Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition
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Quote:
I am not surprised with the \"90% tuition\" for primary school students (not sure about the tuition situation for secondary school students). But I find it unbelievable that \"MOST\" students do not sleep more than 5 or 6 hours every night. I suppose we would have heard much more about it from parents if the situation is really that bad?http://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/singaporescene/things-consider-sending-child-tuition-classes-102823408.html
Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition
By Yahoo! Singapore | SingaporeScene – Wed, Jun 13, 2012
By Daniel Wong
Singapore is a tuition nation.
In comparison, there are fewer than 400 primary and secondary schools in total.
Through my work as an education excellence coach and speaker, I've had the privilege of speaking to and working with thousands of students. Through these interactions, I estimate that more than 90% of students attend some form of tuition classes.
Students continually complain about their huge struggle to complete their school and tuition homework, participate actively in their co-curricular activities, and lead a somewhat balanced life.
Most students tell me that they don't get more than 5 or 6 hours of sleep every night because there's just so much they have to do!
Clearly, there's something wrong with this picture.
Daniel Wong is the author of \"The Happy Student: 5 Steps to Academic Fulfillment and Success\". He is also an education excellence coach and speaker. He writes regularly about topics related to education, career and personal development at Living Large. -
optimistforum:
welcome to explore our singapore system ...... our england all returned to england alredi and now we practise singlish ....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. -
BeContented:
I often wonder......
spot on....limlim:
[quote=\"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.
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:[/quote]Getting passionate teachers is something that MOE can't really control..
However, settings standards is something within their control.
What I feel is, the school should test what their teachings can deliver. If they cannot teach so much, don't test so much.
So what if 90% of the students got an \"A\". It simply means 90% can absorb what was taught and apply according.
The problem with the current \"elitist\" education system is, they not want to just make sure the students are \"educated\", but rather, they try to single out the \"elites\" from the average.. hereby creating a rat-race situation where everyone tries to be in front of the race, and employing whatever help or advantage that they can lay their hands on.. such as enrichment classes.
If their aim is to educate the nation, then, as long as the student can manage what was taught, they can score 100% (for e.g.). And, if the parents find their kids can score 100%, why would they spend extra on tuition if their kid is 1 of the 20 or so \"100 marks students\" in a class? with this system, the need for tuition would disappear by itself.
Teach what is necessary. Test what is taught.
Maybe, they can offer additional subjects/papers to identify gifted students. But these subjects/papers would not be factored into secondary school or university admission. Something like \"S\" paper for A levels. You can leverage on it for scholarships etc.. but it is not taken into account for university admission. -
verykiasu2010:
:faint:
welcome to explore our singapore system ...... our england all returned to england alredi and now we practise singlish ....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:
So eliminate ALL forms of selection?
Getting passionate teachers is something that MOE can't really control..BeContented:
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:
However, settings standards is something within their control.
What I feel is, the school should test what their teachings can deliver. If they cannot teach so much, don't test so much.
So what if 90% of the students got an \"A\". It simply means 90% can absorb what was taught and apply according.
The problem with the current \"elitist\" education system is, they not want to just make sure the students are \"educated\", but rather, they try to single out the \"elites\" from the average.. hereby creating a rat-race situation where everyone tries to be in front of the race, and employing whatever help or advantage that they can lay their hands on.. such as enrichment classes.
If their aim is to educate the nation, then, as long as the student can manage what was taught, they can score 100% (for e.g.). And, if the parents find their kids can score 100%, why would they spend extra on tuition if their kid is 1 of the 20 or so \"100 marks students\" in a class? with this system, the need for tuition would disappear by itself.
Teach what is necessary. Test what is taught.
100% = no need for tuition?
Sorry, but I seriously do not believe so. I have kid in lousy school, when DS score 100% for P6 SA1 maths + a few others....my first thot was paper too easy. Teacher confirmed that the standard was not pegged to PSLE to make kids happy. Yap, kids happy but parents?? All you'll hear from parents are
- paper easy so results not realistic/reflective, must do difficult paper ie. top school paper etc. (why do you think top school papers are such a top-seller??)
I also know some other top students....who score >95% but yet tuition all 4 subjects...cos' paper easy mah but yet never get 100% plus sooooo many others also score so well.
Every year the top students from P1-4/5 apply for transfer to better schools ie. schools that set difficult exams = higher standard.
Every year, loads of parents (some exceptions of course) die die must try to send their children into these top schools irregardless of distance despite knowing the school sets tough exams.
Ironical ?? :roll:limlim:
Ummmm. Either rid of ALL means of identifying or the vicious cycle will just continue. As long as there is any chance of being 'better'.....parents will find means to put/squeeze/force/train their kids for such programmes. Just look at GEP....
Maybe, they can offer additional subjects/papers to identify gifted students. But these subjects/papers would not be factored into secondary school or university admission. Something like \"S\" paper for A levels. You can leverage on it for scholarships etc.. but it is not taken into account for university admission.
Guess I'm one of the broken record with a minority view.
Will try to revert back to be a silent reader........ -
verykiasu2010:
Aiyo VK2010, optimistforum may catch no ball what you mean by singlish since he is a foreigner... May I have the honor to give you some examples :
welcome to explore our singapore system ...... our england all returned to england alredi and now we practise singlish ....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.
Our Singlish. What it mean
Can lah. - Yes
Can leh. - Yes. of course
Can lor. - Yes, I think so.
Can hah ? - Are you sure?
Can hor ? - Are you sure then.
Can meh ? - Can or not?
Can can. - Confirm.
Can gua. - Maybe.
Can liao. - Already can / Done
Can wor. - Yea.
Can liao la. - ok, enough.
Ok can liao la... better :siam: fast before moderator catch me for :offtopic:
-
fightingmom:
Aiyo VK2010, optimistforum may catch no ball what you mean by singlish since he is a foreigner... May I have the honor to give you some examples :
welcome to explore our singapore system ...... our england all returned to england alredi and now we practise singlish ....verykiasu2010:
[quote=\"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.
Our Singlish. What it mean
Can lah. - Yes
Can leh. - Yes. of course
Can lor. - Yes, I think so.
Can hah ? - Are you sure?
Can hor ? - Are you sure then.
Can meh ? - Can or not?
Can can. - Confirm.
Can gua. - Maybe.
Can liao. - Already can / Done
Can wor. - Yea.
Can liao la. - ok, enough.
Ok can liao la... better :siam: fast before moderator catch me for :offtopic:
[/quote] :rotflmao: :rotflmao: good one. can can. pass liao. -
Hi fightingmum
Can lor.......... :imcool: -
fightingmom:
Aiyo VK2010, optimistforum may catch no ball what you mean by singlish since he is a foreigner... May I have the honor to give you some examples :
welcome to explore our singapore system ...... our england all returned to england alredi and now we practise singlish ....verykiasu2010:
[quote=\"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.
Our Singlish. What it mean
Can lah. - Yes
Can leh. - Yes. of course
Can lor. - Yes, I think so.
Can hah ? - Are you sure?
Can hor ? - Are you sure then.
Can meh ? - Can or not?
Can can. - Confirm.
Can gua. - Maybe.
Can liao. - Already can / Done
Can wor. - Yea.
Can liao la. - ok, enough.
Ok can liao la... better :siam: fast before moderator catch me for :offtopic:
[/quote]alamak, your england teacher will have your singlish canned, or he will cane you, failing which he will have you canned :evil: :evil: -
BeContented:
So eliminate ALL forms of selection?
Getting passionate teachers is something that MOE can't really control..limlim:
[quote=\"BeContented\"]
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:
However, settings standards is something within their control.
What I feel is, the school should test what their teachings can deliver. If they cannot teach so much, don't test so much.
So what if 90% of the students got an \"A\". It simply means 90% can absorb what was taught and apply according.
The problem with the current \"elitist\" education system is, they not want to just make sure the students are \"educated\", but rather, they try to single out the \"elites\" from the average.. hereby creating a rat-race situation where everyone tries to be in front of the race, and employing whatever help or advantage that they can lay their hands on.. such as enrichment classes.
If their aim is to educate the nation, then, as long as the student can manage what was taught, they can score 100% (for e.g.). And, if the parents find their kids can score 100%, why would they spend extra on tuition if their kid is 1 of the 20 or so \"100 marks students\" in a class? with this system, the need for tuition would disappear by itself.
Teach what is necessary. Test what is taught.
100% = no need for tuition?
Sorry, but I seriously do not believe so. I have kid in lousy school, when DS score 100% for P6 SA1 maths + a few others....my first thot was paper too easy. Teacher confirmed that the standard was not pegged to PSLE to make kids happy. Yap, kids happy but parents?? All you'll hear from parents are
- paper easy so results not realistic/reflective, must do difficult paper ie. top school paper etc. (why do you think top school papers are such a top-seller??)
I also know some other top students....who score >95% but yet tuition all 4 subjects...cos' paper easy mah but yet never get 100% plus sooooo many others also score so well.
Every year the top students from P1-4/5 apply for transfer to better schools ie. schools that set difficult exams = higher standard.
Every year, loads of parents (some exceptions of course) die die must try to send their children into these top schools irregardless of distance despite knowing the school sets tough exams.
Ironical ?? :roll:limlim:
Ummmm. Either rid of ALL means of identifying or the vicious cycle will just continue. As long as there is any chance of being 'better'.....parents will find means to put/squeeze/force/train their kids for such programmes. Just look at GEP....
Maybe, they can offer additional subjects/papers to identify gifted students. But these subjects/papers would not be factored into secondary school or university admission. Something like \"S\" paper for A levels. You can leverage on it for scholarships etc.. but it is not taken into account for university admission.
Guess I'm one of the broken record with a minority view.
Will try to revert back to be a silent reader........ [/quote] :goodpost: