Tuition Nation: Is tuition necessary?

Singapore is well known for being a nation which prioritises academic excellence over many other areas of self development. But what may come as a surprise to some is that there are over a thousand tuition centres in Singapore today. A common question that many parents have lately is: "Is tuition necessary?"

We observe that many parents fall into one of two ends of this spectrum. Those who do their utmost to provide their child with a competitive edge, and those who adopt a more laissez-faire approach - No tuition and no enrichment unless absolutely necessary.

Parent Type A

  • These parents often sign their children up for multiple enrichment activities (e.g. piano, swimming, soccer, ballet and more) so that they can become all-rounders in their development (or to qualify for DSA).

  • In such cases, parents may send their children for tuition for all subjects. They may also frequently evaluate and re-evaluate tuition providers, and change providers when their children do not fare well in a recent assessment.

Parent Type B

  • These parents may think that there is more than enough work done from school and they don't want to over-burden their children with additional activities, which take away family and leisure time from their children.

What do we feel about tuition? Some fun facts about our team: We have tutors with Bachelor's degrees, Master’s degrees, as well as those who were former top PSLE students with scores exceeding >280. Most of us didn't take tuition. Naturally - our view is, tuition is not always necessary.

Yet, here's what we’ve found out after years of teaching, both in former MOE school setting, and now in the tuition industry. Many parents hit the panic button only when their children are in P6, especially after CA1/ WA1 results come out in March. They share with us their concerns as their children’s scores fall in the range of 30 - 60. At this point, we will always be honest with the parents. While tuition now becomes a necessity, there are only 5 to 6 months left that we can use to help to turn things around. Hence, there is a need to understand that it will take a joint tremendous effort and partnership among the school, the parents, the children and us to really make a significant difference in the child's performance at the final exam.

It is also important to note that tuition is a necessity only if it works for the child. Some may end up regressing and shunning Mathematics even more if the wrong approach is taken. 

What is tuition like at Genius Plus Mathematics? First, we ensure that the new topics presently being taught are understood well so that at least, the child does not face difficulties with them. Then, once we've created some form of rapport and built that bit of confidence, we work backwards, focusing on the gaps that the child has shown in previous topics. We start with questions that get progressively tough so that we can see the issues the child is actually facing.

This is a process that takes time. That’s why we always ask parents to bring their child down for a Diagnostic Consultation. At the Diagnostic Consultation, we can identify gaps and competencies, as well as discuss with the parents to assess whether online, onsite or 1-to-1 classes are best suited for the child. 

Is tuition necessary for your child? Book a trial lesson and/or a Diagnostic Consultation today and for a tailored approach to maximising your child’s potential.

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