Do your kids really need a maths tutor?

Wondering lately if maths tuition is a necessary component for your child's success? Read more on why you should think twice before getting a tutor, and also check out other alternatives to hiring a tutor!

Is maths tuition really worth your child’s time?

These days, Singapore is known as the ‘tuition city’, since most adults have either been tutored or have had their kids tutored. This concept has become very popular in our city, but we wonder whether tuition is really even necessary for everyone? We break down some of the reasons why you should think twice before finding a maths tutor for your child.

It’s expensive
We’re not going to lie, tuition is expensive. It gets expensive fast when you go for the best, and obviously, every parent wants the best for their child. Current rates for a private tutor range from S$20/hour for an undergraduate tutor to S$100/hour for an experienced or retired MOE teacher from a top school. What this adds up to is that parents can pay up to a few hundred to over a thousand dollars just for tuition alone.

Inconsistent
Yes, there are highly recommended tutors and tuition centres with ‘proven results’, which have a high success rate. However, there is no guarantee that your child will ace the exam. Tutors can be inconsistent and finding the perfect one for your child will take time and money.

Unnecessary stress
Judging from the spectacularly heavy bags our kids are dragging to school day in and day out suggests that our kids already have a packed schedule. Students, as young as primary one, can already be involved in CCAs and supplementary classes. Do they need to come back just to face another two hours of maths drilling? I think not. Perhaps it’s best to let them be kids and enjoy their playtime.

Try some of these alternatives for tuition instead!

What are the alternatives then? If the above factors are making you feel uncomfortable and are pushing you to reconsider, these are some of the options you can choose from for your child:

Taking it online
There are tons of resources available online or in the library for your child to improve their mathematics. In fact, with dedicated websites just for specific topics in the maths syllabus, you are bound to find something that works for your child. Best thing, it’s free and available at all hours.

It’s in school
The reality is that most schools provide remedial and supplementary classes for your child after school. These additional classes are usually compulsory and tailored for the weaker students. These are essentially designed to help your child’s weaknesses, and since the teachers who conduct the classes are from your child’s school, they understand the syllabus even better.

Just do it!
If you can afford the time, you can be your child’s best tutor. You will be setting up a situation where your child is working out equations in front of you, and this could increase their confidence in the subject.

After reading the disadvantages and alternatives, would you still consider tuition for your child?

Watch this video for more on how to do better without tuition:

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Written by

Wafa Marican

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