Number of collaborative tuition centres on the rise

SINGAPORE - The number of collaborative tuition centres - which provide tuition programmes for students of all races - has grown to 65 since the Collaborative Tuition Programme was launched in 2002.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said this collaboration by the various self-help groups - Chinese Development Assistance Council (CDAC), MENDAKI, Singapore Indian Development Association (SINDA) and Eurasian Association - optimises the use of community resources.

It also provides greater convenience and accessibility to students from less well-to-do families.

Mr Gan was at the Joint Tuition Awards ceremony held at the Singapore Polytechnic this morning (Aug 24).

575 students from the four self-help groups received the awards as they either achieved excellent results or made significant progress at last year’s national examinations, which included the Primary School Leaving Examination, GCE ‘O’ and ‘N’ levels.

Cheong Chin Kai was the recipient of the Best Overall Academic Performance for the GCE ‘N’ Level category.

He scored five As, a B and a grade 2 in the exams last year. He said his tutors helped him improve his grades.

Cheong Chin Kai said: “Last time, I didn’t use to like studying, especially Maths and English. I hate it because I always failed. But because of their motivation, I started to read newspapers and story books which improved my vocabulary and I (managed to) get good results.”

Also paying tribute to his tutors was Muhammad Iman who received the Best Overall Academic Performance for the PSLE category.

Muhammad Iman said: “My tutors taught me how to communicate with my friends. When I communicate with people I don’t know, I learn more from them - like being responsible in certain situations and to be more serious in my studies.”

The health minister said this platform provided by the self-help groups helps maximise the potential of every child.

Mr Gan, who is also CDAC’s chairman, said: “The ethnic-based community self-help groups were set up by their respective communities to complement the efforts by government and other help agencies to address the specific needs and priorities of their respective communities.

“At the same time, we also make a conscious effort to find common ground and opportunities to work together.”

To celebrate the spirit of collaboration, the four self-help groups composed a song entitled “Coming Together, Achieving Together” which was performed at the awards ceremony.

The song also celebrates the diversity of all races and their unity as one Singaporean identity. CHANNEL NEWSASIA