Schools still have key role to play

It is true that tuition centres have become a very significant force in the education system.

However, schools still have an important role in our communities.

Time spent in large classes in school exposes children to peers who are of different social statuses and have different mindsets.

The academic competition and stress experienced in a class setting, as well as the opportunity to lead their peers all impart character values to assist the child in the transition into society.

Madam Grace Chua Siew Hwee's proposal ("Let students do their learning at tuition centres"; Forum Online, Oct 24) is an interesting and thought-provoking one.

Regulation on a national scale would be required to make sure the tuition centres and schools are in tandem and complement each other.

For example, only schools have the resources to build facilities such as science labs, and tuition centres would have to cooperate with schools to let students use the facilities.

The system would also undermine the levelling force of the public education system. Affluent parents can, and do, pay more for tuition, which could weaken social mobility.

Thus, the use of tuition centres to provide formal education may create more problems than it solves.

Wong Yu An, 15,

Secondary 3 student

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