In Dec 2011, i paid 留位fee $660, for the coming academic year which will start in Aug 12. Two months later, in Feb 2012, the school issues a notice that a book fee of approx. $3000 should be paid before 15 Mar 12. Otherwise, no seat will be reserved for my kid. If they need to pay both 留位fee $660 & book fee of $3000, they need to tell the parent in advance and to make everything transparent. I think the school is not honest.
I agree with your point that "若果一心喺度讀ge,早d遲d交都冇乜關係". But as other mums say, the school (especially the administration) is not so good despite the teachers are ok. My daugther is a small b and she just joined the school in Nov 11. So i want to wait and observe for a longer time to see if the school is still fit my daugther and be acceptable.
If the school makes it clear that both $660 and the book fee should be paid to secure a seat at the first hand, it would be fine. Now, the school just gives me a feeling that she breaks her promise and she finds a way to earn money. I believe some mums may not pay $660 knowing that it is not the only condition to secure the seat. Or it would be more reasonable to charge the book fee at later time, say, May 12 or Jun 12.
By the way, $660 is not a huge sum but i am disappointed that a kinder school (that my daugther is now studying at) "earn" money by this inproper way. Just wonder how much time and effort they paid to teach my daugther instead of earning money.