Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition

[Chenonceau]

wonderm:

When MOE reviews our public education system, besides reading KSP and other media/online forums, hope they also take a look at this:


\"Changing Education Paradigms\" by Sir Ken Robinson.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDZFcDGpL4U

Brilliant!

I love this too. Man, I love this. To do this, they'll need to move away from standardized testing. No more PSLE?

[Imami]

limlim:

Imami:

When I first heard the \"teach less, learn more\", I was thinking simi lai eh? How can that happen? But I thought to myself,\"ai ya u duno lah... New technology\" but after reading this much, hey - I am not alone leh

teach less at national schools..

learn more at private schools..

:rotflmao: yup, sounds right to make sense out of \"teach less, learn more\"

[limlim]

If school teach lesser and lesser.. but testing more and more..


this is what could happen..

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NWOLtFd211g/Ts1FkXFICxI/AAAAAAAAAJs/k6cRDqg_DmU/s400/mismouni.jpg\">

the elites gets more advantage.. and the poor became more deprived (of the teachings in public school)..

and the income gaps widens...

[optimistforum]

limlim, that same is true here in England.

[Jennifer]

limlim:

Imami:

When I first heard the \"teach less, learn more\", I was thinking simi lai eh? How can that happen? But I thought to myself,\"ai ya u duno lah... New technology\" but after reading this much, hey - I am not alone leh

teach less at national schools..

learn more at private schools..

We are taking away the innate drive for knowledge via self-study, self exploration?

I think it is dangerous to think we can only learn in some institutions, be it govt or private.

[cherryc]

Chenonceau:

Let us not dispute the notion of whether parents are kiasu. Let us acknowledge that parents are kiasu in the way the following 2 bloggers have acknowledged the phenomenon.

(1) http://hedgehogcomms.blogspot.sg/2012/06/education-stress-whose-fault.html

(2) http://8percentpa.blogspot.sg/search/label/Education

There remains systemic solutions to temper the kiasu-ism. Why is it that Humankind can dam up rivers, lay optical fibre into the ocean floor, FLY, search for a cancer cure... but so easily admit defeat in the face of Parent Kiasu-ism without even trying to brainstorm systemic solutions or listen to those proffered by fellow countrymen?

The issue boils down to weak governance by MOE.

I guess we all have varying degrees of kiasuism in us but what underlies the kiasuism is the love for our kids and the concern for the future of our nation. In this forum, we have many different types of parents with different kinds of kids, some educated ones with IP-calibre kids, some v educated ones with non-performing kids, some not very educated ones with smart kids in need of more help or some totally clueless, non-kiasuparents whom I doubt they will even bother to log into this forum.

We should put aside our many differences and just take a look at our education system now, are there areas for improvements ? Especially, if there are so many people going for tuitions and the kids not learning the basics ?? What is stopping the teachers from giving their best to the kids ? Some parents may be very happy thinking my kids are high-fliers , none of my concerns and snub at the parents who complain no end but one can't be so sure the non-academic ones today may not be more successful one day or worst create more problems in the society for the academic ones in future. In fact, I will be more happy if the very educated ones with IP-calibre kids to contribute their wisdom of their experience . To me, 1+1+1= Infinity and 1-1-1-1=- (Infinity)

We all have limited resources whether is time or money. For the kids, it is definitely their time and energy. By having this generation of kids, 90% of them in tuition many times a week, it means they play less, sleep less, see their parents less, see their grandparents less, communicate to other people less, etc. There will be some impact in their lives in future. If the school can teach effectively, maybe we can decrease the percentage instead of seeing it getting worst?

For money wise, I know of taxi drivers driving additional hours to pay for tuition, 1 parent in another thread cutting insurance and some people cutting their parents' medical expenses to fund tuition. And I have not even covered the amount of money wasted changing from one unsuitable tuition center to another or changing non-performing ex-teachers type of tutors. This unnecessary expenses can do so much to enhance our lives in other ways. Yes tuition is inevitable for some but not >90% students. It is a mockery to our education system and amidst our kiasuism among ourselves, we all may lose to the external environment.

[Chenonceau]

cherryc:

Chenonceau:

Let us not dispute the notion of whether parents are kiasu. Let us acknowledge that parents are kiasu in the way the following 2 bloggers have acknowledged the phenomenon.

(1) http://hedgehogcomms.blogspot.sg/2012/06/education-stress-whose-fault.html

(2) http://8percentpa.blogspot.sg/search/label/Education

There remains systemic solutions to temper the kiasu-ism. Why is it that Humankind can dam up rivers, lay optical fibre into the ocean floor, FLY, search for a cancer cure... but so easily admit defeat in the face of Parent Kiasu-ism without even trying to brainstorm systemic solutions or listen to those proffered by fellow countrymen?

The issue boils down to weak governance by MOE.

I guess we all have varying degrees of kiasuism in us but what underlies the kiasuism is the love for our kids and the concern for the future of our nation. In this forum, we have many different types of parents with different kinds of kids, some educated ones with IP-calibre kids, some v educated ones with non-performing kids, some not very educated ones with smart kids in need of more help or some totally clueless, non-kiasuparents whom I doubt they will even bother to log into this forum.

We should put aside our many differences and just take a look at our education system now, are there areas for improvements ? Especially, if there are so many people going for tuitions and the kids not learning the basics ?? What is stopping the teachers from giving their best to the kids ? Some parents may be very happy thinking my kids are high-fliers , none of my concerns and snub at the parents who complain no end but one can't be so sure the non-academic ones today may not be more successful one day or worst create more problems in the society for the academic ones in future. In fact, I will be more happy if the very educated ones with IP-calibre kids to contribute their wisdom of their experience . To me, 1+1+1= Infinity and 1-1-1-1=- (Infinity)

We all have limited resources whether is time or money. For the kids, it is definitely their time and energy. By having this generation of kids, 90% of them in tuition many times a week, it means they play less, sleep less, see their parents less, see their grandparents less, communicate to other people less, etc. There will be some impact in their lives in future. If the school can teach effectively, maybe we can decrease the percentage instead of seeing it getting worst?

For money wise, I know of taxi drivers driving additional hours to pay for tuition, 1 parent in another thread cutting insurance and some people cutting their parents' medical expenses to fund tuition. And I have not even covered the amount of money wasted changing from one unsuitable tuition center to another or changing non-performing ex-teachers type of tutors. This unnecessary expenses can do so much to enhance our lives in other ways. Yes tuition is inevitable for some but not >90% students. It is a mockery to our education system and amidst our kiasuism among ourselves, we all may lose to the external environment.

:goodpost:

[verykiasu2010]

I think there is a lot of bullshit in saying 90% of kids having tuition is due to school teaching less and testing beyond scope.


The writer whose article was quoted in this thread concluded that the high % (without evidence, just personal \"observation\", which means your word against my word) of kids having tuition is mainly due to kiasuparents mind set.

It is 'wonderful' to see the herd instinct to straight away pin point it to teachers not teaching.

If it is really just teachers not teaching, or testing beyond scope, it is a very simple issue. Bring it up to MOE. Document it and submit it to Mr Heng Swee Kiat and c.c. it to PM Lee, I am sure they will attend to it.

As a start, please name the school, subject, level, class, teacher name, topic not taught but tested in school and examined in PSLE. Be not afraid to reveal your identity, if the school and teacher dare to victimise you / your child as a result of this feedback / complaint, lagi best -- another documentation of evidence to submit to Heng Swee Kiat and PM Lee.

C'mon, for the sake of the country, let's do it

[verykiasu2010]

cherryc:

It is a mockery to our education system and amidst our kiasuism among ourselves, we all may lose to the external environment.

if we have no evidence of the 90% as claimed, who is making a mockery of who ?

[Chenonceau]

verykiasu2010:

I think there is a lot of bullshit in saying 90% of kids having tuition is due to school teaching less and testing beyond scope.


The writer whose article was quoted in this thread concluded that the high % (without evidence, just personal \"observation\", which means your word against my word) of kids having tuition is mainly due to kiasuparents mind set.

It is 'wonderful' to see the herd instinct to straight away pin point it to teachers not teaching.

If it is really just teachers not teaching, or testing beyond scope, it is a very simple issue. Bring it up to MOE. Document it and submit it to Mr Heng Swee Kiat and c.c. it to PM Lee, I am sure they will attend to it.

As a start, please name the school, subject, level, class, teacher name, topic not taught but tested in school and examined in PSLE. Be not afraid to reveal your identity, if the school and teacher dare to victimise you / your child as a result of this feedback / complaint, lagi best -- another documentation of evidence to submit to Heng Swee Kiat and PM Lee.

C'mon, for the sake of the country, let's do it

Ummmm... I have given specific details and evidence. In good faith, I have. The evidence I provided was clear. The proposals and suggestions for solutions were also clear. The answer was - it's the school's problem.