Breakdown of Primary 3 to 6 Students Receiving Private Tuition by Subject and Median Household Spending to Evaluate Sufficiency of School-based Learning

Assoc Prof Jamus Jerome Lim asked the Minister for Education (a) whether the Ministry tracks (i) the proportion of Primary 3 to 6 students receiving private tuition broken down by subject and (ii) the median household spending on private tuition; and (b) if so, how these indicators are used to evaluate the sufficiency of school-based learning.

Mr Desmond Lee: The Ministry of Education (MOE) does not track the proportion of Primary 3 to 6 students receiving private tuition, broken down by subjects. Based on the latest Household Expenditure Survey 2023 by the Department of Statistics, resident households spent on average $104.80 a month on private tuition.

MOE does not use these indicators to evaluate the sufficiency of school-based learning, as learning is influenced by multiple factors in and outside of school, and the reasons for taking up tuition vary.