By Becky Lo

Four years ago, Mr Anthony Fok started Xue Hai Tutorial Centre with only 25 students.

Now, there are five branches in Singapore with about 600 students in total.

Instead of basking in the success of his venture, Mr Fok sold all his shares to his business partner last year and switched to teaching full-time at Hong Kah Secondary School, covering Principles of Accounts and Mathematics.

The 25-year-old Nanyang Technological University accountacy graduate said: "I feel more fulfilled teaching in a school because I can help all kinds of students there, even the poor ones who cannot afford tuition."

However, Mr Fok continues to teach the 80 students under his charge at Xue Hai.

The tuition centre charges $100 for four lessons at the secondary level and $150 at the junior college level.

He does not receive any salary for his lessons at the tuition centre, where he teaches Economics and English.

He said: "I teach for free here partly to help out, but mostly because I really like this job. As most of the students started with me long ago, we have become quite close."

As he is well known for his ability to deliver results, parents try all means to put their children in his class.

Last year, a parent offered him $250 an hour to teach her JC son Economics three months before the A levels.

Although Mr Fok rejected the amount offered, he accepted the student because he was "hardworking and really willing to learn".

The student, who used to fail the subject badly, got an A for his exams and even went overseas on a scholarship.

Mr Fok spends his weekdays concentrating on teaching his students in school, but his weekends are fully packed with classes at Xue Hai.

When asked if his family and girlfriend minded his busy schedule, he said: "I've been busy all along, even when I was in university, so they understand. I just need to plan and manage my time well."

This article was first published in The Straits Times on June 15, 2008.