Tuition centres embrace online tools as parents and students adapt to new normal

SINGAPORE — Having gone online since the circuit breaker started on April 7, tuition and enrichment centres seem unfazed by the news that they would have to remain closed until further notice.

In fact, some said that they would continue providing lessons online, even post-Covid-19.

While Education Minister Ong Ye Kung announced on May 19 that schools will be re-opened in stages from June 2, tuition and enrichment centres are not allowed to resume physical classes yet as they would bring students from different schools together.

Centres that TODAY spoke to said they had anticipated the extension while parents have also embraced online learning despite an earlier apprehension.

Some centres said they are now exploring more online tools than the ones which they are currently using.

The Alternative Story, an enrichment centre teaching English and writing skills, found that even though some parents doubted the quality of online tutoring at first, almost all of its students have remained with the centre.

“To ease parents and students into the transition, we gave free lessons for one week to give them a taste of online learning,” said Ms Zarina Zapanta, the centre’s general manager. 

“We continue to receive enquiries for our classes and some ask specifically for online lessons only.”

The centre has also explored more creative ways of teaching students such as by using TikTok-style videos.

Mr Yang Iskandar, 44, who runs EduFront Learning Centre, said that parents have come around to the idea of online lessons.

About 95 per cent of his students have remained at the centre although he added that revenues have dipped during this period.

He has also given a 25 per cent discount on tuition fees. 

“We will support the government’s advisories and are ready to stay online for as long as it takes,” he said.

Ms Chua Wai Ling, founder of The Learners’ Club, said her revenues have fallen by around 3 to 5 per cent due to students who dropped out without trying the online lessons.

For the majority of students who have stayed on, Ms Chua has received positive feedback from them.

In fact, she has been pleasantly surprised at how well primary school students have adapted and handled themselves in their online classes.

“Some of them want to feel like they are adults in control, that they are able to handle a meeting just like their parents with their headsets,” she said.

Ms Nicolette Ng, a 29-year-old co-founder and teacher at Write Edge, which conducts English and writing lessons, has had to overcome some challenges to ensure that students are able to keep up with lessons online.

“In a physical class, if a student misses a particular question, it is easier to catch verbal or non-verbal cues so we can quickly assist them but it can be difficult to do that on Zoom,” said Ms Ng, referring to the popular video conferencing application. 

To help students clear their doubts, Write Edge has uploaded recordings of all its lessons so students can replay certain segments if they were not able to catch what was said earlier on.

PARENTS AND STUDENTS ADAPT TO NEW NORMAL

Mr Muhammad Ridwan, 40, said he is satisfied with his Primary 6 son’s online tuition experience at EduFront Learning Centre.

When his son had trouble answering certain homework-related questions, he was able to refer to the recorded lessons online so that he could better guide his son.

“If students feel that they’re not confident enough, they can go back and watch it, with parents who are coaching them,” he said.

Mrs Lillian Wong, whose son Benjamin is in Primary 2 this year, believes that physical lessons are still important, especially for younger children who could get bored from being cooped up at home.

“I see that Benjamin and other children are now thrust into living with remote interactions and have prematurely gotten access to learning technology and email accounts, but I still want him to experience things and have physical social interactions with his teachers and friends,” she said.

Trixie Chiam, a Secondary 2 student who attends tuition at The Learners’ Club, said that tutors tend to go slower online, so she is better able to follow certain lessons better.

She has also found that self-discipline is important for online tuition to be productive.

“Sometimes, I feel a bit tired and I’ll zone out, so I may be distracted by social media or game notifications,” she said.