TUITION centres are not helping to create thinking students by providing examination tips and model answers, but they are hardly the ones to shoulder all the blame.

Historian Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Khoo Kay Khim said the exam-oriented education system was the problem.

"We should not be telling students what is coming out in examinations or how they should answer questions.

"They must figure that out for themselves.

"But, in the first place, there should not be too much emphasis on getting 16 and 17As."

Khoo said that even in universities, students would ask lecturers what were the topics to study, and then ask what were the possible questions, and how to answer them.

"The younger lecturers fall into this trap and tell students what they want to know, partly in their attempt to be popular.

"My students come up to me as well, and I say I don't know, just study everything."

He said that even in school, there were teachers who refused to teach the whole syllabus so that students would attend their tuition classes outside school.

"And at these extra classes, they offer examination tips.

"One wonders where they get their tips from because not everything is above board these days."