Kaplan Singapore

SHE came to Singapore from Myanmar two years ago to take care of her ailing mother.

She thought she could continue her studies at a polytechnic here while juggling her care-giving duties.

But Yuzana Win Tin, 20, was rejected by a polytechnic here after failing the entrance exam. She said her failure could have been partly due to the language barrier.

Her certificate – the equivalent of the O levels here – from a school in Myanmar was also not recognised in Singapore, she said.

But a private school here, Kaplan Singapore, formerly known as the Asia Pacific Management Institute, gave her a chance to resume her studies.

Kaplan Singapore has about 12,000 students, pursuing both full-time and part-time programmes.

The courses range from diplomas and degrees to professional Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) and Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) qualifications as well as post-graduate degrees.

Said Yuzana: "I came to Singapore in 2006 because my mother had been diagnosed with pancreatitis and needed someone to take care of her.

"I had just finished my O Levels in Myanmar at the time.

"But I couldn't get into the business administration course at a polytechnic here."

Yuzana's parents had become Singapore permanent residents several years ago when her father found work here as an engineer.

She was left in the care of her grandmother back home.

After she was rejected by the poly, Yuzana joined Kaplan Singapore in April last year. She was allowed to take a one-year part-time diploma in business administration.

She said: "I decided I would study part-time so that I could take care of my mother, while earning some income in the day with a part-time job.

"It also allowed me to get a diploma in just one year, whereas studying at a polytechnic would take me three years."

Mum's condition now ok

Her mother's condition – inflammation of the pancreas – is now under control.

But Yuzana said her mother is still prone to stomach aches, and needs her care occasionally.

Yuzana is now working temporarily as an administrative assistant, and attends classes twice a week.

She has made friends of various nationalities at Kaplan, including students from China, India, the Philippines and Myanmar.

It has helped her learn more about different cultures and races, she said.

She is also appreciative of the patient and attentive lecturers.

Said Yuzana: "The lecturers do not hesitate to explain whenever we do not understand.

"Sometimes, there are language barriers because our English is poor. So we need the lecturers to speak slower or repeat themselves."

She will complete her diploma in May2009, and plans to continue with the Advanced Diploma in business administration.

Kaplan offers courses in Business and Management, Engineering, Information Technology, Communications, Education and Social Sciences.

In 2007, Kaplan Singapore also launched new programmes in Games Technology, Digital Media, Hospitality and Tourism Management, and Psychological Sciences.

This article was first published in The New Paper on 12 Jan 2009.