the phenomena of the tuition rage in singapore is not just about
the `gaps' in the quality of education. in most
instances, singapore would probably rank highly as having as good
an education system anywhere in the world both in terms of
mindware and hardware.
it is also about the uneccessary focus on exam grades
as a main determinant of success in one's education life;
peer pressure amongst parents and school friends, the kind of
competitive learning environment instilled by the government
coupled with the early `boxing' of students in their early
formative education lives where the so-called `good' are seperated
from the `averages'. all these fans the fervour towards
tuition as a `solution' to solve the `big singapore education
puzzle'. kiasu parents hence would rely on tuition as a major
filler to any gaps that their children have on their school
subjects for they know too, if you don't do well in singapore, they
is no future for them. and there is no way out for most of them.
overseas education or private/foreign school education in
singapore is not an economic options to most of
us.
my sis-in-law(sil) has a psle son last year. that chap is bright
no doubt, but he (still) has to endure tuitions 4 days a week
for a year last year, including double science and maths tuitions
to drill him into shape in time for his psle. this is not helped
by my sil telling everyone she meets that her son aspires
to go to nus high school. i am not sure if this is his aspiration
or hers. when the results was out late last year, alas, his
grades were not good enough (for nus high school) and he has
to settle for a neighbourhood school near where he lives. i
was told by my wife that the parents were devastated. however, i
think it is a great load of pressure off the poor kid's shoulder.
he didn't do all too badly but obviously not up to the lofty
expectations of his parents. i still think he will do well
later in his life.
singapore is still stuck with the `sweat and toil'
mentality. the reality of it is so much mobility that if
the singapoe govt so craves for smart people, they will come if the
condition and price is right. in fact, singapore's immigration
policy is already in the mode of readily admiting talents. so,
there is no need to over-do its education policy
where younger singaporeans go to school not to get a
life's education, but to fulfill a government's agenda. the kids
should be able to enjoy their education in their formative
years(primary and secondary), and if there are genuises in the
midst, i am sure they will surface in good time for them to be
groomed to their fullest potential.
in that respect, i think tuition is over-glorified in singapore.
