When people think of Singapore, a few defining images often come to mind: gleaming skylines, impeccable cleanliness, strict laws, multiculturalism, safety, economic success — and almost inevitably, education.
Singapore’s obsession with education runs deep. Here, academic excellence isn’t just encouraged — it’s expected. From the PSLE to O Levels, from top rankings in international assessments to parental WhatsApp groups trading tuition recommendations, education is more than a value.
It is a national obsession, and for many families, a defining measure of success.
But behind this pursuit of excellence lies a growing industry — and an increasingly saturated one. For new players looking to enter Singapore’s booming tuition economy, the question is no longer just “how” to start — but how to stand out.
Highlights
Academic Potential — or Pressure?
Singapore and studying are practically inseparable. The country’s education system is globally recognised for its rigour and results. According to the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2022, Singapore ranked No. 1 in mathematics, science, and reading.
But excellence comes at a cost.
Academic pressure permeates not just schools, but households. From a young age, children are encouraged to excel in core subjects such as mathematics, science, and languages. This pressure intensifies around high-stakes national examinations like the Primary School Leaving Examination (PSLE) and O Levels, which significantly shape future academic and career pathways.
A nationwide CNA survey of 1,000 parents of Primary Five and Six pupils found that 99 per cent believe good PSLE results are important. Yet the emotional toll is substantial. The same survey revealed that 85 per cent of children felt stressed about the PSLE — while 64 per cent of parents reported feeling stressed themselves.
This pressure is two-fold. Parents, driven by a desire to secure their children’s futures, invest heavily in academic support. Students, in turn, are expected to reach their full potential — not just through exams, but via enrichment programmes and extracurricular development. In a meritocratic system where outcomes matter, academic performance becomes the gateway to opportunity.
For many families, tuition is no longer optional — it’s an expectation.
The Economics Behind the Tuition Boom
Singapore’s education policies, rooted in meritocracy, have indirectly fuelled the growth of supplementary tuition. In a 2023 parliamentary debate, Minister for Education Chan Chun Sing reaffirmed that rewarding ability and effort was foundational to Singapore’s transformation into a global city.
Unsurprisingly, parents respond accordingly. CNA’s survey found that 60 per cent of parents send their children for tuition. Among them, 65 per cent enrol their children in three to four tuition classes, while another 6 per cent send them for five or more.
This demand has created a booming industry. According to the Singapore Department of Statistics (2024), the tuition market was valued at approximately S$1.8 billion in 2023. Average household spending on tuition rose to S$104.80 per month, up from S$88.40 in the previous survey.
For entrepreneurs, the business case is obvious. Demand is persistent, emotionally driven, and recession-resistant.
What makes the sector even more attractive is its low barrier to entry. Compared to heavily regulated industries, tuition centres face relatively straightforward compliance requirements. Entrepreneurs can start small — offering home-based tutoring or renting modest spaces — with limited upfront capital.
High demand, low entry costs, and cultural reinforcement make tuition an appealing venture for new founders. But there’s a catch.
A Saturated Market and Rising Competition
Opportunity rarely comes without competition.
More than 70 per cent of students in Singapore receive some form of private tutoring, and the country is home to over 1,000 tuition centres. As the market becomes increasingly crowded, differentiation has become harder — and more expensive.
Traditional tuition alone is no longer enough to satisfy parents. Beyond exam drills, children are now enrolled in enrichment programmes offering unconventional approaches — from memory techniques claiming to stimulate the “right brain” to speed calculation methods.
One example is The Learning Lab, in which US private equity firm Advent International reportedly acquired a substantial stake for around S$300 million in 2014. The centre built its reputation by helping students enter the Ministry of Education’s Gifted Education Programme (GEP) and Integrated Programme (IP) — tracks designed for the top academic performers.
Its CEO, Hamilton Lau, has cautioned that tuition centres relying on outdated methods may struggle. Those that depend heavily on repetitive drilling, rote memorisation, and regurgitation of information — rather than deeper understanding — risk falling out of step with MOE’s evolving ethos.
Overcoming Saturation: What Comes Next?
As Singapore’s education landscape evolves, so too must its tuition industry.
One likely outcome is consolidation. Smaller centres facing rising costs and intense competition may be acquired by larger chains such as The Learning Lab or Kumon, leading to a market dominated by fewer, well-capitalised players.
Regulatory intervention is another possibility. While former Education Minister Ong Ye Kung stated in 2018 that the government had no intention of banning tuition, the state remains sensitive to widening socio-economic gaps. Excessive reliance on tuition risks undermining the ethos of holistic education.
At the same time, the industry has shown an ability to adapt. Large tuition chains now align more closely with MOE’s mandate to help students “discover the joy of learning”, combining academic rigour with broader developmental goals.
Despite concerns around technology, Leong Yoke Leng, alumna of the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy and Lee Kuan Yew Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School, remains optimistic.
“AI won’t replace tuition anytime soon. It can be a supplement, but not a total replacement,” she says.
Her view aligns with CNA’s reporting on AI in education, which highlights concerns over inaccuracies, lack of citations, and over-reliance. For many parents, human teachers — and human judgment — still matter.
Where Innovation Creates Opportunity
In a saturated market, specialisation is key.
Entrepreneurs can differentiate by focusing on specific subjects, exam levels, or student segments — such as PSLE preparation, O-Level mastery, or support for students with special learning needs. Demand for parental guidance is also growing. More than 160 parents attended The Straits Times Smart Parenting PSLE Prep Forum in April 2025, underscoring parents’ desire to better support their children academically.
Technology also opens new doors. Online and hybrid tuition models reduce overhead costs and expand reach. Dr Gavin Ng, founder of Gavin’s Tuition, operates primarily online, avoiding rental expenses altogether. His model includes collaborating with logistics firms to deliver science experiment kits to students’ homes, while using machine learning to identify learning gaps.
Parental engagement is another untapped frontier. Platforms that offer progress tracking, regular reports, and parent-teacher consultations address common pain points. A short AsiaOne poll found parents dissatisfied with limited feedback, lack of personalised attention, and poor visibility into their children’s progress.
Tools like Geniebook Campus point toward a future where transparency and accountability become competitive advantages.
This aligns with Leong Yoke Leng’s observation that, “While tuition centres are not obliged to impress upon students not to use AI excessively, they may be expected to do so by parents — and if necessary, the relevant authorities would probably step in with measures or regulations.”
Final Thoughts: Imagining the Future of Tuition in Singapore
As technology advances and educational priorities shift, tuition centres will need to rethink their role.
The future of tuition will not be defined by rote memorisation alone. Instead, successful centres will evolve into holistic learning environments — blending academic mastery with character development, critical thinking, and emotional resilience.
While tuition undoubtedly supports academic success, an unchecked “race to the top” risks harming mental health and personal growth. The next generation of tuition businesses will need to balance performance with purpose.
In an increasingly crowded market, the winners will not be those who teach harder — but those who teach smarter, more humanely, and with a clearer understanding of what education should truly serve.
Editor’s Note:
This article was contributed by NewInAsia editorial fellow Eunice Chua, a Singaporean writer and researcher currently pursuing a Master’s in Global Affairs and Public Policy at Yonsei University.
In this piece, she explores how Singapore’s tuition economy reflects broader shifts in education, innovation, and parental expectations.
To pitch your story or share insights on innovation, leadership, or impact in Asia, contact the NewInAsia editorial team.
Highlights
Read the Chinese article here.
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