Asia spending billions on tutors: study

[iRabbit]

SAHM_TAN:

My point is that from my observation of my kids, I know small until cannot be small sample size, kids by nature love and want to learn. They are terrible curious creatures. It's not a typo when I state terrible. We do not need to nurture their love for learning. We just need to make sure we don't extinguish it.

I so totally agree with you on this one. This is also what Glenn Doman preached about early childhood education. The thing is, a child's educational journey doesn't start when he reaches P1. It starts way before that and we parents play a big part in the grooming and motivational aspects [though I reserve judgement on the effectiveness of sending kids to 2 kindy per day].

If we put in consistent effort to educate our kids during the early years, in future no matter what external competition they face such as in the form of smart foreign students coming in, I believe they will hold their own and fulfil their potential. Isn't that enough?

Some sure ways to extinguish the fire in our kids are a) expect perfection all the time, nit-picking every small mistake that they make b) bore them by only exposing them to content found within MOE's exam syllabus c) physcially punishing them when they don't meet our expection [to me, this is the biggest disincentive to learn for the quest of knowledge].

[janet88]

Funz:

janet_lee88:

Hubby told me his colleague's child attends 2 kindergarten...morn is to attend one which conducts lessons in mandarin, then another kindy which is English-speaking. Child eats biscuits or sandwiches on the way to attend afternoon session.
This is before P1. When the 5 year old boy in ST goes to p1, wont he be having tuition for all 3 subjects ? Not surprising.

So is this cos the child needs it or cos the school is not teaching or cos the parents want it?

This looks more like kiasu...Only 5 (K1). Parents afraid the son will lose out in P1. Nothing to do with school not teaching at this point.
When my kids were in kindergarten, we will have fun after school...no enrichment whatsoever. Television, computer games, swimming and cycling.

[despmom99]

janet_lee88:

Boy mentioned in yesterday's ST could have been brainwashed to attend 2 kindergartens everyday. Kids at his age have brains like sponges...quick to absorb...but starting too early can lead to melt-down or burnt out early too. Very 可怜


Are some parents too eager to get kids started seeing that their precious tots are intelligent or plain kiasu? Once kids start school, they will be studying for the next 16-18 years at least, maybe more if taking MBA.

I was shocked when I read the article. The never-ending rat race :slapshead:

[LOLMum]

As long as the child has ample playtime and rest daily, why not?


It is similar to putting a child in child care except the one in child care doesn’t need to travel from one school to another.

[limlim]

larkspur:

my cousins and my uncle are primary school teachers. They would tell me that a lot of parents of p1 to p3 kids engage tutitions and it is really \"good business\" for them. In fact my cousins and uncle give tuitions at night after school hours and what they earn from tuition at night is more than their basic salary as a school teachers. My whole clan are talking as to how they earning big money to an extent that one cousin give her mum pocket money of $1k every month and she staying in condo with 1 kid and both herself and her hubby are primary school teachers. Sometimes my parents would be in an envy , i told them no choice your daughter me dun like teaching and i am paying tuition teacher to teach my girl

janet_lee88:

What has been done to the education system that we need tutors to coach our kids ?

Good question......

Something is very WRONG somewhere.. many juz refuse to see it.

[Sun_2010]

LOLMum:

As long as the child has ample playtime and rest daily, why not?


It is similar to putting a child in child care except the one in child care doesn't need to travel from one school to another.

In a child care the teachings are spread out - may be 1-2 hrs in the morning , followed by bath, lunch, post lunch activity, nap, wakeup , tea time, only then some more learning time, usually 1-2 rs. So there is atleast a good 3 hr break with routine activities

In a good kindy - in 2-3 hrs they have well planned out structured mostly mind-body stimulating activity with short breaks . If this is followed by another equally well planned out structured mostly mind-body stimulating activity with just half an hour gap , it is likely to be detrimental to the child.

imoh, A child needs some hours of unstructured free play - a kind of ruminating time for the brain. a time free from goals, time pressure, and yes, no electronic gadgets.

A holiday at the end of the term is not sufficient. (that is assuming it is free from some more enrichment...) :faint:

[Funz]

limlim:

larkspur:

my cousins and my uncle are primary school teachers. They would tell me that a lot of parents of p1 to p3 kids engage tutitions and it is really \"good business\" for them. In fact my cousins and uncle give tuitions at night after school hours and what they earn from tuition at night is more than their basic salary as a school teachers. My whole clan are talking as to how they earning big money to an extent that one cousin give her mum pocket money of $1k every month and she staying in condo with 1 kid and both herself and her hubby are primary school teachers. Sometimes my parents would be in an envy , i told them no choice your daughter me dun like teaching and i am paying tuition teacher to teach my girl

janet_lee88:

What has been done to the education system that we need tutors to coach our kids ?

Good question......

Something is very WRONG somewhere.. many juz refuse to see it.

Some truly need tuition for various reasons. A lot want tuition so that their kids do not fall from the top 10 or 5 or 3.

Yes something is wrong somewhere. Many just refuse to see that it is not just 1 area.

[limlim]

Funz:

Yes something is wrong somewhere. Many just refuse to see that it is not just 1 area.

The question is, what can be done and should be done.

I feel, it should start from MOE.

As for kiasu parents, you can't do anything about them, there is no point talking about them and put all the blame on them, then what?

I do not dispute or disagree that some kiasu parents maybe an important cause..

But it is meaningless to talk about them.

We need concrete action to improve the situation, not blame one party and then.. continue to suffer?

Let's talk about what can MOE DO to correct/improve the situation, and not just say that kiasu parents is one of the cause, and stop there.

[concern2]

limlim:

Let's talk about what can MOE DO to correct/improve the situation, and not just say that kiasu parents is one of the cause, and stop there.

Relook and revise KPIs of teachers and Principals.

[3Boys]

limlim:

As for kiasu parents, you can't do anything about them, there is no point talking about them and put all the blame on them, then what?

I do not dispute or disagree that some kiasu parents maybe an important cause..

But it is meaningless to talk about them.

If they are an important cause, why is it meaningless to talk about them? If attitudes don't change, can anything the MOE do be enough?