Tuition Culture: The Unequal Playing Field
Singapore is internationally renowned for its high standards of education and its exceptional ability to produce students of the highest academic calibre. We did not earn this title by chance, nor did it result merely from sound education policies. Instead, students and their parents have achieved it through their collective blood, sweat, and tears. Social pressures drive students to excel, while parents feel compelled to keep their children competitive in Singapore’s education system. Together, these forces have created the unique phenomenon known as Singapore’s “Tuition Culture.”
Tuition, also known as private education, is a ubiquitous part of students’ lives in Singapore. Many students attend tuition centres or learn from private tutors to supplement their education outside school. The pervasiveness of tuition is evident through a Household Expenditure Survey conducted by the Department of Statistics. The results reveal that Singapore households spent $1.4 billion on tuition in 2017 - a significant increase from previous years, thereby emphasising how there is a growing reliance on tuition in recent years.
While tuition is beneficial to some students, “Tuition Culture” in Singapore has caused significant disadvantages to students from less fortunate backgrounds. The cost of tuition is extremely high, often many times the typical school fees. Hence, this added cost can become a burden on families, especially those with multiple children. Unfortunately, the Singaporean education system severely disadvantages students who do not have tuition in the subject. With the majority of the class having a fundamental understanding of the concepts learnt in school due to tuition, teachers can afford to move faster to finish the syllabus more efficiently. However, this neglects disadvantaged students who may not have the financial means to pay tuition and thus do not have the same foundational knowledge as their peers.
Fortunately, in recent years, the Ministry of Education has recognised the impact that tuition has had on the education system. It has taken steps to provide equal educational opportunities to all. For instance, MOE has encouraged schools to offer more support to students who may be struggling academically, often recommending that faculty members conduct remedial lessons after school to reduce the need for tuition. Additionally, the government has placed greater emphasis on holistic student development rather than pure academic ability. The shift in focus is demonstrated by the changes in the Primary School Leaving Examination scoring system, which are more forgiving, and by the introduction of the Direct School Admission Scheme, which admits students based on their exceptional abilities rather than academic performance.
The government has not been the only champion of equal education opportunities either. Many non-profit organisations and charities have begun to acknowledge the severity of this issue and roll out their own free tuition services. Organisations such as Loving Heart Jurong and Happy Tutors in Singapore are at the forefront of these efforts, helping deliver quality education to underprivileged children who may not have the financial means to access tuition on their own. There are also student-led initiatives (including Project Reperio under The Unspoken Policy!) that similarly provide tuition for underprivileged communities.
In conclusion, the inequalities caused by Singapore's tuition culture are undeniable. However, with the combined efforts of the government, non-profit organisations, and members of the public, the effects on these disadvantaged communities are mitigated, allowing everyone in society to have equal access to education.
