Thank you for organizing this event with a beautiful theme that resonates deeply, especially given the current global situation. We gained valuable insights while working on our Action Plan and were eager to share it with everyone.
However, I have several concerns that I would like to address:
From the outset, there were no clear directions regarding our Action Plan. We received information only when prompted, and much of it came at the last minute. This lack of clarity affected our preparation for the presentation.
The schedule indicated that the Action Plan presentations would last two hours, but we were given less than 30 minutes to present. As a result, some participants did not have the opportunity to visit our booth, and we were unable to show our video, which was a key part of our presentation.
We were not provided with earphones beforehand, which would have helped us prepare for presentations given in Mandarin.
We also weren’t informed that lunch would not be provided. Some basic food options would have been appreciated for such a significant event.
The registration process was poorly managed. My staff's names were handwritten on the tags, despite us paying SGD300 for each attendee. Additionally, certificates were only printed upon request, which seems inadequate.
Is it standard for the organizing committee to participate in the Action Plan? If so, it seems biased that they would have a significant advantage in the voting process. An independent panel of judges would ensure a fair evaluation for all teams. Given that we couldn’t fully present our Action Plan, the voting process felt unfair.
While the topic of peace is profoundly important, we left feeling disheartened by the overall experience. On a positive note, we were grateful for the opportunity to connect with many wonderful people from China, Japan, Canada, the USA, and India.
Dear Ms Pushpa Rani Nathan
Thank you for reaching out and sharing your valuable feedback about your experience at the Asia Montessori Conference 2024. We sincerely appreciate your acknowledgment of the theme and your active participation in the Action Plan development. We understand that there were several aspects of the event that did not meet your expectations, and we are committed to addressing these concerns.
Action Plan Guidelines and Presentation: We apologize for any confusion regarding the presentation schedule and the guidelines for the Action Plans. The exhibition area for the Action Plans was available throughout the entire two-day event, designed to allow participants to engage with each team's work at their leisure. We regret that this was not made clearer and that the changes to the presentation schedule were not communicated more effectively in advance. Adjustments had to be made on the fly due to some presentations overrunning their allocated time. We acknowledge the need for better management and communication regarding scheduling changes.
Language Support: We apologize for the oversight regarding language support. It appears there was a last-minute decision by some speakers to present in their native language as they did not want to delay their presentation, which we failed to anticipate adequately. While translation earphones were available at the registration counter throughout, we recognize that this should have been communicated more effectively to all attendees.
Food and Amenities: We acknowledge there was a misunderstanding regarding meal provisions at the event. As a non-profit initiative, our resources were limited, allowing us to provide only morning and afternoon tea breaks. Considering the location at Marina Bay Sands, which boasts over 60 dining options, we believed it would enhance the experience by giving attendees the flexibility to explore various culinary choices independently. This approach was intended to cater to the diverse preferences of an international delegation while managing our resources effectively. We provided full meal provisions for speakers and VIPs only, and we understand this decision might not have met everyone’s expectations. We apologize if this arrangement caused any inconvenience and will review our communication and catering strategies to better meet attendee needs in future events.
Registration Process: We apologize for any issues encountered during the registration process. Due to incomplete information for some group bookings, we initially provided handwritten name tags. However, we made every effort to re-print all name tags with the correct details before the afternoon tea break on the first day. We regret any confusion this may have caused and acknowledge that better communication could have improved your registration experience. We are committed to refining this process for future conferences to ensure a smoother and more welcoming start for all attendees.
Voting Process: We appreciate your concerns regarding the voting process for the Action Plan competition. It’s important to clarify that the organizing school's participation was intended to lead by example and encourage robust participation from all attendees. The project Greentree's team presented was initiated six months in advance. Also, this team had no advance knowledge of other submissions, since collections were made by another organizing team, ensuring that we were on equal footing with other participants.
At the conference, the voting was conducted entirely by conference attendees, emphasizing the impartiality of the outcome. However, we recognize the need for even greater transparency and will consider the implementation of an independent panel of judges in future competitions to oversee the voting process, reinforcing fairness and integrity.
Thank you once again for sharing your valuable feedback and for participating in the Asia Montessori Conference 2024. We are truly sorry that your experience did not entirely meet your expectations, and we are grateful for the opportunity to address these points. Our goal is always to facilitate an enriching, inclusive, and well-organized conference, and your feedback is invaluable in helping us improve.
This conference was organized by Greentree Montessori, a small preschool organization in Singapore. The staff you met at the conference were all in-service teachers who were balancing their responsibilities of managing their students and classes with planning and executing this large event. Notably, the conference was held immediately after a normal school day on October 3rd, adding to the challenges faced by our dedicated teachers.
Organizing such a conference was a new endeavor for the team, and we are continuously learning and striving to improve. We recognize that there were shortcomings, and your candid feedback is invaluable in helping us enhance future events. We are committed to making necessary adjustments and ensuring clearer communication and better overall organization in the future.
Once again, please accept our apologies for any aspect of the conference that did not live up to your expectations. We are grateful for the opportunity to learn from these experiences and will take all your points into consideration as we plan for the future.
We hope to welcome you again next year in Vietnam, with improvements that reflect your valuable input.