WHILE Dr Yik Keng Yeong's schooling more than three decades ago
is inspirational, it is certainly divorced from the realities of
our current education landscape ('Elite pre-U then: No costly
tuition, no snob appeal'; Feb 25).
Not every student, even among those in the elite colleges,
necessarily has the intellectual gifts with which Dr Yik and his
daughters are endowed.
Some students may need help to unlock their fullest potential
or, at the very least, to score in examinations. The best way to do
so is through extra coaching by private tuition.
Students who come from families wealthy enough to engage private
tutors stand a better chance at doing well in the A-level
examinations compared with students who cannot afford them.
The crux of the issue, however, goes beyond just tuition.
Keeping in mind that the goal of a junior college education is to
earn a place in a university, Dr Yik must also acknowledge that
good grades alone do not guarantee admission.
The sheer competitiveness of university admissions means that
college students must participate in activities that differentiate
them from their peers. These include international competitions,
overseas community projects and co-curricular activities.
Few such activities are without cost - a cost that students from
more modest backgrounds cannot afford.
To dismiss students who struggle in top JCs as having enrolled
based on snob appeal is to skirt the wider issue of the unlevel
education playing field.
Tim Mou Hui