Sentosa family offers up to $5,500 for tutor to coach Primary 3 triplets

Singapore has been dubbed a ‘tuition nation’, and it's no wonder. 

Parents here spent a whopping $1.4 billion in 2018 on extra classes for their kids, and while the latest statistics aren’t out yet, we won’t be surprised if the number has grown. As a result of parents' deep-seated FOMO when it comes to their kids in Singapore, it has also spun a league of ‘super tutors’ who are able to earn at least $1 million a year.

So perhaps it wasn't too surprising that an ad circulating on WhatsApp was offering up to $5,500 a month for a full-time tutor.

The call for applications was also found on a job-matching site for tutors, posted two days ago. 

The details furnished on the ad were simple — $4,000 to $5,500 a month for a full-time tutor for three Primary 3 school kids at the family’s home in Sentosa. Oh, and only females may apply, according to the WhatsApp message, although the reason for why wasn’t stated. The message also stated that the family “came from China early this year”. 

A quick check on the address provided pulled up an image of an undoubtedly luxurious-looking home — pretty nice environs to call a workplace. 

On the surface, the remuneration seems like a fairly good deal, but digging deeper, we weren’t quite sure.

Not only are there three kids (triplets, in fact) to teach, but also in two subjects — English and “a bit of” Math. 

The number of hours required seems pretty daunting as well — 2pm to 8pm on weekdays, and a full 9am to 6pm for one weekend, making it a 6-day week job. 

Not to mention, the family’s home is in Sentosa (Treasure Island, to be exact) so transportation cost would be higher. And the post didn’t quite mention if meals will be provided (and food on the island isn’t cheap). But one would imagine if the session ends at 8pm, dinnertime could get pretty late. 

However, the salary does kind of correspond with a graduate tutor’s hourly asking rate for the level, but even then we're talking about one-on-one tutoring. 

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According to one tuition site we went to, an hour’s coaching for a Primary 1 to 3 kid could range from $20 to $55 per hour, depending on whether the tutor is an A-level holder or undergrad, a university grad or an ex- or current MOE teacher. Of course, those in the last position would command the highest fees above and beyond what this family is offering.

For full-time employment without having to hustle though, it still sounds like a pretty sweet deal. 

However, some commenters online have shared that for such long hours, the family might be looking for a nanny-cum-tutor for the three children, and in that case, the salary may not suffice.

Still, if this job sounds like something you’d be keen to take on, there’s even a Google form attached in the WhatsApp message for those interested. The job posting on the website we looked at appears to be closed with three applicants so far, but an update a day ago states that it remains open for applications.   

candicecai@asiaone.com