<![CDATA[Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE...]]>I had a most scary conversation with a mother yesterday, while waiting outside the music room for my kid's concert.


Apparently, her kid is in Tao Nan and some parents in his class were called in to meet the Chinese teacher. They were told point-blank that, yes, their children are scoring less than 90% but because more than half the other children in the class are scoring above 90 and full marks for their exams, their kids are in trouble (of being last in class and demotion to slower classes) if they do NOT engage private tutors to buck up.

I was like... :shock:

While I'm sure the story has been exaggerated for effect, there is probably quite a bit of truth in the events. Tao Nan is one of the GEP schools and students are graded on the curve.

I've seen it for myself - the quality of work done by kids as early as P1. There is NO way the kids could have done that without lots of external and regular practice at enrichment classes, probably from when they are of the age 3 and above.

So ladies and gentlemen, we are now at the cross-roads. On one hand, we want to give our kids stress-free childhood lives. On the other, we might be doing them great injustice by not equipping them well enough for the challenges they will face academically, when we know everyone else is feeding their children with regular enrichment courses.

I wonder what the long-term implications to our society might be.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/topic/88/your-kid-must-have-tuition-or-elseRSS for NodeSat, 18 Apr 2026 09:40:38 GMTSun, 13 Jan 2008 15:40:35 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Sat, 23 Mar 2024 03:40:59 GMT]]>Hello parents,


We are excited to announce the launch of our math tuition program for Primary 6 students, commencing this April 2024. With more than a decade of experience in teaching primary and secondary school students, we offer a comprehensive approach that extends beyond the standard syllabus.

Our classes are designed to challenge students with a variety of math problems, instill motivation for achieving their best in the PSLE examination, and provide guidance on gaining admission to top schools.
My partner is a graduate of prestigious institutions such as Raffles Institution, Raffles Junior College, and NUS Business (Finance), while I am a graduate of NTU Engineering.

We each would be taking in a maximum of 10 students per class, once every week. Do contact us at 88492452 to confirm your slots!

Details of Math Program
Day: Saturday
Time: 4-6pm
Location: 505B Bishan Street 11, #01-422
Limited slots available
$80/Session

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2131225https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2131225Sat, 23 Mar 2024 03:40:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:59:07 GMT]]>T was an overseas SxF scholar, very prestigious in sg. How do we view success?

We also have to bear in mind, character development and values are equally important.
Watched the CNA undercover last night. Saw parents in desperateness and kid tearing.
Shld we hold on tight, or let them be free? Tough question. No right or wrong.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114094https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114094Wed, 19 Jul 2023 05:59:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:25:55 GMT]]>When kids are struggling, and we want to help them reduce the struggling, parents can either teach kids themselves or outsource to tutors. Tuition has a role to play if parents are unable or unwilling to teach.


Exactly how much struggle should we tolerate before we know it is time to outsource to tutor? When kids fail or results are 10% lower than expectation? It depends on parents’ confidence in own kids and academic goals they have for kids.

Some parents wait too long, when the problems are too big and kids’ foundation is too weak, then they get help and expect to see huge improvement in a few weeks. Unrealistic expectations may make parents hop from one tutor to another, one centre to another. As a result, they waste precious time to fix the problems. In the end, they may feel like the kids have been tutored for years and yet still doing badly.

How much improvement is enough before we stop tuition?
Some parents will stop tuition the moment they see improvement in one exam when the kids are still not able to help themselves continue the consistent revision for new topics. Disappointing result in next exam and parents and kids feel desperate so they return to more expensive tuition.

Other parents may continue tuition indefinitely after the first improvement, in case the result deteriorate again.
Some kids can excel in exams only because they have been drilled in tuition class. Especially the kind who memorises and regurgitates. Without the tuition class and spoon feeding, there is no regurgitation in exam. So they will feel insecure.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114087https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114087Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:25:55 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:04:44 GMT]]>I think tuition probably started out as an OK concept; either to help improve an area that you are (relatively speaking) struggling with or to further an area of interest. However, when it spreads to everywhere to pickup 5 - 10 marks across the board then it may not be so beneficial (in non-academic ways).


But the allocation system is what it is, so we get the behaviour that we see. Paradoxically, when everyone is adding 5 - 10 marks, the distribution of relative scores doesn’t really change much in the aggregate. I.e. if everyone stopped tuition/studying and devoted 10-20 hours per week to leisure, most kids would probably end up where they end up now. But that will never happen so…

Ultimately, there is a fine line between working hard to improve, not shying away from difficult challenges, maximizing one’s effort/abilites/output vs. running on the treadmill at maximum speed 24/7 for no reason other than everyone else is doing it. I’m not sure what the solution is, as we do live in the world that we live in. Perhaps it is up to the individual to decide whether they want (their kid(s)) to compete in that race or not?

In general, I think it would be wise for parents to spend more time trying to find what their kid is really interested in vs. doing all the stereotypical things to keep up with everyone around you (not that these don’t have value either). Again, easier said than done…

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114086https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114086Wed, 19 Jul 2023 04:04:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:44:25 GMT]]>I do know of the average singaporeans who put their kids in regular schools and no tuition even though only average in class. These parents are more focused on holistic development, preferring to expose pri Sch kids to more life skills like assisting in baking/cooking, go nature, go hike, go fishing, pick up sport etc then spend time and money on tuition. Sometimes I look at these kids and I think maybe this shd be the way to go instead of single-sided only which I am quite guilty of but then my goal is really to see through my kids to local university successfully and I think maybe I am on the right path

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114083https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114083Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:44:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:18:57 GMT]]>

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2114068\" time=\"1689734593\" user_id=\"43981:

I m just thinking..what's the reason we need so many tuition? Syllabus coverage too much, time too short or our school teachers can be better?
I think it’s mainly from the sense of competition. Everybody fighting to be the top 10 or whatver percent to get the awards?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114077https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114077Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:18:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:18:17 GMT]]>

MrsKiasu\" post_id=\"2114068\" time=\"1689734593\" user_id=\"43981:

I m just thinking..what's the reason we need so many tuition? Syllabus coverage too much, time too short or our school teachers can be better?
More disposable income? Peer/Sch pressure? Using tuition to push a grade better to qualify for better cop schools? Teacher quality in Sch?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114076https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114076Wed, 19 Jul 2023 03:18:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 02:43:13 GMT]]>I m just thinking…what’s the reason we need so many tuition? Syllabus coverage too much, time too short or our school teachers can be better?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114068https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114068Wed, 19 Jul 2023 02:43:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 19 Jul 2023 02:33:00 GMT]]>CNA Undercover Asia: (China’s) Double Reduction, Triple the Stress?


https://www.channelnewsasia.com/watch/undercover-asia/double-reduction-triple-stress-3376186?cid=internal_sharetool_iphone_19072023_cna

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114064https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2114064Wed, 19 Jul 2023 02:33:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:55:44 GMT]]>

clairebear\" post_id=\"2095682\" time=\"1674199622\" user_id=\"130006:

I will highly recommend Achieve 360 Learning centre. You guys can check their website for numbers. achieve360.sg

They have been in the neighbourhood my children grew up in. I know them so well now! 🙂
They dont do much advertising but they are really good, especially the tutors they have. Very dedicated! I think they are quite strict in hiring tutors. So they always have the same good tutors to teach. So... they have limited classes. Sad for them but my 2 older kids are with them since primary to next year will be our last year there.
Hi. I went down to have a look. Not bad for a neighbourhood area. Their class room are bigger than i expected. Clean and proper too. I’m waiting for them to confirm my slots too. They have some promo going now too. THANKS!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2097549https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2097549Tue, 14 Feb 2023 07:55:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Fri, 20 Jan 2023 07:27:02 GMT]]>I will highly recommend Achieve 360 Learning centre. You guys can check their website for numbers. achieve360.sg


They have been in the neighbourhood my children grew up in. I know them so well now! 🙂
They dont do much advertising but they are really good, especially the tutors they have. Very dedicated! I think they are quite strict in hiring tutors. So they always have the same good tutors to teach. So... they have limited classes. Sad for them but my 2 older kids are with them since primary to next year will be our last year there.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2095682https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2095682Fri, 20 Jan 2023 07:27:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 24 Nov 2021 01:34:33 GMT]]>that sounds quite good! would you like to share the tuition center’s name with us? Thanks!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2047649https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2047649Wed, 24 Nov 2021 01:34:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Sun, 14 Nov 2021 13:33:24 GMT]]>

zac's mum\" post_id=\"1971749\" time=\"1587256588\" user_id=\"53606:[quote=\"zac's mum\" post_id=1971749 time=1587256588 user_id=53606]
Liusu\" post_id=\"1971748\" time=\"1587229708\" user_id=\"185133:

No. They haven’t required any entrance test for several years now.

Yes you can switch class if you want a different teacher (subject to availability of seats).

Their lessons are fully online during this circuit breaker period. Be aware that they are not using Zoom or Google or any of those easier to use video conferencing platforms. They are using their own in-house developed platform, which IMO is very unfriendly for users. Users’ viewcams are disabled, teacher relies on audio & screen share to teach, and most of the kids are spam chatting in the text chat box during the lesson, despite the teachers’ constant warnings over her audio.

This sounds quite terrible. I have heard that the standard of TLL has dropped a lot in recent years, and was wondering why. Maybe it is due to the online lessons.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2046340https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/2046340Sun, 14 Nov 2021 13:33:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Thu, 25 Jun 2020 01:36:49 GMT]]>Hi. Anyone s kids studying in tll for p6?

Thanks

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1982201https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1982201Thu, 25 Jun 2020 01:36:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:36:28 GMT]]>

Liusu\" post_id=\"1971748\" time=\"1587229708\" user_id=\"185133:

Funz\" post_id=\"1593791\" time=\"1445173869\" user_id=\"6230:

[quote=\"Nebbermind\"]Does TLL have some sort of entrance test?


When I was enquiring there was no mention of entrance test. They did ask which school DD was from and her latest exam results.

Does TLL still have entrance test now? If I were not statisfied with the teacher, can I swith to another class?[/quote]No. They haven’t required any entrance test for several years now.

Yes you can switch class if you want a different teacher (subject to availability of seats).

Their lessons are fully online during this circuit breaker period. Be aware that they are not using Zoom or Google or any of those easier to use video conferencing platforms. They are using their own in-house developed platform, which IMO is very unfriendly for users. Users’ viewcams are disabled, teacher relies on audio & screen share to teach, and most of the kids are spam chatting in the text chat box during the lesson, despite the teachers’ constant warnings over her audio.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1971749https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1971749Sun, 19 Apr 2020 00:36:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Sat, 18 Apr 2020 17:08:28 GMT]]>

Funz\" post_id=\"1593791\" time=\"1445173869\" user_id=\"6230:

Nebbermind:

Does TLL have some sort of entrance test?


When I was enquiring there was no mention of entrance test. They did ask which school DD was from and her latest exam results.

Does TLL still have entrance test now? If I were not statisfied with the teacher, can I swith to another class?

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1971748https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1971748Sat, 18 Apr 2020 17:08:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 23 Aug 2017 02:52:44 GMT]]>My latest post, which offers encouragement to all students.


https://passioninlearning.wordpress.com/2017/08/23/when-the-going-gets-tough-2/

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1796081https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1796081Wed, 23 Aug 2017 02:52:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:15:59 GMT]]>http://marcusgohmarcusgoh.com/education/education-5-things-check-youre-looking-tuition-centres-worksheets

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1740605https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1740605Fri, 16 Dec 2016 12:15:59 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Mon, 28 Nov 2016 06:03:35 GMT]]>SMS / whatsapp 8282 6810, or email chanjautung212@gmail.com for tuition.


Hi all,

I am Jau Tung, providing 1-1 tuition service to Secondary/JC students for Physics and Mathematics.

- Graduated in 2014 from Raffles Institution and have just completed my NS
- Straight As for H2 Knowledge & Inquiry, H2 Physics, H2 Mathematics, H2 Chemistry, and H1 Economics, as well as H3 Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Participated in Physics and Math Olympiads, culminating in a Gold Medal at the International Physics Olympiad
- Accepted into Yale University and will be attending late this year.
- 1-1 tuition experience since 1 year ago.
- Rate: $50/hr

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1736435https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1736435Mon, 28 Nov 2016 06:03:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Wed, 29 Jun 2016 01:30:17 GMT]]>

Laurel111:
Depends on luck. Once get good one, hold on to it. I will line my second and 3rd kid up. 😄


I go to Tuition Agency if I am looking for MOE or Ex-MOE tutors as they have a bigger pool of tutors, and more or less assured of the tutors' qualification and expertise You don't see as many MOE teachers advertising, you also don't get many recommendation as these MOE teachers hold full time job, less time for tuition.

If non-MOE, I prefer to go for parents recommendation or scout on tutors self advertisement (those been around for some time as I believe they have reputation to uphold). My guesses will be as good as the agency.
There is certainly nothing such as MOE or ex-MOE tutors. I believe you are referring to MOE or ex-MOE teachers.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693943https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693943Wed, 29 Jun 2016 01:30:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 06:02:43 GMT]]>Thank you!

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693753https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693753Tue, 28 Jun 2016 06:02:43 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Tue, 28 Jun 2016 04:14:05 GMT]]>

Lam:
Hi, I will like to seek some feedback from parents who have engaged Chinese private tutors for their kids. I have recently pulled my boy out from tuition centre and have engaged a private Chinese tutor. But I notice that the teaching style is not very structured as there are no study notes, which tuition centers will usually develop In house and provide their students. The private tutor will go through the Chinese text book with my boy and do practices from those assessment books from Popular book stores. Is this typical of how private tutors conduct their lessons?

Yes, this is typical of most private tutors - using assessment books from Popular.

That's why when my boy was in primary school, I enroll him in both: Tuition centre for the worksheets (vocab & compre) while the private tutor will focus on oral, listening compre and essays. This is because we don't speak chinese at home.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693709https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693709Tue, 28 Jun 2016 04:14:05 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:06:56 GMT]]>

SWPL:
I just want to get everyone's (parents only pls) feedback here...what is the best way to look for a suitable tuition teacher? Is going through a tuition agency the most popular route or you ask for other parent recommendations? Doing a Google search just yields a whole list of tuition agencies :roll:

I personally prefer recommendations. After having used several agencies, I feel that some of them just want to 'push' tutors to you as they earn commission from the jobs they match. Also, I would prefer having a MOE teacher as they are up-to-date with the latest syllabus and all.. comes with a price though 😉

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693509https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1693509Mon, 27 Jun 2016 15:06:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Your kid must have tuition... OR ELSE... on Fri, 10 Jun 2016 05:59:43 GMT]]>Depends on luck. Once get good one, hold on to it. I will line my second and 3rd kid up. 😄


I go to Tuition Agency if I am looking for MOE or Ex-MOE tutors as they have a bigger pool of tutors, and more or less assured of the tutors' qualification and expertise You don't see as many MOE teachers advertising, you also don't get many recommendation as these MOE teachers hold full time job, less time for tuition.

If non-MOE, I prefer to go for parents recommendation or scout on tutors self advertisement (those been around for some time as I believe they have reputation to uphold). My guesses will be as good as the agency.

]]>https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1688491https://forum.kiasuparents.com/post/1688491Fri, 10 Jun 2016 05:59:43 GMT