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SINGAPORE: When the teachers of Gan Eng Seng School decide to organise an overseas study trip for their students, it means up to six months of planning ahead — from selecting the right travel agent to making travel arrangements.
After calling for quotations and tenders from travel agents through Government Electronic Business or GeBiz , the school then forms a panel to evaluate each proposal and decide which one meets their educational objectives and safety and price requirements.
"It's a long process, and sometimes, the proposals are not up to expectation," said vice-principal Au Yong Po Lung.
Hence, the Ministry of Education's (MOE) new framework for selecting travel agents — which will replace the current quotation system — comes as welcome news. Come May, the ministry will shortlist a number of tour operators — based on prescribed criteria — that schools can select from when planning trips.
"It will save schools some time, and since these agencies have been screened by MOE, we are also better able to assure parents of their child's safety when we plan trips for them," said Mr Au Yong.
The number of overseas school trips has increased by about 38 per cent over the past two years, and the number is expected to continue to rise. As such, the current arrangement was "no longer efficient", said MOE in a statement to TODAY.
With the new framework, MOE — which has briefed about 80 tour operators on the matter — will also be able to better monitor and ascertain the service level of the various tour operators. A combined demand for overseas school tours would also hopefully help schools obtain better rates through economies of scale.
Parents TODAY spoke to, welcomed the new arrangement, saying it gave them a greater peace of mind. Said Madam Laura Ho, a homemaker: "Sometimes, even leisure tours can go wrong, so it's good to know more is being done to make sure the trip goes smoothly."
Some tour operators also approved of the move. "Organising a student group is not the same as handling a leisure group," said Ms Joey Cai, an account manager with Chan Brothers Mice Travel's Educational Travel Centre. "For a school trip, you have to make sure the itinerary is educational and that the students learn something."
CTC Holidays' business development manager for channel distribution Jason Kuwe agreed. "This will help to make sure schools don't end up with an agency that has the lowest prices, but might have made promises that they cannot keep."
Beyond handling flights, accommodation and transport arrangements, operators also help schools plan their itinerary according to their educational objectives.
"I will look through the textbooks and talk to the teachers and discuss what they want the students to learn — is it a cultural exchange, geography, history, science and math?" said Ms Cai.
Smaller operators, on the other hand, are concerned they could lose out if they are left out of MOE's list. Travel Star manager Catherine Khoo, who had not heard about the agreement, said such school trips make up about 30 per cent of her agency's business.
"I am very concerned," she said. "I think our agency has the capability and resources to handle such tours for schools. It will not be fair if only a few agencies get to work with the schools." - TODAY/sh
NEW FRAMEWORK
• Tour operators to be appointed and organised into five panels by geographical destination
• Assessment and selection will be based on criteria such as having a valid travel agent licence from the Singapore Tourism Board; financial stability, relevant experience in the country of destination, tender price and accreditation
• The framework will be introduced in two phases – one by May and the second next year
• The MOE expects to appoint about 40 operators for the first phase
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