The popularity of ad-hoc chemistry tuition in Singapore

Instead of agreeing to daily tuition sessions throughout the year, most students who need educational assistance opt for "ad-hoc" attendance at such courses.

For example, Cedar Girls ' secondary school student Natalie Lim, 16, who is in Secondary 4, does not attend weekly tuition sessions.

Then, at the Bright Culture Tuition Center, she drops in on a chemistry class as and when she needs to clarify her questions on certain subjects.

Natalie, who a year ago scored Ds for chemistry, now scores As for the subject in addition to saving time and money on tuition. She's paying $80 per class, similar to what regular students are doing.

"I have many other obligations that conflict with normal tuition time slots, so it seems more feasible to schedule my tuition around them," said Natalie, who transfers next year under the Integrated Program to Victoria Junior College.

Ad-hoc tuition arrangements are gaining popularity, particularly among students who, according to tutors, only need support in specific subjects that are hard to grasp.

During school terms, tutors cite busy schedules of students, with co-curricular activities and increasing demands in schoolwork, as a cause for growing interest.

Most of these students will appear on the right track just before the year-end exams to test their study. Over the past few years, more than 20 learning centers and private tutors have started to deliver these ad-hoc arrangements.

Quintessential Education Center launched these plans two years ago and noticed that it had tripled the number of students from the previous year. Around 40 out of 200 students at the school, which provides tuition in subjects such as economics and A level chemistry tuition or O level chemistry tuition and International Baccalaureate (IB), are on the ad-hoc scheme. There were just 15 these students last year.

All students pay similar fees from $85 to $100 per lesson.

“Most students want help with unique, soft chapters but don't want to sit through subjects they're skilled at, "said tutor Shaun Lim, 32, adding that some have chosen these arrangements due to financial constraints.

General Paper tutor Irwin See, 36, has been providing ad-hoc tutoring for the past six years and this year has taken up from seven last year in 10 students on the scheme.

These students participate once or twice a month in regular classes. Students are becoming more distracted and may not have the time to commit to a full tuition year, "Mr See said, who has around 130 regular students. We charge $75 per session compared with $90 per session for ad-hoc students attending classes.

Experts in education indicated that ad-hoc tuition would reduce the financial strain on parents who have more than one child needing tuition or who require extra coaching in many subjects.

Dr. Timothy Chan, director of the educational division of SIM Global Education, said: "It will take less time to explore interests such as arts or sports on the already packed schedule of the kid."

Dr. Chan also noted, however, that not everyone would benefit from fees, and that it could also lead to negative effects, such as pressure and lack of motivation.