Hmmm....this competitive rat race is getting ridiculous. Everytime I hear of parents drilling their babies with flash cards ala Glen Doman or some other gifted programme, I feel sad for the babies.

Why can't we let babies BE babies? Flashing cards at them at 2months? Better still, I just read that someone is letting their 9 month old baby watch a video to learn numbers?!

Are we really that desperate to get our children ahead of the crowd?

Which brings me to the issue of tuition* in Singapore. When I was growing up (erm...I am not that old, ok?  ) tuition is something that only the weaker students had to keep up with school work. It was viewed as an embarrassment that one needed tuition.

But nowadays, the tuition industry is alive and buzzing (some earn up to $20K per month, according to a Sunday Times report last week). It is the norm to have tuition. And one is considered weird or probably poor if one didn't have a whole slew of tuition/enrichment classes to attend.

From being viewed as something to be avoided at all costs, tuition is now seen as a MUST HAVE item or one would fail. Sad isn't it?

So since every kid is going to be needing tuition and/or enrichment  by the age of 6 or 7, shouldn't you let your baby at least enjoy his/her babyhood?

* In the Singapore context, tuition refers to extra paid classes conducted either by a private tutor in a one-to-one or group scenario.

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Posted by Anonymous

Hi Serene,

Just log on to kiasuparents.com and you will see the thread of discussion about this subject. The complaint about most parents is that the teachers in school don't teach sufficiently and the questions that are set in exams and tests are way beyond what is being taught. In fact, it is the school teachers themselves that tell the parents to engage tutors. But what about those families that don't have the resources to enage one? Does that mean the children will be short-changed?

Posted by Delci

Hei Serene,

Don't send tutors like me out of job leh ;)... hee hee, just kidding :)

I never have tuition till Sec 3 cos I was weah at Chemistry.

erm, the previous comment is true, ie, many schools ain't teaching what are tested in exam and tests. ridiculous but true.

having said that, there ARE parents who are super kiasu and I totally agree with you.

(and I used to be one of those super kiasu parent who do Glen Doman too :P... but gave it up cos kiddos simply not interested :P but having said that, Glen Doman actually started for the damage brain children, but they started selling the concept to parents with normal child. anyway....)

Posted by MamaLim

if ALL parents just refuse to follow this crazy system anymore. Then MOE has no choice but to re-do their entire exam system!

Dream on eh? :(

Yes, I know that kids are being tested on what is not taught. Please, the recommended textbooks are a joke! It covers maybe, just maybe 1% of what the exams cover.

But like I said, unless all parents are willing to band together and protest, this is just the way it is going to be.

But hey! there's still babyhood and early childhood to please let the children be normal.

PS : Did you read on ST Forum Page where a working mom boasted that she did not send her 5 or 6 yr old for enrichment classes but the kid is able to read secondary school level text???

Posted by Delci

Hahaha, we better not start on the education system, else your blog risk being shut down by you know who! :P

which day's forum page was that? didn't notice.

anyway, not all schools are that way la. My niece's school is quite good. they only test what is being taught. Which is why I may send my gal there too, but far la.