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As a mum of a four-year-old, I sometimes catch myself already worrying: Am I doing enough to help her succeed? Should she be doing more enrichment classes? Are we falling behind?
Even though she’s just started school and is happily enjoying swimming, painting, and dancing, the pressure to keep up feels inescapable. In Singapore, where tuition culture has long been part of the parenting script, it’s easy to get swept up in the rush to do more, enrol earlier, and chase every opportunity.
But as I began exploring this topic, I came across a growing movement of parents and educators rethinking this well-worn path.
At the forefront is Emil Lim, founder and CEO of First Principles Education (FPE), an organisation that challenges the conventional wisdom around tuition by focusing on mentorship over rote learning.
Moving beyond the ‘ideal’ age for tuition
One of the first questions parents ask is when to start tuition. But for Emil, it’s the wrong place to focus.
“There is no ‘ideal’ age to start academic support — what matters more is individual readiness and learning habits,” Emil explains. “Some children naturally develop strong study habits early, while others need more guidance.”
Instead of rushing to enrol children in enrichment, Emil encourages parents to reflect on key questions: Does the child struggle with focus or time management? Are they developing confidence in learning independently? Is enrichment enhancing learning, or becoming a crutch for grades?
It’s a perspective that challenges the instinct to measure childhood in milestones and schedules — and it’s resonating with a growing number of parents.
The social pressure trap
In Singapore, where competitive education has long been part of the national narrative, parents face a unique set of pressures.
“Many parents enrol their children in tuition not out of necessity but due to external pressures from schools, social comparisons, and aggressive marketing tactics,” Emil says.
To navigate this maze, Emil offers three guiding principles. First, parents should define their own success metrics — focusing on individual growth, confidence, and learning skills rather than comparisons with peers. Second, they should assess whether tuition is addressing the right problem. “If a child lacks study discipline, more tuition may not help. Instead, mentorship or study skills coaching may be a better investment,” he points out.
Finally, balance and well-being must take precedence. “Academic performance should not come at the cost of a child’s mental health,” Emil emphasises.
Also read: Why Bayard Presse books are a game-changer for young readers
When too much is… too much
For many families, the challenge isn’t just whether to sign up for tuition — it’s knowing when to stop.
“A good rule of thumb: if a child has no time for play, hobbies, or rest, they are doing too much,” Emil advises. Warning signs of burnout include loss of enthusiasm, constant exhaustion, irritability, dependence on external help, and even declining performance despite piling on more lessons.
At FPE, the philosophy is simple: quality over quantity. Rather than packing a child’s schedule with extra classes, the goal is to build independent learning habits so that over time, they need fewer structured lessons — not more.
Mentorship: The difference between giving a fish and teaching to fish
While traditional tuition focuses on drilling students to ace exams, mentorship takes a fundamentally different approach.
“Mentorship is the difference between giving a child a fish and teaching them how to fish,” Emil says.
At FPE, this means teaching time management, note-taking, memory techniques, and exam strategies. It also means building confidence and self-discipline — essential skills that often get overlooked in conventional tutoring.
Perhaps most strikingly, mentorship introduces a role-model dynamic. “Our mentors are young, relatable figures who inspire students to take charge of their learning rather than rely on tuition,” Emil explains. This relationship helps students shift from dependence on external support to a sense of ownership over their studies.
Alternative strategies for different learners
Not every child thrives under rote learning. For those who struggle with repetitive drills and memorisation, Emil advocates for alternative approaches:
● Active recall and memory techniques — using digital flashcards, mind maps, and question-based learning.
● Gamification — adding challenges, rewards, and interactive tools to make learning more engaging.
● Real-world application — connecting academic concepts to real-life problems and discussions.
● Mentor-guided reflection — encouraging students to analyse their mistakes and refine their study techniques, rather than mindlessly copying corrections.
“The key is to make learning an engaging, active process rather than just passive memorisation,” Emil says.
From tuition dependency to self-directed success
One of FPE’s most compelling success stories involves Aaron, a Primary 5 student drowning in tuition — yet still struggling.
“Despite all the extra lessons, he was still struggling because he lacked effective study habits,” Emil recalls. Aaron was procrastinating, failing to follow his timetable, and feeling the weight of disappointment when his results didn’t improve.
Through mentorship, Aaron developed a study system tailored to his strengths, adopted active recall techniques, and gradually built the confidence to manage without constant help. Within six months, he had dropped some of his tuition classes and was performing better than ever — on his own terms.
“This is exactly what we do at FPE: we don’t just improve grades — we equip students with the skills to thrive independently,” Emil says.
Easing education anxiety
For parents, one of the most invisible but pervasive burdens is anxiety over their child’s academic future. Emil offers practical strategies to help parents break free from this cycle.
“Focus on the process, not just results — encourage effort, resilience, and problem-solving rather than just grades,” he suggests. Giving children ownership of their learning and allowing them to set their own study schedules can also reduce tension at home. Most importantly, Emil says, parents should reframe success to include critical thinking, creativity, and resilience — qualities that will serve children well beyond the classroom.
The future of tuition culture
With the Ministry of Education already shifting towards independent learning and reducing exam pressure, Emil sees Singapore’s tuition culture at a turning point.
“More parents are realising that tuition is not always the answer — they want their children to develop real-world skills, confidence, and autonomy,” Emil observes. He believes that as artificial intelligence and education technology evolve, rote-learning-based tuition will gradually give way to mentorship-based coaching models like FPE.
“At FPE, we are pioneering this shift towards independent learning — helping students develop lifelong study habits that will benefit them beyond school,” he says.
A word to parents of young children
As a parent myself, this part hit home the most. When I asked Emil about my own four-year-old daughter, who already juggles school with swimming, painting, and public speaking, his reassurance felt like a breath of fresh air.
“Your approach is great because it balances structured learning with creativity and physical activity,” Emil says. “The key concern for young children is not overloading them with academics too early.”
At this stage, he explains, parents should focus on nurturing curiosity and problem-solving through play and exploration — not rushing into structured academic work too soon.
A cultural shift in motion
As Singapore rethinks its relationship with tuition, Emil’s message is timely and clear: teaching children how to learn — not just what to learn — is the most powerful gift parents and educators can give.
By shifting the conversation away from grades and worksheets toward resilience, independence, and joy in learning, mentorship models like First Principles Education may well hold the key to a healthier, more sustainable approach to education in the years ahead.
Learn more about First Principles Education here.
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