Most S’pore parents see kids’ tuition as necessary despite wanting less academic pressure: Survey

Households earning $5,000 a month or less spent a median amount of $300 monthly per primary school child, while families earning $5,000 to $15,000 forked out $600.

Those earning between $15,000 and $20,000 a month spent $1,000 per primary school child.

A separate Institute of Policy Studies study released in September found that parents spent a median of $500 a month on tuition.

The study on parents’ attitudes and perceptions of the education system found that more of them today were stressed about their children’s future than in 2016.

Most respondents in EveryChild.SG’s survey thought well of Singapore’s primary schools.

Eight in 10 agreed that Singapore’s primary education system was among the best in comparison with those in other developed countries.

About 85% also felt positively about the school environment, including whether pupils felt emotionally safe and respected by teachers.

Said Bhandari: “Singapore has built an education system that is widely admired for its academic achievements.

“The challenge now is to build on these strengths while addressing the pressures and inequalities that have emerged alongside them.”

Assistant Professor Kwan Jin Yao of the United States’ University of Delaware said the findings reflect a familiar tension.

While Singapore’s education system prepares students well for further studies and employment, it also creates stress for families seeking the best opportunities for their children.

Kwan, whose research focuses on youth development, poverty and inequality, was among the academics who reviewed the report.

He said a key research gap is the lack of perspectives from current pupils, which could shed light on the sources of academic stress and how children perceive the PSLE.

The survey found that 80% of respondents believed a “through-train” system would make learning more enjoyable, and 79% felt it would reduce examination pressure. The report noted that this suggests that parents are open to structural change.

EveryChild.SG has previously proposed such a system, under which 80% to 90% of pupils would progress directly to an associated secondary school without taking the PSLE, while those seeking places in selective schools could still opt to sit the exam.

About 66% of respondents felt that classes were too large for teachers to give each child sufficient attention, while 73% of parents believed large class sizes contributed to the need for tuition.

Kwan described the PSLE as an “imperfect but fairly useful sorting mechanism”.

Scrapping it may not end academic competition, he said. Pressure could then shift to Primary 1 registration, or subsequent national examinations, which could become even more “high stakes”.

“Overall, there is a collective-action problem when parents choose not to opt out if they worry that their children may be disadvantaged,” he said.