TIME and again, it is said that if students are taught properly in schools, there is no need for private tuition ('Tuition question', Jan 7). This is neither practical nor desirable. Although it can be abused, private tuition is part of the education of many.

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Ee Teck Ee has not made it clear why Singapore education cannnot do without private tuition. The solution to the problem of teachers in schools having too many pupils etc and not being able to differentiate in their teaching is to reduce class sizes and provide more teaching assistants. The problem of indifferent students is a function of many factors rather than reducible to the schools.

Ee Teck Ee wrote:
"The ideal classroom is one in which there is only one student with many teachers seated around him for him to ask questions."

I disagree. Firstly, having many teachers seated around a single child is likely to intimidate the child rather than encourage him/her to ask questions. Secondly, having many teachers might be dysfunctional if they disagree among themselves. Thirdly, and most importantly, children learn from one another in a variety of dimensions, not just from a teacher.

I can see disadvantages to private tuition, the main one being inequality of access.

I would suggest that the ideal classroom is one of a small number of children (perhaps less than twenty) in which the teacher is knowledgeable and inspirational, who sees his/her role as inculcating the learning habit and encouraging of curiosity rather than didactic instruction. Slightly motherhood and apple-pie -ish I know but there you go.

No amount of tuition will make you a top student if you do not desire to become one.

And if a child desires to be one, and seeks help, what's wrong with that?

Tuition can make a difference in ending up in a Normal stream or Express stream, why spend 5 years in school when you can in 4?

Anyone who takes such a strong view against private tuition is far removed from reality.

Based on anecdotal evidence talking with my friends who are still in the system, MOE is currently short of teachers. Essentially, it has trouble competing with the private sector(might change with the recession) in terms of pay and aggravation(amount of non-teaching load).

Why force students into packed classrooms where they end up learning nothing when their parents can afford private tutors who can ensure that they learn and are willing to pay accordingly? Keep the certifications, but allow people the different options to get it.

Hello! Below is just my opinion:

Our education system is good and sound. It is the school heads that cause the problem. How can it be right when a P1 children (7 yr old) is expected to read and write at a level of P3? Parents must have experienced this when the worksheets are dished out. Always 2 levels up just to make their schools look good. Any suggestions to fix the problem? Get better school heads who are brave enough to think clearly.

Also, tuition centres and tutors need to be licensed. Tutors must have at least an NIE cert to get the license. Fair? Finally, tuition is needed for those who really need them. Makes sense right?

Regards
1800-TEACHER.com

yes, abolish those stupid school ranking thinggy and get back to basic - fundamental education. instead of maiking the principal struggling hard to acheive no.1 on the table, let him crack his head how to nurture our innocent young ones rather.

your3rdi wrote:
"Anyone who takes such a strong view against private tuition is far removed from reality.

Unnecessary remark.

The original writer, Ee Teck Ee, was actually even-handed in many ways, recognising that private tuition can be abused and that for some 'private tuition is as beneficial as fake medicine'.

I am not taking a strong view against private tuition. I am merely pointing out that private tuition has not been proven necessary at the systemic level. Indeed, Singaporean students do relatively well in international comparisons of educational outcomes. Of course, there will be individual cases where private tuition is of value.

Although I do not have the figures to hand, I understand that Singapore's governmental expenditure on education as a proportion of GDP is lower than many advanced nations. Singapore surely could afford to spend more and so raise the desirability of joining the teaching profession and lower class sizes. Indeed, in recent years it has been moving in this direction.

Individual students aspiring to be top students must do as they see fit. There is nothing wrong with them seeking help. Interestingly, most top performers in the PSLE claim that they did not have private tuition; the quality of education in the school classroom met their needs.

I wonder how many students do take the intiative and ask for help? I suspect that many go for private tuition because it is thrust upon them by parents. Ee Teck Ee sensibly considers this issue too.

1800TEACHER wrote:
"Also, tuition centres and tutors need to be licensed. Tutors must have at least an NIE cert to get the license. "

Tuition centres providing education for 10 or more persons are required to be licensed. Ee Teck Ee, however, excluded tuition centres in his piece.

I agree with the licensing of private tutors.

I am not sure about an NIE certificate as being required. A person with comparable qualifications should be allowed to privately tutor, for example a university graduate or holder of a specialist teaching diploma in special needs etc.

the_ultimate, I agree with you!

The writer talks with his head in the clouds!

In my school days, tuition is mostly for those who cannot cope in the classroom.

In contrast, today, tuition is resorted to by parents in addition to the above, also to keep their children (hopefully) ahead of the rest in the 'classroom rat race'.

I had a friend who don't believe in 'hothousing' her child via outside so called 'enrichment' courses, preferring to let the child learn in the classroom. but she soon regretted this decision because by taking the 'normal' route to education the child got left behind in class as all his peers had the benefit of after school/outside teaching.

It makes you wonder what compulsory schooling is for. What are the objectives of the MOE?