By Issac Lai
Statlink: https://dx.doi.org/10.1787/888932561006
Reported in The Equity and Quality in Education, almost half of the student population prior to the tertiary system in Macao have experience of retaining in the same grade for another year, though the “retaining policy” was not suggested. Instead of financial aids for tuition to repeated students, the government is advised to pay close attention to their mental needs and review the possibility for a more diversified and integrated education system promptly.
The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Macao increased by 14.30% in the fourth quarter of 2013 over the same period of the previous years cited the economic analyst website. The number of tourists has increased by 8% in the first two months of 2014. Reclaimed land is fully-utilized for casino development. Hotels are packed. All this data is evidence that the government has done a fabulous job in terms of economic growth. Macao gaming and leisure industry is now well-known worldwide. Yet, the education system is yet to be raised to the international level.
Students in Macao enjoy 15 years of free education provided by the government, from the pre-elementary school to high school. Students who, though, failed their promotion still enjoy the aid, as long as they are enrolled in school. They have difficulties catching up with the curriculums. Yet, they keep repeating the classes until they are lucky enough to pass, without proper help and concern from the officials, the schools and their parents. Parents who have great ambitions for their children are willing to invest in return for a good academic report, which prompted a boost in the number of tutorial centers in Macao.
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“With no surprise, most of our students’ parents work in casinos and hotels on a 24-hour-shift rotation,” said William Ieong, owner of a tutorial center which has been open since 2008. He continued, “They send their children to my center for two reasons, to improve their academic performance, as well as to “babysit” their kids.” The round-the-clock operation in casinos and hotels require staff to work on shift and they cannot schedule their own roaster. Erratic working hours prevent them from taking care of their children.
Can tutorial centers guarantee a good academic pay off? Cases of students being bullied and humiliated in tutorial centers are increasing. The quality of tutoring centers in Macao is under limited official supervision. Ieong mentioned that the tutoring industry has low entry barriers. “With money and a bachelor degree major in any field, you can then set up a tutorial center in Macao!”
The problem of unregulated tutoring centers is prone to be solved in connection with the discussion concerning the grade repetition policy. For example, the retain policy can be replaced by a compulsory summer course which urges students to study during a holiday break and keep up with the studies in particular subjects, which is evidenced to be a practical measure in foreign countries.