$560 is inclusive of GST. In Bunka (correct me if i am wrong), u have to pay extra 7% for GST.
You pay by term. Just like in Bunka. You finish 9 sessions, you standby another $248. In Ikoma, if you are unable to pay up, speak to the manager, she may allow you to pay later, provided u have valid reasons. In Bunka what happens when you can't pay? Do you get to pay later as well? Same thing for Hougang, if you cannot pay up, you speak to the principal, he's very easygoing, he will just say you can pay by installment or pay later.
All schools are generally the same, if you can't pay up, they will allow you to make payment later.
Also, i think that you should go try out other schools as well. If you are stuck in a school for too long, you will never realise how well the other school teachers teach.
In case you don't know why Ikoma is charging so expensive as compared to Bunka, most of the Ikoma materials are self-prepared by the teachers, all teachers go through the Japanese teacher certification test to become a teacher. When i see those materials, i know how much time and effort they put in to develop these materials. There are other reasons why the school fees are expensive. If you go to their preparatory courses or even their normal classes, you will know what i mean.
Enough said, the choice is yours. You can ask Nemesis. He is your senior and took classes in Ikoma as well.
-In Bunka, every level is defined as a "course", every "course" that's completed is paid in full and completely before you start the "course". Not everyone is obliged to "standby" another "$248" for the next "course', for whatever reason it may be. Like if I finish Ele1 today, I can choose to sign up [ and pay for ] Ele2, next week, next mth, 4mths later, or even next year. Personally I DO NOT WANT to feel obligated to standby another sum of money just so that I can complete a level of study properly [ without a peace of mind ], in case I have financial commitments elsewhere to use it immediately anytime. I am sure no school will be willing to wait more than 1 mth for payment, and no student would be able to focus on learning if money issues are always at the back of his head [ like how to pay for the 2nd half of the 10 lessons ]. At least I know that when I pay $X for Y lessons, that's the end of it, just go for lessons and finish 1 whole course with no worries.
-you stated "speak to the manager, she may allow you to pay later, provided u have valid reasons", in this case, I feel a person's situation that creates inability to pay is "valid reason" enough from that person's point of view. Not to mention "may allow ... to pay later", not 100% will allow, and how "later" is "later" ?
Every school is a for profit business, not a charity, I think it will only be approved on very rare occasions, and will be open to abuse if word gets out.
-I "stuck" to one school because
a) I do not have deep pockets like others who signs up for practically every major language school in Singapore
b) My time is limited as I have my own ad-hoc work aside from a normal job
c) My money is limited as my ad-hoc work requires [ sometimes sudden ] upfront costs to pay, and the income from this work does not come in predictably.
d) I like to focus on one school at a time.
-So only Ikoma in Singapore has all their teachers who took part in the Japanese teacher certification test.
-In case you don't know, the rental per sq feet at Shaw House [ near mrt / main shopping area ] is obviously more expensive than Delfi Orchard [ far end of main shopping zone ] which is also factored into the lesson fees.
-I have already made my choice 15 months ago [ this forum was one of the places where I made my final decision about which school to join ]... Eventually I will join this school that you hold so much praise about [ and every other school in sg ]. For now, I like to bury my head in the sand ...
