Have you ever wondered (or calculated) how much a Singaporean parent pays for tuition for their child?
For those unfamiliar with Singapore’s context, tuition doesn’t refer to school fees – it refers to additional private engagements with tutors outside of school, who help to guide and prepare students to ace their examinations.
It has pretty much become a normal part of a child’s education journey in Singapore, especially if their parents are focused on getting them the best chance to ace the high-stake examinations like the PSLE and O-Levels. Their examination results determine the kind of schools they can enrol in and the opportunities they will have in the future.
I was curious to find out how much a couple may need to set aside if they would like to enrol their child for tuition sessions, starting from pre-school all the way to secondary school.
Main Types of Tuition in Singapore: Private vs Group
Before we dive into the math, it is important to highlight that there are 2 main types of tuition formats in Singapore: Private tuition, and Group tuition.
Private tuition means that the tutor provides the session specifically for your child, and your child gets the full attention of the tutor during the lesson. In contrast, group tuition is similar to the classroom, with just a slightly smaller class size. This can range from as little as 2 students, to as many as 15-20 other students in the class.
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Private Tuition
In most cases, parents prefer engaging a private tutor for their child as the tutor is able to focus specifically on their child’s learning gaps. The session often takes place either in the child’s home, the tutor’s home, or via Zoom.
The charges for private tuition are typically higher than group tuition, because of the special attention given to the child. Other factors that determine the rates include the qualifications of the teacher, duration of the lesson, and the teachers track record.
A quick scan of private tuition offerings on platforms like Mindflex and TutorNow reveal the following rates:
| Pre-school | Primary School | Secondary School | |
| Full-time/Part-time Tutor | $25-$30/hour | $40-$45/hour | $35-$50/hour |
| Undergraduate student | $25-$30/hour | $25-$30/hour | $25-$30/hour |
| Current/Ex-MOE teacher | $50-$60/hour | $50-$70/hour | $60-$90/hour |
From the table above, you can expect to pay more for teachers who are trained by MOE (or have an Early Childhood Diploma/Degree) as they have the required qualifications and probably know the syllabus and examination techniques better.
Part-time/Full-time tutors refer to tutors who are not trained but have chosen to enter the education sector as a private tutor. They usually have degrees or diplomas unrelated to education, and can be highly recommended by parents, especially if they have an excellent track record of helping students to achieve A grades.
Last but not least, undergraduate students who are hoping to earn a bit of pocket money on the side are also a good consideration, especially if what your child needs is more to do with baby-sitting (you know, to complete homework and make sure they are engaging in their Home-Based Learning activities).
If you’re wondering why pre-schoolers even have tuition, many of the parents seeking it are either those who don’t speak their second language at home, and thus require someone to teach their child the second language, and/or need help with reading and literacy.
Assuming that a parent begins tuition sessions for her K1 child with a part-time tutor once a week for 1 hour all the way to the child’s K2 graduation, moves on with primary school tuition for 2 hours a week for different subjects, and then up to 3 hours a week for different subjects in secondary school, a parent’s expense for private tuition comes up to $74,820.
| Level | Type of Tutor | No. of Hours/ Week | Total Cost |
| Pre-school (2 years) | Part-time tutor(s) | 1 hr/week | $30 x 52 weeks x 2 years = $3,120 |
| Primary School (6 years) | Full-time tutor(s) | 2 hrs/week | $45 x 52 weeks x 2 hrs x 6 years = $28,020 |
| Secondary School (4 years) | Current/Ex-MOE teacher(s) | 3 hrs/week | $70 x 52 weeks x 3 hrs x 4 years = $43,680 |
Group (At Tuition Centres)
Did that figure scare you? That is almost the sum of a full university education. What if a parent then decides to enrol the child in group tuition instead – would the figures be slightly less?
The tables below list down the rates for 2 centres for the different levels.
Preschool
| Tuition Centre | Cost per month | Total Cost |
| The Learning Lab | $428 | $5,136 per year |
| Phonics English Classes for Kids & Children | Punggol Sengkang Hougang (littlereaderssg.com) | $140 | $1,680 per year |
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Primary school
| Tuition Centre | Cost per month | Total Cost |
| The Learning Lab | $472.94 | $5,675.28 per year |
| The Write Edge | Charges by term | $650-910 per term ($2,600-$3,640 per year) |
Secondary School
| Tuition Centre | Cost per month | Total Cost |
| The Learning Lab | $543.56 | $6,520.32 per year |
| The Write Edge | Charges by term | $975 per term ($3,900 per year) |
The tuition centers above are well-known brands, and the fees are certainly not that much cheaper than private 1-to-1 tuition. You would also be able to find tuition centres in your neighbourhoods. Most of these centres don’t publish their fees online readily, so you might need to walk in/drop a message to enquire. What sets the brands above apart is their specialised curriculum and proven track record.
How Should You Decide?
If you’re keen on engaging tuition services, you might be wondering which would be better. It really depends on your child’s learning needs and your own beliefs about education. If your child is doing well academically but unmotivated to complete work, simply hiring an undergraduate student might be sufficient.
However, if your child really struggles to follow the curriculum in school and is falling behind, engaging a current MOE teacher to tutor your kid privately might be the best option.
The other important thing to keep in mind is also the cost – as with every other purchase, it is prudent to do your calculations and see what you can afford before committing.
What Else Should You Be Aware Of
It is also important to ask your registration fees and fees for materials. Often times, private tuition centres charge separately for these two things.
Apart from all these hidden costs pertaining to private tuition, the most important is to ensure that you have your bases covered. All these efforts to provide the best for your child won’t matter if you don’t have them (and yourself) covered with insurance – any unfortunate health scares can set you back by the thousands, and tuition may not even be a possible consideration anymore.
Secondly, don’t forget the big picture. All these tuition sessions are meant to lead them to getting a university degree. Even as you are spending and focusing on the now, stick and commit to a plan to save for their university fees.
