The school administration has confirmed they are processing the tuition fee reimbursements for the specified period. This outcome confirms that our formal collective approach successfully shifted their position. We will monitor the disbursement process to ensure every account is credited correctly.
June 26, 2020
Final supporters
Parents from the Malvern Community have unanimously decided to come together to put forward our concerns and needs, after having waited, in vain, for a response from the school authority with regard to reduction of tuition fees from February to June.
The headmaster’s last communication on freezing of tuition fees for AY 2020-2021 was dated 30 April 2020. The letter culminated with information on the availability of bursaries for affected families. It was brief, almost cursory, which left parents extremely disappointed.
Since then, we have not heard further on the matter from the school. As parents, we feel that there is a lack of open communication with regard to tuition fee rebate/reduction for February - June 2020. We understand many parents have written individually to the school requesting a fee reduction; but have all received a negative response.
As of today, many international schools in Hong Kong, which include Harrow International School, Nord Anglia International School, Kellett School, Canadian International School, Chinese International School, American International School, English Schools Foundation, etc, have written officially to parents, expressing their show of solidarity with parents during this very challenging and financially debilitating period. Even Shrewsbury International School which opened its doors at the same time as Malvern College has made the unprecedented offer of waiving capital levy. Such gestures of understanding and support go a long way in ensuring a healthy relationship between parents and school authorities.
Parents in Malvern are not exempt from the global financial downturn. We trust Malvern College to be able to empathize with what we are experiencing, much as we would like to be resilient. We trust Malvern College to recognize that it would be more than a measure of goodwill and support to us parents, should the school offer us a tuition fee discount.
Over the last four months, parents have had to straddle between our own work commitments and our children’s online learning. It has been challenging; even arduous, as the learning availed to our children (especially lower prep) requires a fair amount of close supervision by parents. Zoom sessions availed have not been instructional, but merely 15-20 minutes of casual chat. These have not served to share our burden. In addition to the above, the lack of face-to-face school activities should have translated to savings on school operational costs, including cleaning, electricity and water etc.
We understand that Malvern College has/will enjoy an additional funding from the government’s Covid-19 Employment Support Scheme. All eligible schools (including Malvern College) can claim up to HK$9,000 per staff member a month, for six months. Each school will receive a maximum of HK$800,000 a month, that means HK$4.8 million over half a year. We understand this funding has been instrumental in facilitating tuition fee discounts offered by the earlier mentioned international schools.
We took a leap of faith in Malvern College as a new school when it first started. Through the bumpy start, we have supported Malvern College to the best that we can. Now, as we are all thrust in this unprecedented period of economic challenge, we hold the belief that as joint stakeholders, we should all work in tandem with one another; so we may all ride out the storm together, an emerge with a greater confidence in Malvern College.
We look forward to a meeting at which parents and school management could meet and speak in a transparent manner on the tuition fee matter as soon as possible; for it is a matter of grave concern to many parents. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 27, 2020
May 26, 2020
A formal letter outlining our collective request for tuition reimbursement is now being finalized for delivery to the school board. We are currently coordinating with legal counsel to ensure our position on the February to June fee structure is presented with full clarity.
Reached 100 supporters
May 25, 2020
57 Comments
The school should work together with the parents and so compassionate in this difficult period. To apply for the wage subsidy and then not offer any assistance or reimbursement to parents - senior management is this the right thing to do?
Communication with parents has been very poor - compared with other schools in HK as well as in the UK. The level of Online teaching / constructive feedback that our kids have received in the past 4mths has also been very far below our expectations. We are pulling our children out of the school. Very disappointed parents and kids have suffered with lack of learning.
Whilst from our experience the teaching models have been very good during this time, the financial savings made to the school through children not being in attendance during this time (no matter how small), as well as assistance provided to the government for students should be passed back to the parents in some form.
I truly believe that we should stand together in front of the crisis. However, no one should take benefit from the crisis. With the reduction in cost (I.e. catering, electricity etc) and government subsidies, this should be resulted in fee reduction, which we see in other international school.
We are looking for more open communications and fair treatment from the school compared to other international schools at a time when parents had to make incredible adjustments to their life to support their child's education. Thank you.
P3
To see the support each other so that we can get through together ~ I can see a lot of work load for class teacher, really appreciated their efforts ~
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The school administration has confirmed they are processing the tuition fee reimbursements for the specified period. This outcome confirms that our formal collective approach successfully shifted their position. We will monitor the disbursement process to ensure every account is credited correctly.
June 26, 2020
Final supporters
Parents from the Malvern Community have unanimously decided to come together to put forward our concerns and needs, after having waited, in vain, for a response from the school authority with regard to reduction of tuition fees from February to June.
The headmaster’s last communication on freezing of tuition fees for AY 2020-2021 was dated 30 April 2020. The letter culminated with information on the availability of bursaries for affected families. It was brief, almost cursory, which left parents extremely disappointed.
Since then, we have not heard further on the matter from the school. As parents, we feel that there is a lack of open communication with regard to tuition fee rebate/reduction for February - June 2020. We understand many parents have written individually to the school requesting a fee reduction; but have all received a negative response.
As of today, many international schools in Hong Kong, which include Harrow International School, Nord Anglia International School, Kellett School, Canadian International School, Chinese International School, American International School, English Schools Foundation, etc, have written officially to parents, expressing their show of solidarity with parents during this very challenging and financially debilitating period. Even Shrewsbury International School which opened its doors at the same time as Malvern College has made the unprecedented offer of waiving capital levy. Such gestures of understanding and support go a long way in ensuring a healthy relationship between parents and school authorities.
Parents in Malvern are not exempt from the global financial downturn. We trust Malvern College to be able to empathize with what we are experiencing, much as we would like to be resilient. We trust Malvern College to recognize that it would be more than a measure of goodwill and support to us parents, should the school offer us a tuition fee discount.
Over the last four months, parents have had to straddle between our own work commitments and our children’s online learning. It has been challenging; even arduous, as the learning availed to our children (especially lower prep) requires a fair amount of close supervision by parents. Zoom sessions availed have not been instructional, but merely 15-20 minutes of casual chat. These have not served to share our burden. In addition to the above, the lack of face-to-face school activities should have translated to savings on school operational costs, including cleaning, electricity and water etc.
We understand that Malvern College has/will enjoy an additional funding from the government’s Covid-19 Employment Support Scheme. All eligible schools (including Malvern College) can claim up to HK$9,000 per staff member a month, for six months. Each school will receive a maximum of HK$800,000 a month, that means HK$4.8 million over half a year. We understand this funding has been instrumental in facilitating tuition fee discounts offered by the earlier mentioned international schools.
We took a leap of faith in Malvern College as a new school when it first started. Through the bumpy start, we have supported Malvern College to the best that we can. Now, as we are all thrust in this unprecedented period of economic challenge, we hold the belief that as joint stakeholders, we should all work in tandem with one another; so we may all ride out the storm together, an emerge with a greater confidence in Malvern College.
We look forward to a meeting at which parents and school management could meet and speak in a transparent manner on the tuition fee matter as soon as possible; for it is a matter of grave concern to many parents. Thank you.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
May 27, 2020
May 26, 2020
A formal letter outlining our collective request for tuition reimbursement is now being finalized for delivery to the school board. We are currently coordinating with legal counsel to ensure our position on the February to June fee structure is presented with full clarity.
Reached 100 supporters
May 25, 2020
57 Comments
The global pandemic has been a financially stressful time for many families including my own and whilst our individual approach to the school for reduction/relief in schools fees was unsuccessful, I hope this platform allows MCHK to reconsider, recognise and support the parents about the genuine concerns and reimbursement regarding school fees.
The school should work together with the parents and so compassionate in this difficult period. To apply for the wage subsidy and then not offer any assistance or reimbursement to parents - senior management is this the right thing to do?
Communication with parents has been very poor - compared with other schools in HK as well as in the UK. The level of Online teaching / constructive feedback that our kids have received in the past 4mths has also been very far below our expectations. We are pulling our children out of the school. Very disappointed parents and kids have suffered with lack of learning.
Whilst from our experience the teaching models have been very good during this time, the financial savings made to the school through children not being in attendance during this time (no matter how small), as well as assistance provided to the government for students should be passed back to the parents in some form.
I truly believe that we should stand together in front of the crisis. However, no one should take benefit from the crisis. With the reduction in cost (I.e. catering, electricity etc) and government subsidies, this should be resulted in fee reduction, which we see in other international school.
We are looking for more open communications and fair treatment from the school compared to other international schools at a time when parents had to make incredible adjustments to their life to support their child's education. Thank you.
P3
To see the support each other so that we can get through together ~ I can see a lot of work load for class teacher, really appreciated their efforts ~
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The global pandemic has been a financially stressful time for many families including my own and whilst our individual approach to the school for reduction/relief in schools fees was unsuccessful, I hope this platform allows MCHK to reconsider, recognise and support the parents about the genuine concerns and reimbursement regarding school fees.