Asia spending billions on tutors: study

[KSP]

http://sg.news.yahoo.com/asia-spending-billions-tutors-study-223633801.html


Asian parents are spending billions of dollars on private tutors for their children, and the practice is growing despite doubts over its effectiveness, according to a study published Wednesday.

\"Shadow education\" is an expanding business not only in wealthy countries but also in some of the region's poorer nations as parents try to give their children the best start in life, the Asian Development Bank said.

Nearly nine out of 10 South Korean elementary pupils have private tutoring, while the figure for primary school children in India's West Bengal state is six out of 10.

\"Proportions are lower in other countries, but throughout the region the shadow is spreading and intensifying,\" the study said, calling for a review of education systems to make such extra teaching less attractive.

Extra academic work is aimed at helping slow learners and supporting high achievers, and is seen by many Asian parents as a constructive way for adolescents to spend their spare time.

However, it can also reduce time for sports and other activities important for well-rounded development, as well as cause social tensions since richer families are able to pay for better-quality tutoring, the study said.

It estimated that the costs of private tutoring in South Korea were equivalent to 80 percent of government spending on public education.

Japan spent $12 billion on extra teaching in 2010, while the figure for Singapore was US$680 million in 2008.

In Hong Kong, where 85 percent of senior secondary students receive tutoring, companies advertise the services of \"star\" tutors, on television, newspapers and the back of buses, the study said.

\"Expenses are lower in other countries, but they are headed in the same direction,\" it added.

But despite its popularity, particularly in East Asia, tutoring has had mixed results, said the study, conducted with the University of Hong Kong's Comparative Education Research Centre.

\"Much depends not only on the motivations and abilities of the students but also on the motivations and abilities of the tutors,\" it said.

\"In many countries, individuals can become tutors without training, and the effectiveness of some forms of tutoring is doubtful.\"

The study called for state supervision and regulation of the industry, as well as a review of Asia's educational systems.

\"They should ask why it (tutoring) exists in the first place, and what can be done in the mainstream to make supplementary tutoring less desirable and necessary.\"

http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/e1xKQiZIHstTtNWkJuVc3g--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD0zNDI7cT04NTt3PTUxMg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_sg/News/AFP/photo_1341441357522-1-0.jpg\">

[Lilac66]

If only every teacher in school teaches like no pupil is having tuition, there won't be such a critical need for these extra classes. Can only dream on.... :roll:

[verykiasu2010]

will this thread end up as another MOE-bashing, teacher-bashing thread ?


teach less learn more ?

teachers hardly teach ?

test beyond scope ? questions too hard ?

lousy text books ? lousy notes ? no notes ? teacher can't explain ?

useless model method ?

teachers low standard / no standard ?

teacher ask students to go for tuition ?

MOE does not respond ? leave it to school head to decide ?

want to bet ? :evil: :evil: :evil: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :rotflmao: :siam:

[Melodies]

Do westerners spend money in tuition too?

If not, then Asean is more kiasu lo :siam:

[Lynn2010]

Melodies:

Do westerners spend money in tuition too?

If not, then Asean is more kiasu lo :siam:

From what i know - the Australians do. But only for the subjects they are really bad.... that is eg. failing. For us, 90 marks still must have tuition as it should be 95 marks at least (may be 100%) :evil:

[janet88]

Lilac66:

If only every teacher in school teaches like no pupil is having tuition, there won't be such a critical need for these extra classes. Can only dream on.... :roll:

Those days are over, long over.
If only PSLE preparation is not done by just doing past year paper...quantity is not going to bring kids anywhere.

If only schools start preparing students earlier.

YES, IF only every school teaches students like they have no tuition.
Teachers are paid to teach. Are they doing that ? No, they are obeying what MOE told them to do, 'teach less, learn more'.

[ChiefKiasu]

Lynn2010:

Melodies:

Do westerners spend money in tuition too?

If not, then Asean is more kiasu lo :siam:

From what i know - the Australians do. But only for the subjects they are really bad.... that is eg. failing. For us, 90 marks still must have tuition as it should be 95 marks at least (may be 100%) :evil:

Looking at the raw scores could be misleading. It's all about perspective. If everyone in class scores above 90 and their child is the only one that scores below 90, it would definitely change the perception of \"failure\" for most parents.

The fact is, scoring above 90 is the norm for some of the best classes.

[verykiasu2010]

ChiefKiasu:

Lynn2010:

[quote=\"Melodies\"]Do westerners spend money in tuition too?

If not, then Asean is more kiasu lo :siam:

From what i know - the Australians do. But only for the subjects they are really bad.... that is eg. failing. For us, 90 marks still must have tuition as it should be 95 marks at least (may be 100%) :evil:

Looking at the raw scores could be misleading. It's all about perspective. If everyone in class scores above 90 and their child is the only one that scores below 90, it would definitely change the perception of \"failure\" for most parents.

The fact is, scoring above 90 is the norm for some of the best classes.[/quote]or could be the lowest score !

[pinky]

we spent US$680M on tuition in 2008, maybe by now could have cross the US$1B mark :yikes:

[janet88]

pinky:

we spent US$680M on tuition in 2008, maybe by now could have cross the US$1B mark :yikes:

I have nothing against my tutors...in fact, I love them very much because they are the ones who EDUCATE my son.
Crossing the billion dollar mark is not surprising. I spend $2K a month just for my son's tutors alone.