Tuition centre apologises to children over banner

Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng (left) with Low

CHERAS: A tuition centre in Sungai Long has apologised after they put up posters in Cheras, Sungai Long and Kajang "shaming" parents for not paying up the fees.

The operating manager of the centre, who only wanted to be known as Low admitted that they went 'overboard' but stressed that the public apology is only for the kids and not their parents.

"We took such an action because we wanted the parents to pay or at least explain why they cannot pay.

"One week before we posted the banners, we warned them via calls and SMS but the parents did not respond," he said to reporters at DAP's Balakong Service Centre in Cheras on Tuesday.

 The banner had the children’s pictures on them with a caption in Mandarin that read; “"Owe Tuition Fees but refuse to pay up! Do they deserve such parents?!"

The tuition centre, which has been running for five years said that two parents owed them five months fees.

"One parent owes us RM1500 while the other came to us and said that she can't afford the fees, so we gave her a discount of RM600.

"So many times we have asked for money. As teachers, we try to help but these people take advantage of us. Sometimes our salaries get cut because we try to help them," he said adding that many students have quit the centre because the parents were not confident with them.

Balakong assemblyman Eddie Ng said he took up this issue when the public alerted him about it.

'I hope it does not happen again. As educationists, they should not learn from loan sharks," he said.

According to Low, the tuition centre used outsiders to hang the banners.

He alleged that three posters were posted at Cheras, three at Sungai Long and three more at Taman Mulia, Kajang where two parents are staying.

However, when pressed further Low could not come with a definite answer on how many were posted.

Ng said Low first told that he posted eight posters on Monday evening but gave different answers today.

"I do not know how many he has posted. He first said eight, then fifteen, twenty and now eight.

"Whatever it is, I am going for the highest and will ask the Kajang Municipal Council to send 20 compounds to the centre for the twenty posters," he said.

Low said the centre will have to pay the compound and when asked if he will press the parents to pay the outstanding fees, he said,  "Kena lupuskan (Have to see it as bad debt) and we will not ask them anymore,” he said.