By Cai Haoxiang

SOUTH Korean cram schools, or hagwon, similar to tuition centres here, can charge as much as $14,000 a year.

One top school even requires students to pass an entrance exam before admitting them.

Yesterday, Education Minister Ng Eng Hen talked about his visit to the top cram school to show how hard Asian parents drive their children.

'We're not as bad as the Koreans,' he said, adding he had no wish to see Singapore go down the South Korean road. He also noted that some students from South Korea and other Asian communities come here thinking the education system here is easier.

Dr Ng made the points yesterday when replying to Madam Halimah Yacob (Jurong GRC) and Mr Lim Biow Chuan (Marine Parade GRC), who were worried about the excessive tuition culture here.

The cram school he visited was highly popular because half of its students get into the country's top five universities. Its recipe for success? 'Just keep doing the test papers until you pass,' its principal told Dr Ng, who saw each desk stacked high with assessment papers.

The practice so upset a don of a top South Korean university that he banned entrance examinations. He selected students through interviews and he changed his questions yearly. But after a while, the students figured out his questions and drilled for them.

'It's innate in our Asian culture,' said Dr Ng. Tuition beyond a point has diminishing returns, yet schools cannot stop parents from wanting their kids to get into the top ones, he added.

What the Education Ministry has done is to stress soft skills and create more opportunities for children of different abilities to succeed. He cited brothers Charles and Keith Wong, founders of the popular home-grown shoe brand Charles and Keith.

Elder brother Charles, 36, never got past his O levels, passing only maths, history and Bible study. With Keith, 34, he now owns more than 180 stores across 25 countries, with sales revenue at $97 million in 2008.

Mr Lim and Madam Halimah were concerned that students who cannot afford commercial tuition will lose out.

Senior Parliamentary Secretary (Education) Masagos Zulkifli said they can turn to classes organised by self-help groups: 'There are many students who succeed without tuition, by paying attention in class, by consulting teachers and by working consistently throughout the year.'

This article was first published in The Straits Times.