Annual Household Expenditure on Private Tuition

Debated in Parliament on 14 Sep 2021.

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Member Yip Hon Weng asked for three years of household spending on private tuition and whether the Ministry would consider restrictions like China's to reduce student workload and mental stress.
Minister Chan Chun Sing cited 2017-2018 data showing average monthly tuition spending of $112, but noted excessive tuition is a concern, and said restrictions are unlikely to be effective without addressing underlying demand, citing South Korea's experience.
The Ministry is instead pursuing long-term policy changes under the Learn for Life movement to reduce academic overemphasis and shift mindsets, requiring partnership with parents and the community.

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Yip Hon Weng

Mr Yip Hon Weng asked the Minister for Education (a) for the past three years, including year-to-date, what is the annual household expenditure on private tuition; and (b) whether the Ministry would consider implementing restrictions on the private tuition industry like what is being done in China, with the intention of reducing students' workload and mental stress.

Chan Chun Sing

In my response yesterday to a Parliamentary Question filed by Assoc Prof Jamus Lim on a similar topic, I had explained MOE’s approach towards the issue of private tuition and enrichment.

Based on the latest Household Expenditure Survey (HES) conducted from 2017 to 2018 by the Department of Statistics (DOS), resident households, on average, spend $112 a month on private tuition and other educational courses. However, we are concerned when parents send their children for tuition excessively, or to ace examinations even when their children are coping well with their school work.

Implementing restrictions on the private tuition industry to address unnecessary reliance on tuition is unlikely to be effective, if the underlying reasons why students and parents take up tuition are not addressed. Overseas experience in countries, such as South Korea, thus far has shown that restrictions on tuition are generally ineffective at reducing demand. We continue to monitor new developments, such as the new regulations in China, that the Member has referenced.

We have progressively introduced several policy changes under our Learn for Life movement, to address the fundamental issues that drive the demand for tuition, with the aim of nurturing the joy of learning in our students, reduce the overemphasis on academic results and change the mindsets and attitudes of parents and students to adopt a broader definition of success.

Our reforms will take time to bear fruit. Reducing the over-reliance on tuition requires a long-term partnership between MOE, parents and the wider community to change mindsets and reduce students’ workload and mental stress.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Member Yip Hon Weng asked for three years of household spending on private tuition and whether the Ministry would consider restrictions like China's to reduce student workload and mental stress.
Minister Chan Chun Sing cited 2017-2018 data showing average monthly tuition spending of $112, but noted excessive tuition is a concern, and said restrictions are unlikely to be effective without addressing underlying demand, citing South Korea's experience.
The Ministry is instead pursuing long-term policy changes under the Learn for Life movement to reduce academic overemphasis and shift mindsets, requiring partnership with parents and the community.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Annual Household Expenditure on Private Tuition | PAPERCUTS

Annual Household Expenditure on Private Tuition

Debated in Parliament on 14 Sep 2021.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Member Yip Hon Weng asked for three years of household spending on private tuition and whether the Ministry would consider restrictions like China's to reduce student workload and mental stress.
Minister Chan Chun Sing cited 2017-2018 data showing average monthly tuition spending of $112, but noted excessive tuition is a concern, and said restrictions are unlikely to be effective without addressing underlying demand, citing South Korea's experience.
The Ministry is instead pursuing long-term policy changes under the Learn for Life movement to reduce academic overemphasis and shift mindsets, requiring partnership with parents and the community.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Chan Chun Sing

In my response yesterday to a Parliamentary Question filed by Assoc Prof Jamus Lim on a similar topic, I had explained MOE’s approach towards the issue of private tuition and enrichment.

Summary written by AI (learn more)

Member Yip Hon Weng asked for three years of household spending on private tuition and whether the Ministry would consider restrictions like China's to reduce student workload and mental stress.
Minister Chan Chun Sing cited 2017-2018 data showing average monthly tuition spending of $112, but noted excessive tuition is a concern, and said restrictions are unlikely to be effective without addressing underlying demand, citing South Korea's experience.
The Ministry is instead pursuing long-term policy changes under the Learn for Life movement to reduce academic overemphasis and shift mindsets, requiring partnership with parents and the community.

Questions identified by AI (learn more)

Annual Household Expenditure on Private Tuition

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Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Chan Chun Sing

Summary

Questions Identified

Annual Household Expenditure on Private Tuition

Summary

Questions Identified

Full Transcript

Yip Hon Weng

Chan Chun Sing

Summary

Questions Identified