S'pore teachers highest paid in world

[shareinvestor1]

The irony is if one result is not A grade, some famous tution ctrs are not interested to teach the kids.

If the system rewards academic acheivements, the players will be motivated towards their goals. ie kiasu parents.

just like in the hoods, younger ones will move to drug dealing if they see Mercedes-driving drug dealers as role models.

give right incentive, people will change their behaviour.

[NTL]

To make the better students "betterer"?

[shareinvestor1]

They are just commercially driven interested to have good track record than really teach those that really need tuition..

To make the better students "betterer"?

[specuvestor]

They are just commercially driven interested to have good track record than really teach those that really need tuition..

To make the better students "betterer"?

agree... when the motivation becomes commercial... effectiveness gets compromised:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-10...-line.html

“People who should have and could have saved Mrs. Minter’s life were too interested in having Dr. Azmat continue to do procedures and make money for the hospital to do the right thing,”

[Greenrookie]

They are just commercially driven interested to have good track record than really teach those that really need tuition..

To make the better students "betterer"?

agree... when the motivation becomes commercial... effectiveness gets compromised:

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-10-10...-line.html

“People who should have and could have saved Mrs. Minter’s life were too interested in having Dr. Azmat continue to do procedures and make money for the hospital to do the right thing,”

Let me share my views on tuition:

Tuition centers:
Those tuition centers that accept only As or required entry tests, if we are thinking about the same ones, are doing accelerated programmes, and have track records of producing A*, although I believe many who went to those already are A* calibre, If you do not have the foundation, you might not be able to follow. I am not justifying for anything, but it is there for a reason, and is providing a niche service.

Tuition in general:
Kids with tuition fall broadly into 4 categories.
1) Genuinely needed help, cannot cope with the syllabus
2) Parents just wanted a study companion, to follow through their kids' work, be a answering machine if possible.
3) Pushing for the top and last mark.
4) Just afraid to be different, when the "whole world" has it, and I don't provide, am I a bad parent?

My personal views only:
2) and 4) are particularly harmful, and counterproductive. There is no clear goal or objective, maybe just for the parents to feel good or less guilt. It very often breeds dependence on tutors and "quick answers", instead of understanding the value of "self-discovery". Self-discovery is important as it is the ingredient for passion for learning and lifelong learning

3) Might overwhelm kids if there are not ready, (slow bloomers perhaps, or foundation that is not as strong). Even if they are academically capable of coping, they might be overwhelmed by the sheer amount of work, think about study-life balance of kids too. We do not want to work till late at night, what makes you think the kids appreciate doing homework till late at night. Even if they can cope with the work and has time for fun, such highly competitive pursuit could easily lead to unbalanced focus of life.

1) If you get a capable teacher who can customize lessons for your kid, make him improve his grades, you got a gem and keep him/her. Better results lead to better self-esteem and confidence, and away from distraction and despondency. But make sure they still RESPECT the teachers in school and do their work.

I believe, our system can work without the shadow system of tuition. I know people will say I am just spouting politically correct answers. No, I am not, I am not saying no one fall through the cracks, there might be some, and there may be some valid reasons in 1)

But Majority of the pupils, perhaps 80% should cope just as well or even better due to reasons i cited in 2), 3) and 4)

All comments are my personal views, speaking in my own personal capacity.

[countonme]

Looking at the amount of money spent on tuition is incredible. A portion of the brains in the workforce end up in as tutors, and maybe that's why need to import FTs for the private sector jobs.

[opmi]

My teacher friend said weaker students need
1-1 coaching rather than tuition.

[pianist]

Will there be hanky panky if it is 1-1 coaching. Think we seen quite a few of such cases. Remember that moe scholar got horny or something.

Anyway, I hope moe can look into this conflict of interest when one is a private tutor as well as a moe teacher. Is like a sales rep serving two principals?

[memphisb]

The "edge" in tuition is all about having quality exam papers available from right tutors and from right schools like the good old 10 yr series.

[NTL]

You can always buy those papers from stalls in Shopping Centres or in HDB shops.