Singapore’s education system has continuously ranked among the best globally. Part of the success is attributed to the kiasu culture, with most parents enrolling their children in a dedicated student care centre for afterschool programs. It is impossible to look at Singapore’s education system without analysing the impact of student care centres on performance.
There are several reasons behind the success and continuous demand for student care services.
Competitiveness
Kiasu culture is mostly about competition, and most parents worry about what their kids miss out on if they don’t enrol in the enrichment classes offered in student care centres. This has driven the demand for student care services.
To gain an edge over others, student care centres offer different enrichment classes at competitive prices and unique enrichment classes to lure more students. Given the competitiveness among students and parents, student care centres also seek to outdo the others by offering unique services, such as age-appropriate activities, homework support, and tuition to give students extra support for better school performance.
Inter-competition among students in schools and afterschool programs pushes students to be their best, in and out of school.
Exam-Focused Programs
Parents send their children to student care centres for various reasons. For some, the immediate benefit is for kids to have somewhere safe to stay until they get off work. However, for the vast majority, the lure is the impact of afterschool programs on school performance.
Most student care centres are exam-focused, with some giving personalised attention to students. The tutors focus on the child’s strengths and weaknesses. Since each subject matters, parents seek to utilise the extra hours by choosing student care services that give students a better chance at passing their exams.
Range of Afterschool Activities
Student care centres offer various services, including tuition, sports, arts, puzzles, games, and music enrichment classes. These programs provide students with additional skills, including critical thinking skills, which naturally overflow into how they find solutions to academics and everyday challenges.
Many parents seek their children’s holistic development, and student care services aim to boost students’ character and their understanding of what their parents, teachers, and society expect of them.
Emotional Maturity
The setup in every dedicated student care centre encourages students to develop emotionally. For example, they are trained to manage time better and be responsible for their assignments. Student care services involve homework support, and students appreciate the importance of using the time available to complete their work before going home.
Since tutors are available to help, most would rather take advantage of this help when possible. The ability to make these crucial decisions signifies emotional maturity. Some complete their homework and participate in other activities in student care centres. This is a benefit that many parents cannot overlook, especially if they don’t have the time or resources to support students when they get home from work.
The demand for afterschool programs continues to grow in Singapore, partly due to the track record of student care centres. Parents spend thousands of dollars and expect a good return on their investment. This drives student care centres to tailor their services and provide a lower student-teacher ratio for personalised attention.