Singapore is often referred to as a “Tuition Nation,” with even former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong noting that tuition has become a “minor national obsession.” Many Singaporean parents are willing to invest heavily in tuition, believing it to be a crucial factor in their children’s academic success. According to the 2008 report on Singapore household expenditures by the Department of Statistics, households spent approximately $820 million on centre- and home-based private tuition, a significant increase from $470 million a decade earlier.
In today’s highly competitive academic environment, tuition is frequently seen as a necessary step for achieving distinctions and staying ahead in the educational race. However, Dr. Anthony Fok emphasises that tuition should serve as a supplement to a child’s school education, rather than a mandatory component of the education system or the only pathway to success. Its primary purpose is to address gaps in understanding, reinforce learning, and provide targeted support where needed.