Real reason behind Singapore’s obsession with tuition
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janet_lee88:
Hubby and I held out for 5 years before giving son tuition for Math last year. He has CL tuition since P1. This year, we went ALL THE WAY...thank goodness we did bcos I don't have a good feel that school can prepare my son adequately for PSLE.
But Pei Hwa is well known for churning out grads with good PSLE results. That is why the school is popular.
I think you should post this post this same note at the Pri 1 registration thread, so that parents don't go there unnecessarily to register for Pri 1 next year. -
verykiasu2010:
Is it fair to post \"parents don't go there unnecessarily to register for Pri 1\" based on one parent's perception?
I think you should post this post this same note at the Pri 1 registration thread, so that parents don't go there unnecessarily to register for Pri 1 next year.janet_lee88:
bcos I don't have a good feel that school can prepare my son adequately for PSLE.
verykiasu2010:
I hv a P5 boy still with Pei Hwa. Comparing my elder boy's experience with what's going on now, there is definitely a difference.But Pei Hwa is well known for churning out grads with good PSLE results. That is why the school is popular.
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J and J:
I know for a fact that DD has had different teachers for different subjects since P1. I cannot say if this is the situation for the whole school or just that DD happened to be that lucky. Her teachers do teach across levels though.
Wonder if you can share which school your DD is studying and which level that her class has differenct teacher for each different subject?
I did propose to my child's school to have different teacher for each different subject. As his form teacher always absent from school with various reasons like training, MC, CCA competition, CCL... During his form teacher's absence, the class was given worksheets to do in the class by the relief teacher. No teaching at all for all subjects except the mother tongue. That's why I proposed different teacher for each different subject to the school so that the impact on the class can be minimised, not for all subjects, but the prinicpal told me that no school can afford to do this in sg. If your DD school can do that, why they can't.... -
Funz:
So happy for your DD. Can PM me the name of her school? so that I can recommend the principal to learn from that school how to make it possible.
I know for a fact that DD has had different teachers for different subjects since P1. I cannot say if this is the situation for the whole school or just that DD happened to be that lucky. Her teachers do teach across levels though.J and J:
Wonder if you can share which school your DD is studying and which level that her class has differenct teacher for each different subject?
I did propose to my child's school to have different teacher for each different subject. As his form teacher always absent from school with various reasons like training, MC, CCA competition, CCL... During his form teacher's absence, the class was given worksheets to do in the class by the relief teacher. No teaching at all for all subjects except the mother tongue. That's why I proposed different teacher for each different subject to the school so that the impact on the class can be minimised, not for all subjects, but the prinicpal told me that no school can afford to do this in sg. If your DD school can do that, why they can't....
:thankyou: -
Funz:
:goodpost:Please don't get me wrong. I am not down to pinpointing at individual teachers. I put my 2 cents worth here cos I feel that the tone has been one that screams all teachers don't teach hence we need tuition. And all the good results are a result of tuition not schools.
Chen brought up many very very valid points like a need for better text, for some semblance of uniformity in some areas across all schools, testing within standard, etc. But these get drowned out by TEACHERS DON'T TEACH, TUTORS DO. SO TUITION IS THE ANSWER!
Constraints, definitely there are. There are real constraints and perceived constraints. We need to knock down perceived constraints, recognise the real constraints and work around them.
MOE made some changes to the way things are taught. On paper, it looks wonderful. But execution is a b!tch. Take STELLAR. I love it coming from DD's school, I worry about it coming from DS's school. The materials are all the same, the delivery is very very different.
The teach less learn more initiative is good. But in my myopic view only 1/2 a plan was executed that is why it is falling flat. They want to get children to observe, discover, predict, infer, reflect, deduce as such the knowledge acquired will be more in depth. But they forget that ultimately, the kids are sitting for an exam that is designed based on drilling and rote learning, even the open ended questions are answered via a very rote method. How to balance the 2? If they dare, bite the bullet and do away with PSLE?
Darn lost my train of thoughts. Kids hounding me. -
verykiasu2010:
Humans are generally full of contradiction :siam:janet_lee88:
Hubby and I held out for 5 years before giving son tuition for Math last year. He has CL tuition since P1. This year, we went ALL THE WAY...thank goodness we did bcos I don't have a good feel that school can prepare my son adequately for PSLE.
But Pei Hwa is well known for churning out grads with good PSLE results. That is why the school is popular.
I think you should post this post this same note at the Pri 1 registration thread, so that parents don't go there unnecessarily to register for Pri 1 next year. -
BeContented:
Humans are generally full of contradiction :siam:[/quote]I am contentedverykiasu2010:
[quote=\"janet_lee88\"]Hubby and I held out for 5 years before giving son tuition for Math last year. He has CL tuition since P1. This year, we went ALL THE WAY...thank goodness we did bcos I don't have a good feel that school can prepare my son adequately for PSLE.
But Pei Hwa is well known for churning out grads with good PSLE results. That is why the school is popular.
I think you should post this post this same note at the Pri 1 registration thread, so that parents don't go there unnecessarily to register for Pri 1 next year. -
verykiasu2010:
for lower primary, it is a bit difficult to expect them to be that independent..
follow all the way to staff room, or go with a few friends to ask questions during recess ....
someone, already with weak foundation, they may not be able to express themselves well.
for e.g. immeidately during lesson, it is easier for them to raise they hand and say \"excuse me, could you repeat or spell out the word that you just said?\", then to, during recess, go to the teacher and say \"Mdm, just now what is the word you said? har, err.. that word.. (of coz she cannot pronounce it)....... .... sorry, forget that I came..\".
As for following the teacher to staff room, not possible coz they need to attend the next lesson.
If they are upper primary, I would not expect so much from the teacher and expect the kid to be more independent.. but P1............ difficult.. I expect the teacher to be more patient with the kids and give them sufficient care and attention. -
Chenonceau:
100% Agree.. :goodpost:
I would beg to differ. I think there can be systemic solutions to shore up overall quality in every school.
That's why we're here to express our opinions.. provide constructive feedback on HOW to improve the situation.. and not complain complain..
While different pple may have different views.. for e.g. Chen seems more focus on resources and textbooks, while I'm concerned about MOE policies that could have an impact on the quality of education provided.. etc..
It is all about systematic solutions, and not about complain which school teachers not good etc..
Althou sometimes we just share some personal experiences (good or no good), I prefer not to view it as \"complain\".. but probably isolated cases.. for reference only, and not representative of the overall picture. -
Funz:
IMO, this situation is a social ill and should be avoided.... and if necessary, require state intervention.But these get drowned out by TEACHERS DON'T TEACH, TUTORS DO. SO TUITION IS THE ANSWER!
Question is how do we avoid it.. or does anyone feel that this is not a social problem?