Most Singaporean parents see tuition as necessary despite wanting less academic pressure: Survey
SINGAPORE – Three in four parents polled believe tuition outside primary school is necessary for their children to do well, according to a new survey released on Nov 9. Families spent a median sum of $600 a month per child on such extra classes.Most parents — 72 per cent of them — said they wanted to put less academic pressure on their children, but feared they would lose out in the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE).And 77 per cent said they would ease the pressure if their children were guaranteed a place in secondary school through a system that made the PSLE optional.The findings, released by education advocacy group EveryChild.SG, showed that most respondents had confidence in Singapore's education system. But they were concerned about academic competition and tuition costs.The survey conducted by market research firm NielsenIQ mainly between January and February polled 4,007 Singapore citizens and permanent residents.They comprised 2,002 parents aged 25 to 65 whose children are in, or had in the previous five years attended a local primary school, and 2,005 young adults aged 18 to 30 who had attended local primary schools.