Singapore Expats

Hi,

I heard that the local school kids go for tuition from Primary 1 onwards and its like a trend.
Does Int school kids go for tuition for all subjects too from Primary onwards ? Please share.
Isnt school teaching enough for primary kids ?
(Except for those who are very weak in their subjects)

I think local kids go to enrichment classes before they hit primary, my cousin wanted to take it the easy way and did not send her child to any but when her child entered P1, she was behind and suffered loss of self esteem. So for her younger child who is 4 going on 5, she has put him onto reading and a few other enrichment classes.

My kids aren't primary yet, they are in an International School. I send my son to a phonics class because he is on the verge of reading and once he does maybe he can spend alot of time on his own reading! thats my motivation.

I don't think I will send him to tuition. I am considering sending him to local school but as he is not singaporean, the chances of admittance is low. But if he does go in, I doubt I would give him tuition but I think it depends whther it affects his self esteem and whatever other issues that may arise.

There are lots of past exam paper from top local schools for sale everywhere in singapore. I heard that most parents make their kids do all these paper in Chinese, Math, English and Science so kids can do well in Exam. I am not sure this is a good way of learning.

Thanks for sharing....

Any other parents who's kids goes to International Schools have any comments ? (Specially Chatsworth and UWC)

if your kid is doing well in school, then there's no need for extra tuition. my kid goes to International School and he only has extra tuition outside his school on mandarin.

it might be a trend for local singaporean because kids going to local schools are much more "tough". my kid been to both international and local schools.

There are parents who make their kids do the exam papers from top local schools, but there are just as many who don't. Similarly, there are just as many who don't send their kids for tuition/enrichment classes too. School teaching, even in the local system is sufficient for most kids. On top of that, many of the local schools do hold enrichment classes (drama, music..) outside of formal school hours too, which you can enroll you kids in if they are interested.

They will not suffer from any self-esteem issues as long as you do not choose a primary school which is very competitive. The schools which have a “good brand name”

Does anyone have any recommendations on where to bring your child for extra help before they start P1?

I'm in the Upper Bukit Timah area...only know of Busy Bee and Jan & Elly.

Same as Durain, My son goes to inernational school and has a saturday morning class for Mandarin - even though my wife is a mandarine speaker, his skills in mandarin are waning at International School. We do spend some time at home doing reading, maths and English, but try to keep it fun and "together time" rather than focussing on passing exams - I'd much rather he has fun at enrichment classes, so he only goes when we are both motivated (Golf and Guitar). Funny enough - we have to make a decision fairly soon. He has been accepted in a very good local school and we are weighing the pro's and con's of International v Local. I am still leaning towards keeping him in internationa, whilst my wife is very adamant about local (mostly for Mandarin). It's been interesting to read the posts (many of them) on this forum on this topic.