So you have decided that your child needs private help.
Then comes another headache - which kind of private help should you get?
Enrichment classes in tuition centers, small group tuition at the tutor's premises, or home tuition at your convenience?
TUITION CENTERS
These are the ones with organised course structures, proven track records and widespread reviews.
Some of them offer more than just covering the school syllabus.
There is a variety of courses ranging from mental calculation and problem-solving skills to phonics and creative-writing.
Undeniably, some of these classes are really good, as they focus on various areas of improvement that school teachers may not have the time to cover. If chosen correctly, these courses can help to improve targeted areas of improvement.
There are, however, a few things to note about sending your kids to tuition centers.
Although all tuition centers are required to register with MOE before they are allowed to operate, being MOE-registered does not guarantee the quality of a tuition center.
Many parents did not realize this, but if you visit MOE's website, you will find this disclaimer that says:
“Registration by MOE does not in any way represent an endorsement or accreditation of the quality of the courses offered.”
Anyone can become registered as a tuition center with MOE.
Registration is merely an administrative procedure.
In fact, to become registered with MOE only requires the provision of the following documents:
- Approved floor plan by the Fire Safety and Shelter Department (FSSD)
- Fire Safety Certificate & Notice of Approval
- Grant of Written Permission from URA / HDB
- ACRA printout
- Committee of Management Forms Appointment Note (for sole-proprietor/partnership/LLP) or Directors’ Resolution (for company) to appoint the members of the Committee of Management
- Course Registration Forms
- Teacher Registration Forms
- School Constitution
- Memorandum & Articles of Association of Company
So the next time you decide whether to send your child to a certain center for enrichment classes, do take note to check out of the independent reviews and track records on the center, and not just depend on the 'MOE-approved' status.
Another thing to note about tuition centers is their resemblance to mainstream education. Large class sizes and lessons paced according rigid schedules tend to limit the progress of brighter students and add on to the stress of the slower ones. If the mainstream education system does not work well for your kid, then you need to think twice about enrichment classes. Select classes that focus on quality and not quantity.
ONE-TO-ONE HOME TUITION
On the opposite end of the private help spectrum is private tutoring. This is a popular choice for many working parents who either do not have time to send and pick up their kids from tuition classes or want customized lessons designed to match their children's pace and aptitude.
In a way, private tuition is good, because the tutor can give undivided attention to the child, and the child has no chance to space out during lessons, like when they are in large classes in school or tuition centers. I once had a student whose mother sends her to all kind of enrichment classes and engage dozens of private tutors for her. My student had told me that she liked tuition classes better, because she can play with her friends in class and nobody would notice if she did not do her work, because the teacher has no time to discipline her. I am sure you would not want your child to do that and waste your money and efforts. This is where the merits of private tutoring comes in.
But private tutoring is not fool-proof.
Private tutoring is an unregulated industry, and as with many lucrative and unregulated industries, the doors are open for entrepreneurial opportunists, who try to take advantage of the unassuming parents. While there are many genuine and experienced private tutors, there are also many others who are less qualified than they present themselves to be.
The recent tuition scams revealed that some tutors have resorted to faking their credentials to get more business. Some tutors claimed to be "MOE-approved tutors" or ex-teachers, suggesting that they are trained by the MOE to teach.
As in the case of tuition centers, being registered with MOE only means that MOE is aware that you are teaching, but does not mean that they endorse your teaching abilities and methods.
Many 'ex-teachers' also turned out to be merely relief teachers who are employed by MOE on an ad-hoc basis and did not receive any training to teach.
Such unethical means are made worst by the false sense of security from unorthodox tuition agencies, who claimed to have screened the tutors beforehand, but turned out to be working in cahoots with the tutors to secure the assignments and earn their commissions. I have encountered tuition agencies who attempted to teach me what to say during telephone interviews with parents to make myself 'more desirable'.
This is not to say that you should shun all private tutors. You just need to be more stringent in choosing the tutors. Below are some good ways to find credible tutors:
- Do not rely too much on credentials and tuition agencies.
- Focus more on word-of-mouth and self-observations.
- Visit parenting forums like Kiasu Parents and Singapore Motherhood to read reviews and recommendations by other parents. Sometimes, established private tutors can also be found on these forums, providing free advice and guidance to parents.
SMALL GROUP TUITION
If you wish to give your child effective private help without burning your pockets in the process, then small group tuition might be the solution.
Although small group tuition requires the students to accommodate to the tutor's timing and have lessons at the tutor's premises, the benefits of a well-conducted small group tuition can easily outweigh the inconvenience of it.
Studies have shown that small group work (also known as cooperative learning or collaborative learning) has many advantages, which include, but are not limited, to the following:
- It stimulates more active participation and allow students to uncover a wider range of perspectives and ideas through group discussions.
- Getting students to explain their answers to one another helps develop elaboration and communication skills and improve knowledge retention.
- Students also learn from the questions raised and mistakes made by other students during discussion.
- It provides an environment for students to develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
I personally prefer to teach small groups rather than individuals as I discovered that small group interaction drives the class with a synergy that is lacking in one-to-one sessions. This synergy keeps the lessons lively and interesting, and my students tend to learn more effortlessly in such an environment.
However, the effectiveness of small group work is dependent on the class size and the willingness of the students to share and cooperate. I usually keep my class size under 8, so that I can give each student sufficient personal attention. A small class size also makes it easier for the students to 'break the ice' and build rapport.
Regardless of which mode of private help you eventually decide on, be sure to evaluate its effectiveness periodically by assessing your child's progress and attitude.
Remember: One man's meat may be another man's poison. Never settle for a one-size-fits-all solution and expect that it will work for everyone, especially in the case of engaging private help.
About the Writer
Ms Vivien Wu is the founder of The Pedagogy Domain, a provider of small-group home-based language workshop for young learners. As an experienced teacher, trainer and facilitator, she is dedicated to improve learners' command of language through interactive, practical and fun workshops. Read more about her here.