LifeStyle Updates : Spending by S’pore families on private tuition rises to $1.8 billion in 2023

Source: https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/spore-families-spent-1-8-billion-on-private-tuition-for-children-in-2023?utm_campaign=stfb&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&fbclid=IwY2xjawIOQbNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHbbZhoohcvlcLiEg7XqQxYGqs0KRy0HXr7DGJvjpvb9m9lkqsg42aqkVsw_aem_CcykZI69yphxAuGgA4LItQ&sfnsn=mo

DeepSeek:

Summary: Singapore's Rising Tuition Expenditure (2023)

Singapore families spent $1.8 billion on private tuition in 2023, a sharp increase from $1.1 billion in 2013 and $1.4 billion in 2018, according to a government household expenditure survey. Key insights:  

1. Household Spending Trends:  

   - Monthly tuition costs: Averaged $104.80 per household in 2023, up from $88.40 in 2018.  

   - Income disparity: The top 20% of households spent $162.60/month on tuition, compared to $36.30/month for the bottom 20%.  

   - Total education spending: Rose to $404.20/month per household (including school fees, textbooks, and courses).  

2. Drivers of Growth:  

   - Parental pressure: Despite MOE reforms (e.g., removing mid-year exams, revamping PSLE scoring), competition persists, spilling into non-academic areas like sports and arts for Direct School Admission (DSA) advantages.  

   - Perceived necessity: Parents feel outsourcing tuition is critical to supplement school learning, especially in subjects like Chinese for English-speaking households.  

3. Case Study:  

   - Madam Janice Tay spent $700/month on her daughter’s Primary 5–6 tuition, attributing improved PSLE results to combined factors like tuition, school rigor, and family support.  

4. Expert Insight:  

   - Assoc. Prof. Jason Tan (NIE) notes that MOE’s efforts to reduce academic pressure have not curbed tuition demand. Instead, the industry has expanded to include non-academic coaching (e.g., sports academies for DSA prep).  

5. Broader Context:  

   - Education ranked among top household expenses (after housing, food, transport).  

   - Survey scope: 13,100 households polled (2022–2023), reflecting trends among Singapore’s 1.42 million resident households.  

Takeaway: Tuition remains entrenched in Singapore’s culture due to persistent parental anxiety, competitive education pathways, and the belief that external coaching is essential for success.

Opinion:

I think some tuition is good for the kids. To build study habits and motivation. If not, they will just be lazy at home 😂