Dear Editor,

In recent years, advertisements from different kinds of tutorial schools have flooded magazines and TV commercial periods. Feeling exhausted after a busy school day, students still struggle to attend tutorial classes after school. In order to know more  about this phenomenon, we need to understand students’ mindsets. I am writing to share my views on the reasons for students attending the tutorial schools.

One of the reasons why secondary school students go to the tutorial centres is that the public examinations are extremely crucial to them as they decide whether their future is bright or bleak. First, in regard to the new education system, students only have one chance to gain access to university due to the scarcity of university places. With this fierce competition, students make every endeavor to prepare well for the exam. Therefore, they have no choice but to go to the tutorial centres for acquiring useful exams skills to equip themselves thoroughly.

Besides, parents put too much pressure on students. With the high expectation on them, children are forced to go to the tutorial centres which occupy all their spare time. In addition, going to the tutorial school has become a prevalent trend. If students don’t follow suit, they may be at a disadvantage.

Actually, it is beneficial for students to attend the tutorial schools. Students can improve their academic performance during a short period of time as the tutors will teach a wide variety of examination skills to them. It is an effective way to enhance their performance. Moreover, by meeting students from other schools at the tutorial centers, students can exchange learning materials and understand the learning process of others. This can ensure students don’t lag behind others with the up-to-date information.

However, there are some disadvantages about attending tutorial schools.

First of all, students may not focus on the lessons as they would become over-dependent on taking extra lesson by getting all of the skills from the tuitorial centres. Secondly, there is too much pressure on students. After school, they dash to the tutorial centres for further studies which deprive them of time to relax. It may cause some mental problems, such as eating disorders and depression.

In conclusion, it is known that the public examinations are vitally important for every candidate to compete for the scarce university places. Attending tutorial schools can equip us with good skills for tackling the public examinations. However, we need to take into account the drawbacks the tutorial schools bring to us. We should strike a balance between our normal school day and the after-school tutorial classes in a bid to maximize our chance of getting into university.

Yours faithfully,

Wilson Chan
HHCKLA Buddhist Ching Kok Secondary School