Why you don't need a Tutor

As paradoxical as it might sound, especially coming from me, I believe students do not need tutors to do well, nor should parents feel inadequate if they choose not to hire tutors for their child. As an ex-educator who has been with the teaching profession for the past 10 years, let me attempt to explain why I say that.

There is a growing focus on developing skills and imbuing sound values, with a gradual de-emphasis on grades. You can already start to witness the shift from recent changes in PSLE and Sec 1 Posting exercises and the removal of National Grades from National Exams Results Release Data. Instead, there is an accelerated emphasis on Character and Citizenship Education and skills such as critical thinking skills, self-directedness etc. Schools are well-positioned with that shift through the recent Personal Learning Device exercise. Moreover, students are also encouraged to pursue their own interests so as to nurture Lifelong Learners who are inquisitive and passionate about learning within and beyond curriculum.

The change in focus is necessary with technological advancement that allows us to access information easily. Schools are no longer a place to gain more content, but rather a place to develop the ability to apply information in various contexts.

I’m glad that we as a nation have already started the shift. However, this shift will be gradual as the teaching profession is akin to a large ship. Any change in course will require time. Moreover, the stakeholders of the education system (Schools, Parents, Community etc) are made up of individuals with varied beliefs and experience. Therefore the effects of any change may only be visible many years down the road.

The school itself and its holistic curriculum is more than sufficient for the child. Teachers are highly skilled and dedicated. They make time to conduct consultations and remediations and are professionally developed in a structured consistent manner. Resources are also curated and up to date.

In the article, I especially like how the parent had informed the child that they will not be getting a tutor and that spurred the child to work hard. The parent also mentioned how allowing her daughter to struggle in manageable doses, giving her the time and space to make mistakes and to learn from them without hand-holding will help to develop perseverance and persistence.

I recently shared with a colleague about how we should do away with after-school programs for graduating students before major exams. These well-intended support structures may cause more harm than good in the long run. Students’ and teachers’ may become overly reliant on such programs, knowing that there’s always something to “fall back on”, instead of focusing on the quality of teaching and learning within time-tabled lessons. We are also unintentionally encouraging the notion of “last-minute” studying.

As we redine what “doing well” means, the purpose and intent of engaging tutors will also be redefined in time to come.

https://www.schoolbag.edu.sg/story/mummy-can-i-have-tuition-why-we-said-no