Dear Parents and Fellow Singaporeans,

KEEP SCHOOL ENRICHMENT COMPANIES FROM CLOSING AND HELP INSTRUCTORS STAY EMPLOYED!

In the recent Resilience Budget, targeted support was given to several affected sectors. However, support for the School Enrichment Sector, an essential domestic sector, was neglected.

We have chosen to teach because we want to play a significant role in enriching the next generation. It is unfortunate that the School Enrichment Sector has not received an equal level of support from the Government.

Passionate educators like us have educated millions of students beyond the academics and supported schools in rolling out holistic education for our students.

Prior to Prime Minister’s latest announcement (3 April 2020), many enrichment companies have suffered many postponement and cancellation of classes without minimum compensation. We are understanding and accommodating but are also suffering silently by absorbing the cost of disruption. As a result, our industry has suffered a drop in revenue up to 80% leaving us with some 20% of revenue for our operation. We can’t sustain any longer.

The challenges that confront us are mounting and if the Government does not extend financial assistance, retrenchment will definitely take place.

Our challenges:
1. MOE has just announced that all schools will be closed and move to full home-based learning for one month w.e.f. 8 April 2020. This would mean a stop to all enrichment programs for at least one month and extension to such measure is possible. This is a devastating blow to all enrichment companies and instructors.

2. Companies will have zero revenue. The current 25% Job Support Scheme cannot sustain the livelihoods of the many full time experienced and passionate instructors.

3. We foresee that schools will be in for a shock when they find that these good instructors and established enrichment companies are no longer around to support the schools in conducting holistic enrichment programs for the students.

We are appealing to the Government of Singapore to consider the School Enrichment Sector as an essential service provider within the education ecosystem. Similar to the Travel Sector, we now are strained with zero revenue. We desperately need a higher Job Support Scheme of at least 75% in order to sustain our payroll during this crisis.

We invite you to sign and share this petition to save more than 2000 enrichment companies in Singapore from folding up and the pool of passionate instructors from losing their jobs.

Thank you.
HEART - Holistic Enrichment Association for Resources and Technologies