Families spent $1.4b on extra tuition for children last year

Experts say greater demand is largely due to higher earning power and parents' desire to ensure kids do not fall behind

A file photo taken on March 6, 2018, showing a tutor interacting with students. Higher spending on private tuition was a key contributor to an uptick in educational expenses last year. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER
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Families spent a substantial $1.4 billion last year on extra tuition for their children, as expenditure on such private education services continues to grow.

The latest government survey on household expenditure found that higher spending on private tuition was a key contributor to an uptick in educational expenses last year.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on September 07, 2019, with the headline Families spent $1.4b on extra tuition for children last year. Subscribe