janet88:

no offence to tutors. but it is really sad to have to get one. why? because the teacher in school is 1) not able to reach out to all 2) not doing enough

3) not doing anything.
son just started biology tuition....the tutor had to start from scratch.
unfortunately the tutor mentioned that there is so much she can do in 1.5 hours once a week. son is already trying his best to read up but if teacher is not teaching well and exam questions are way beyond what is not taught, then what do parents do?

Suggest your son to do his reading and then clarify his doubt with the internet search engines? Only if the internet is not helping then the tutor has to come in to help to clarify his doubt. A tutor's job is to guide / discipline / inspire the learning process, not to really teach yes they still do teach to strengthen the understanding but ultimately its the kid who wants to learn or not. To be honest, I feel a school subject syllabus can be finished within less than an academic school year, so i don't think its impossible to catch up.