We are weighing two, one-year contracts right now. One of the schools is asking us to pay over $1000 per month in tuition for our 3 children. That is 20% of our net monthly salary. Is this standard? The school is in China, and in the explanationn they provided, they said it was because of the one child rule in China and we pay progressively more for each of our children. Just checking to see if this is standard practice.
Thanks for your help
How much are you paying for your kids' tuition?
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rangerchuck
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:04 am
BS
That is BS. Its a private school charging tuition, the one child rule ahs nothing to do with it. Its not typically standard at all. Just about every school gives tuition waivers AT LEAST at a ratio of 1:1 (one employee, one tuition waiver), are BOTH of you working at the school? many schools will go 1:2, 1:3 is pushing it, but if your spouse is working as well, they should give waivers for all three. At the very worst, i could see you paying for 1 childs tuition but thats it.
Why only a 1 year contract? Basically, they are just being cheap.
Why only a 1 year contract? Basically, they are just being cheap.
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rangerchuck
- Posts: 9
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 11:04 am
Okay
I understand the sabbaticals issue. Your both working there, with 3 children you should get full a full waiver for all three of them.
FYI: Tuition waivers are the cheapest aspect of a school contract. They may be keeping the waivers in reserve, as currency so that they can negotiate it away easily for something they really dont want to give you.
My guess is that the one year contract is just more expensive (in terms of airfare, recruiting fees) for them then they like.
FYI: Tuition waivers are the cheapest aspect of a school contract. They may be keeping the waivers in reserve, as currency so that they can negotiate it away easily for something they really dont want to give you.
My guess is that the one year contract is just more expensive (in terms of airfare, recruiting fees) for them then they like.
I agree that you should get full waivers for at least 2 children, and probably three. Some schools, good schools too, can't afford to give waivers for more than one or two children.
While waivers might seem cheap, they aren't always. If it's a school, or even a grade level, that is at capacity, putting in your child for free means turning away a fee-paying student. Hardly cheap. In my current school, that's the situation. We're full. Teachers' kids come for free, which means that every teacher's child represents an opportunity cost for the school. In my school, that's not an issue. We're well funded and recognize the value added in terms of getting good teachers and rounding out the student body. In other schools, where money is tighter, hard decisions must be made. One extra fee-paying student could represent a new set of textbooks or a visit from a famous author or those repairs to the gym that have been delayed or ???
On the other hand, if the school isn't full, if there's an empty space in a class that will otherwise stay empty, a waiver costs the school very little.
While waivers might seem cheap, they aren't always. If it's a school, or even a grade level, that is at capacity, putting in your child for free means turning away a fee-paying student. Hardly cheap. In my current school, that's the situation. We're full. Teachers' kids come for free, which means that every teacher's child represents an opportunity cost for the school. In my school, that's not an issue. We're well funded and recognize the value added in terms of getting good teachers and rounding out the student body. In other schools, where money is tighter, hard decisions must be made. One extra fee-paying student could represent a new set of textbooks or a visit from a famous author or those repairs to the gym that have been delayed or ???
On the other hand, if the school isn't full, if there's an empty space in a class that will otherwise stay empty, a waiver costs the school very little.
Kind of
If the schools otherwise full they are simply placing an extra child in a classroom that they wouldnt otherwise do. Either the school is full and they are making an exception (over capacity) they wouldnt have realized revenue from anyway, or the school isnt full, and the incremental cost of a student is very very low. Since in this case they are charging tuition, I would reasonably conclude that the school isnt full.
In my experience schools are seldom truly, truly full.
In my experience schools are seldom truly, truly full.
Not really
@Sid
I understand, but thats an internal decision. Just because they WONT go over the limit doesnt mean they CANT go over the limit if they decided they wanted to. Its an issue of motivation. If your school was sufficiently motivated/inspired to add a couple extra students they could.
@DCgirl
A lot of teachers in europe feel the same way. The tax on a years tuition (at out high tax rates) can cost a months net salary.
I understand, but thats an internal decision. Just because they WONT go over the limit doesnt mean they CANT go over the limit if they decided they wanted to. Its an issue of motivation. If your school was sufficiently motivated/inspired to add a couple extra students they could.
@DCgirl
A lot of teachers in europe feel the same way. The tax on a years tuition (at out high tax rates) can cost a months net salary.
We won't be paying any tuition for our 2 daughters (only I am working, though my wife will be doing cover) and we get an annual flight allowance, but as Americans in a British school, we're assuming we will have to pay a bit as we come from the East Coast and the allowance is based on UK flight prices. The school is in Beijing.