Forum: Ensure that junior colleges continue to deliver meaningful, high-quality teaching

As a parent, I am concerned about the current teaching approach in junior colleges.

Increasingly, classroom instruction appears to rely heavily on students watching pre-recorded videos on their own, with few live lectures conducted.

Tutorial sessions appear to focus largely on checking the correctness of answers rather than thoroughly explaining concepts, leaving some students without a clear understanding of the material. 

As a result, those who struggle to grasp core concepts feel compelled to seek private tuition for most, if not all, subjects. This raises an important question: If students must depend on external tuition to understand the curriculum, what is the role of school teachers?

The issue is particularly troubling when present at independent schools, where fees are much higher.

Parents pay a premium expecting quality teaching, guidance and academic support. When these are replaced by self-study through videos, the value proposition of attending school becomes unclear.

School education should offer more than just access to exam papers. It should provide structured teaching, immediate feedback, mentorship and opportunities for discussion – elements that cannot be fully replicated through self-study or tuition alone.

If students can truly learn only outside school, one might reasonably question whether formal attendance is serving its intended purpose.

I hope the relevant authorities and school leaders can review these practices, and ensure that junior colleges continue to deliver meaningful, high-quality teaching that justifies both the time and financial investment made by families.

Cheong Wei Ling