Why doesn't Tim Gan Math accept all students?

We follow the **Pareto Principle** to avoid spending 80% of our energy on 20% of challenging clients. By being selective, we can focus our resources on students and parents who respect our boundaries, value our time, and are genuinely committed to learning. This creates a better learning environment for everyone at our Singapore tuition centers.

What is the Pareto Principle in tuition?

The **Pareto Principle** (80/20 rule) in tuition means that 20% of clients often create 80% of the problems and consume most of our time and energy. By identifying and avoiding these challenging situations early, we can dedicate more attention to the 80% of students who are respectful, engaged, and benefit most from our teaching.

Does Tim Gan Math offer free trial lessons in Singapore?

We generally **do not offer free trial lessons**, except for friends of our current students. We only offer **paid trial lessons** at all our Singapore locations (Jurong, Bukit Timah, Hougang). Our experience shows that free trials often attract people who have no intention of continuing lessons, which doesn't respect our teachers' time and preparation efforts. Paid trials ensure commitment and seriousness from both parties.

Can I negotiate tuition fees at Tim Gan Math?

Our **tuition fees are clearly stated on our website** and are non-negotiable. We're not a marketplace where haggling is appropriate. While we do provide **financial assistance for families in genuine need**, we believe in fairness and equality for all students. Our pricing reflects the quality and professionalism of our NIE-trained teaching staff and comprehensive resources.

What happens if a parent is too demanding or disrespectful at Singapore tuition centers?

We always try to **communicate and resolve issues** professionally. However, if a parent or student repeatedly displays entitled behavior, disrespects our staff, or disrupts the learning environment, we will **respectfully end the partnership**. Our priority is maintaining a positive, productive environment for all students and staff across all our Singapore locations.

How does Tim Gan Math handle last-minute lesson cancellations?

We have a **clear cancellation policy** that respects both students' needs and tutors' time. Last-minute cancellations or no-shows are tracked, and repeated occurrences may result in lesson termination. We understand emergencies happen, but consistent disrespect for scheduled lessons indicates a lack of commitment to learning. Our tutors prepare extensively for each lesson, and we expect students to honor their commitments.

Are there tuition centers in Singapore that accept all students?

While some Singapore tuition centers may have **open admission policies**, we believe quality education requires a good fit between tutor, student, and parent. Centers that accept all students without screening may struggle with **disruptive students, payment issues, and entitled behaviors** that negatively impact other learners. Our selective approach ensures a conducive learning environment for serious students who want to excel in H2 Math.

What should I look for in a good tuition center in Singapore?

Look for centers that have **clear policies, qualified tutors (NIE-trained preferred), structured curricula, and positive student testimonials**. Avoid centers with aggressive marketing gimmicks or those offering suspiciously cheap rates. Good tuition centers like Tim Gan Math have selective admission to maintain teaching quality and create respectful learning environments. Check if they have essential traits of great math tutors .

Why We Don't Accept All Students | Singapore Tuition Center Admission Policy

Welcome to an inside look at the tuition service industry in Singapore, where we navigate the complex world of teaching and learning at one of Singapore's leading H2 Math tuition centers. I've been a part of this field for over a decade, wearing many hats – from offering one-on-one tutoring, and working in various centres across Singapore, to establishing my learning centre.

This journey has given me a front-row seat to the diverse interactions with parents and students in Singapore's competitive education landscape. In this article, I aim to share some insights, particularly about Tim Gan Math's policy on student and parent admissions.

It's a truth universally acknowledged in service industries that not all customers are easy to work with. This is especially true in Singapore's education sector, where the stakes feel personal and high. Our approach is guided by what's known as the Pareto Principle. In simple terms, this means we strive to avoid spending the majority of our energy – say, 80% – on the small portion – about 20% – of customers who pose the most challenges. Understanding what makes a great tutor also means knowing which students and parents we can serve effectively.

Why Is This Important?

Well, in our experience at Singapore tuition centers, this small but demanding group often includes those who may not respect the boundaries and efforts of our administrative team. Understanding that being rude or aggressive towards our staff doesn't solve any issues is crucial. Instead, it creates an environment that's not conducive to learning or teaching.

Many parents wonder whether H2 Math tuition is necessary, but equally important is finding the right fit between tutor and student. In the following sections, we'll delve deeper into the challenges we face and our rationale for being selective about whom we work with. Our goal at Tim Gan Math is to create a productive, respectful, and positive learning environment for all – and sometimes, that means making tough decisions for the greater good.

Here are the three primary types of parents and students we typically steer clear of:

1. The Entitled Parent/Student

A particularly challenging group is what we call the "Entitled Parent/Student." These are folks who seem to think the world revolves around their needs and schedules – a phenomenon we see across Singapore's tuition landscape.

Common Issues We Face:

One common issue we face is parents asking us to change our class schedules to fit their child's timetable. Imagine trying to rearrange a puzzle every time someone wants a piece to fit differently – it's tough and often unfair to others. This is especially challenging when we have group tuition classes with 15-20 students.

Then, some students don't understand how valuable a tutor's time is. They might cancel lessons last minute or not show up at all, not realizing that this time could have helped another student who's struggling with H2 Math challenges.

A particularly tricky situation involves students who want access to our online courses for free. They sign up, but then cancel their in-person lessons to avoid paying. It's like wanting to eat a cake without buying it.

How We Handle This

Dealing with these entitled attitudes can be draining for our team. It takes away energy that we could use to help other students who are respectful and eager to learn.

So, our approach has been to try to work with them a few times, but if the behaviour continues, we respectfully stop interacting with them. We've found that focusing on students and parents who value our time and resources helps us create a better learning environment for everyone.

2. The Bargainer or Cheapskate

We sometimes come across a particular group we call "the Bargainer or Cheapskate." These are parents or students who try to negotiate the cost of tuition, which can be a big red flag for us and other quality H2 Math tutors in Singapore.

Common Negotiation Tactics:

Firstly, some parents ask if we can lower our tuition fees. It's important to understand that our prices are clearly stated on our website. We're not a marketplace where haggling is part of the process. While we do offer financial support to families in genuine need, this doesn't mean that our services are free. We believe in fairness and equality for all our students.

Another issue we face is delayed payments. Some parents take months to settle their tuition fees. We try to be understanding and patient, but when this becomes a repeated problem, we have to make the tough decision to stop the student's lessons. It's about respecting the time and effort our NIE-trained tutors put into their teaching.

The Free Trial Problem

Lastly, there's the request for free trial lessons though we only offer a paid trial lesson. We generally don't offer free trial lessons, except for friends of our current students. This policy helps us avoid marketing gimmicks that attract uncommitted students.

Our experience shows that free trials often don't lead to continued lessons. Many just take advantage of the free offer without any intention of signing up. Our teachers invest a lot of time and effort in preparing for lessons, and we want to respect and value their hard work.

In summary, dealing with bargainers or cheapskates can be challenging for Singapore tuition centers. We strive to maintain a fair and respectful environment for our students, admins and teachers, and sometimes this means having to say no to such requests.

3. The Know-It-All Parent

In our tuition centre, we sometimes encounter a challenging type of parent known as "the Know-It-All." These are parents who believe they have all the answers and often question our methods and understanding of the current MOE syllabus – despite our tutors being NIE-trained and ex-MOE teachers.

Challenging Behaviors:

One common behaviour of these parents is conducting regular "spot-checks" on our teachers or administrative staff. They closely monitor our work and frequently offer unsolicited advice about our curriculum, sometimes even questioning our comprehensive H2 Math curriculum.

Now, don't get me wrong – we appreciate constructive feedback. It helps us grow and improve. But there's a fine line between helpful suggestions and a condescending attitude.

Some of these parents come with the mindset that they know better than us, often speaking to us in a tone that can feel belittling. While we respect their opinions, it's essential to remember that we are professionals in this field with proven track records helping students across Singapore.

The Importance of Trust

Trust is a crucial component of our relationship with parents. If there isn't a basic level of trust, if a parent can't entrust their child's education to us, then it becomes difficult to work together effectively.

Education should be a collaboration between tutors and parents, working together for the student's benefit. But when a parent acts like a know-it-all, it can disrupt this partnership.

Parents need to have confidence in our expertise and allow us to do our job effectively. Without this mutual respect and trust, the relationship isn't beneficial for anyone, especially the student.

Conclusion

To wrap up, navigating the world of tuition services in Singapore is not just about teaching math or science; it's also about building positive, respectful relationships with students and their parents.

Our experience at Tim Gan Math has taught us that while most of our interactions are incredibly rewarding, we occasionally encounter challenging situations with certain types of parents and students – a reality faced by many tuition centers across Singapore.

From the Bargainers to the Know-It-Alls, we've learned that setting boundaries and maintaining our standards is crucial for a healthy learning environment. We believe in:

Fairness in all our dealings
Respect for everyone's time and effort
Trust as the foundation of education

Our priority is always to provide the best education and support to our students, and this sometimes means being selective about whom we work with. This selective approach helps us maintain the high standards that have made Tim Gan Math one of Singapore's trusted H2 Math tuition providers.

Remember, education is a partnership. It requires cooperation, mutual respect, and trust from both tutors and parents. By working together positively, we can create a space where students feel motivated, valued, and ready to learn. At Tim Gan Math, with locations across Singapore (Jurong, Bukit Timah, Hougang), we're committed to fostering such an environment, one where every student has the opportunity to shine and grow.

Why We Don't Accept All Students | Top 3 Difficult Parents & Students to Deal With