Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition

[jtoh]

Melodies:

Hi optimistforum,


Are you currently working in MOE? Just wonder why you will soon be involved in the review of the National Curriculum.

Why you can see our education back to its best within ten years ( I think you are referring to going back to O level route?) If this is the case, why you think this will create a demand for more private tuition? I don't recall we have so many tuition centres during my time and there were not many pupils who attended tuition during my time. Could you clarify more?
TIA!

optimistforum:

I too will soon be involved in the review of the National Curriculum.

Optimistforum isn't from Singapore. She might be referring to her home country.

[Melodies]

Agree! you will never know if you don't try. If your kids score well > 260 for PLSE, you will think they are OK for IP, right?


Don't forget that you need to be at least 250 for IP school admission!

I know a real case of 1 pupil who scored >265 for PLSE and got into RI for IP route. However, he struggled to cope in RI and just managed to get average result for A level.

Imami:

But how would parents know if IP is/is not suitable for their children?

My child is still very young, so I don't really know about IP although my niece and nephew (a pair of twins) are IP students.

[Melodies]

Hi jtoh,


Thanks for letting me know this.

You mentioned about IP is suitable for some students but not for others.
Could you share with us IP is exactly suitable for which type of students?
How relevant is this IP to this type of student?

The pupil who scored > 265 is a very bright kid, independent and has never attended any tuition but still can't excel in IP. I don't know what type of student can excel in IP school then.

jtoh:

Optimistforum isn't from Singapore. She might be referring to her home country.

[Imami]

Melodies:

Agree! you will never know if you don't try. If your kids score well > 260 for PLSE, you will think they are OK for IP, right?


Don't forget that you need to be at least 250 for IP school admission!

I know a real case of 1 pupil who scored >265 for PLSE and got into RI for IP route. However, he struggled to cope in RI and just managed to get average result for A level.

Imami:

But how would parents know if IP is/is not suitable for their children?

My child is still very young, so I don't really know about IP although my niece and nephew (a pair of twins) are IP students.

My niece scored 245 for her psle and nephew scored 254. They are now in \"sec 4\" ( dunno how the levels are described in ip schools but they are supposed to be in their 4th yr in that school). The boy is among the top 10% of the school's cohort. Was selected to participate in some programme supposedly for the best science students in sg. The girl, maybe not that good, but is a councillor in school. The way the parents said it, it's like 'no good buay sai be councillor' so I supposed she is also good?

[Melodies]

Hi Imami,


Which sec school they are in now? Do they attend tuition class now? Did they attend any tuition class during primary school?

[optimistforum]

Hi Melodies


I am from England. I am also a "he". I am trying to get involved, in some form, of reviewing the English National Curriculum.

[limlim]

tuition_czar:

One of the Yahoo users Clara stated her opinion in response to the article (reproduced below):

============================================================================================


I feel that the boom of the tuition industry in Singapore is the direct consequence of the lousy education system, which expects god-like stellar results despite only employing often inadequate, unmotivated teachers in the school.

spot on....

[Chenonceau]

It says a lot when no one could be bothered to **LIKE** this until now - http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120615-0000013/Its-not-the-tool,-but-our-own-insecurities

... and Ian Tan's replies to it got liked a whole lot

... and this letter was **LIKED** 210 times in comparison to the link above - http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120614-0000109/A-parents-battlefield-approach-to-education

[BeContented]

limlim:

tuition_czar:

One of the Yahoo users Clara stated her opinion in response to the article (reproduced below):

============================================================================================


I feel that the boom of the tuition industry in Singapore is the direct consequence of the lousy education system, which expects god-like stellar results despite only employing often inadequate, unmotivated teachers in the school.

spot on....

I often wonder......
So how do we get motivated teachers? And in the great number that we require for the education system to teach smaller classes?
Sometimes I will equate teachers to the ministers......one needs the 'passion to serve'. But how many of such people are around, still around? Passion = cannot increase pay/selfless/sacrifice......but how many can sustain such passion for long term?
Can you? Have you been 'serving/sacrificing' for your passion esp. for others?

I can't. I dun have the ability. I have not. And neither have I been teaching my kids to have this selfless/serve the nations value system. :oops:
So I :salute: those who are willing to do it.
:siam: :siam:

[coast]

Chenonceau:

It says a lot when no one could be bothered to **LIKE** this until now - http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120615-0000013/Its-not-the-tool,-but-our-own-insecurities

... and Ian Tan's replies to it got liked a whole lot

... and this letter was **LIKED** 210 times in comparison to the link above - http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120614-0000109/A-parents-battlefield-approach-to-education

Hi hi hi, I learnt something from you again!

Not sure if my eyes are playing tricks on me but Ian Tan's first 2 posts:-

Standards are unrealistic
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120502-0000026/Standards-are-unrealistic

6200 likes!!!

It's a strong foundation that counts
http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/EDC120509-0000070/Its-a-strong-foundation-that-counts

628 likes!!!

I do not think MOE has replied? Or did I miss it?

Go, Ian go!