Na Kok Yong, “it is a pleasure to continue seeing those who have contributed so much keep the hall culture alive.” However, with a shake of his head, he added, “But too many have been leaving that sometimes you don’t even know if you should continue staying on yourself.”
The huge jump in hall fees has indeed caused a stir. But as of now, only time will tell how much this rise in fees has affected the demand for hall residency.