Asia spending billions on tutors: study

[wonderm]

Busymom:

Funz:

SOME teachers are not able to teach a class of 40. This is true even in our time.

Agreed! Some teachers couldn't or didn't bother to teach even during our time. It's just parents' mentality has changed.

I never had tuition when I was in school, but I gave tuition to some top Sec/JC students when I was in uni, as my students were only a few years younger than me, it was not true that there was no need for tuition in \"our time\".

Comparing to my own school days, my children have better teachers in both primary and secondary schools. Of course, not all teachers are fantastic, but in general, I think the quality of teachers improved over the years. The school programmes are also much better these days in my opinion.

Yet, I agree tuition/enrichment are much more prevalent now, and my children had attended some enrichment classes. However, it was not because of incapable teachers. They were fortunate to have the chance to attend such additional classes and they are grateful for that.

Even though my kids are not too stressed and even though we are grateful for what the education system provides for our children, I don't deny that it is more competitive now than before. Hence, it is understandable some or many feel more stressed these days. I would think that's because the society as a whole is more competitive, parents are more educated and more people are able and willing to do more for their children to do well academically in school.

For those who threaten \"let's wait for 2016 if MOE does not listen to us\", I wonder if they think that by replacing the MOE or government, all the \"problems\" will be solved? Maybe there is indeed such \"magic pill\" :evil:

[wonderm]

jtoh:

wonderm:

Maybe MOE can do these:
- Change the names of all the primary and secondary schools to the same
- Change PSLE to one which gives only pass or fail grade and most if not all students should pass

Just having a pass or fail grade in PSLE will hark back to the PSLE of 30-40 years ago? Yes, PSLE was a no-stress exam then. After all, everyone just gets a Pass in the PSLE cert so what's there to stress over? 50% or 100% - same Pass cert. But will parents be happy and satisfied if their kids just receive a PSLE cert that says Pass? Will they start questioning why their neighbour who by all accounts is weaker than their own child is able to get into a better school?

Thanks for your comment, I am with you

[3Boys]

wonderm:

For those who threaten \"let's wait for 2016 if MOE does not listen to us\", I wonder if they think that by replacing the MOE or government, all the \"problems\" will be solved? Maybe there is indeed such \"magic pill\" :evil:

Yes, I find that whole attitude to be repulsive. What does one really expect the MOE to do? Its really no-win.

[BeContented]

My 5 neighbour friends (p3-p5) had tuition. That was >30 years ago lor. And they not rich also…

[limlim]

3Boys:

limlim:

but anyway, what do you suggest to deal with the kiasu parents attitude? you or me educate them? No right?

Another term to look up <Learned Helplessness>

I suggest we beat kiasuparents into submission, preferably with a very large stick.....

do share with us when you succeed to convert the kiasu parents..

[3Boys]

limlim:

3Boys:

[quote=\"limlim\"]
but anyway, what do you suggest to deal with the kiasu parents attitude? you or me educate them? No right?

Another term to look up <Learned Helplessness>

I suggest we beat kiasuparents into submission, preferably with a very large stick.....

do share with us when you succeed to convert the kiasu parents..[/quote]You neglected to quote the one useful suggestion I had after that line.

[doodbug]

verykiasu2010:

in fact they do but not trumpeted


some of the favourite science and math teachers had been transferred out to other neighbourhood school, some even in the middle of the acad year

[/quote]



Interesting. I'm wondering whether vks2010 may have any idea how MOE allocates graduate and non-graduate teachers, and whether the distribution across the schools is somewhat standardized. I'm not saying that graduate teachers are always better than non-graduate teachers, but am curious how MOE allocates its resources.

I shall withhold my anecdotal observations on this for the moment.

[wonderm]

Lilac66:

limlim:

casino is legitimate biz....


so is enrichment/tuition..

is casino social ill or luxury/leisure?

is over reliance on enrichment/tuition a luxury or social ill?

I agree a little regulation will do good. Just like beauty and slimming centres, they can make unrealistic claims and successes with their methods, but who knows if it's true. Same goes for tuition or GEP preparation centres that claim a high percentage scored A* or got through GEP after enrolling in their centres. The relevant authorities should ensure these centres back up their claims with statistics .
If parents don't get \"swindled\" by alot of such claims , maybe they'll not jump on the bandwagon that tuition is the cure-all for all the academic woes.

I thought we have seen enough advertisements to know they are just advertisements. Are there many who get \"swindled\" by such claims? Do we expect less stress over the need or perceived need for our kids to \"excel in their studies\" even if such ads are completely banned?

I have no issue with requiring them to back up their claims with statistics. But just wonder why only tuition centres then? should we require similar \"justification\" from those advertising other products? e.g. are those perfect skins of beautiful models really due to the use of such such lotions?

Again, I am not against regulation or even complete ban of such ads because I never really believe them or be overly influenced by them.

[limlim]

3Boys:

Yes, I find that whole attitude to be repulsive. What does one really expect the MOE to do? Its really no-win.

Firstly, MOE should disallow teachers to moonlight. They are trained to be teacher paid using tax payers money and they should be dedicated to the school, not part-time extra income.

Next, Tuition/enrichment should be regulated. A database should be setup, to track the % of students from each school who are attending additional enrichment classes or tuition at registered centers.

The % could be a KPI for the teachers or principals.

If a particular school have a very small % of students attending enrichment/tuition classes, and yet can perform well, the school/teachers should be duly praised and rewarded.

The teacher would be more motivated to teach, and discourage their students from attending enrichment classes.

This will not eliminate the problem, but is a good start to tackle the problem.

This is to tackle the problem of teachers teaching less and less becoz a greater and greater % of students are having external help, and as a result majority of the students already knew the subject content before the teachers go thru it in class, and as a result the teacher teach even faster or skip some explanation, and as a result MORE students cannot catch up and require tuition, and.. the evil cycle repeats.

And for those super duper kiasuparents who wants their kid to top the class at all cost.. we can't really do anything about them, just let them be.

What we are concerned with is the quality of teaching delivered to the majority of the students. They should not be affected by the super kiasuparents.. even if 50% of the class got tuition and already knew the topic, the teachers should still follow the course content and teach the whole topic and not ask the weaker students to seek tuition.

[limlim]

3Boys:

limlim:

do share with us when you succeed to convert the kiasu parents..

You neglected to quote the one useful suggestion I had after that line.

That was quite a good suggestion.. I have no issues with that......