With more Chinese children coming to
study in Singapore, a unique community of women known as "pei du ma ma", which,
loosely translated means "study mamas", has emerged here. (67)
are there to keep their children company. Singaporeans have
responded (68) their presence with mixed reactions. What is
more important is (69) their experiences say about the
education industry here. Singapore no doubt presents unique advantages as a
choice for Chinese students who are (70) to study overseas.
It is a Garden City (71) has an efficient judicial system and
an orderly society. It has a bilingual policy and Chinese are the majority. Life
here is easy to get (72) to and, what’ s more, their mothers
are (73) to come here to be with them. Most Chinese students
who wish to come to Singapore (74) to recruitment agencies in
China to make the arrangements. For sure, the agencies will (75)
make all kinds of promises to attract the students’ attention. They
claim they would find the right school for the kids and that it would be
(76) too for the mothers to find jobs here. Not only would they
earn enough to pay for school fees of their children, but they would probably
also be able to (77) their own living expenses. Once they
(78) in Singapore, the "study mamas" quickly find out that life
is not a bed of roses. When the agencies fail to keep the (79)
, they have to face the reality. For most of the time, they end up
(80) for the schools themselves, not to mention having to pay
additional fees. In (81) , it is difficult for them to find
job due to the government’s strict work permit policy. They soon run out of
money and find themselves in a dilemma—they have neither the means to return to
China (82) the funds to continue living here. As a
(83) , some "study mamas" are driven by circumstances to become
masseuses. People began to look down (84) the entire "study
mamas" community, making life (85) for these women.
Personally, I think the root cause (86) in the agencies which
provide misleading information.