I started tutoring when I was serving NS in Singapore. My first students were my cousins. In that first experience, I doubt that my tutoring was helpful. As an idealist who believed that education should be free, I saw tutoring as a social service for the needy and planned to provide this service free to all. That idea did not last long. What more if your home is Singapore?
A year after National Service, I pursued a Diploma In Education with NIE/NTU. After 2 years of full time study, I was posted to teach at Chongzheng Primary School. I was 25 years old then, and still quite idealistic. The salary as a Diploma holder was not great, and I supplemented my income by providing tuition classes. The story of my first paid student can be read here, and that was the real start of my journey as a tutor, in 1995. It was also the start of my life as a teacher. 31 years have passed. Wow! Time flies.
Teaching as a school teacher differs from teaching as a tutor. In my opinion, every educator must experience both types of teaching. As a teacher, you will find that you are busy with groups of students, classroom management and administrative matters. You are looking at the issue of education in holistic terms. In the beginning of your career, you may or may not discover specific strategies to help some students who are struggling with the subject. However, when you teach as a tutor, you must have a razor sharp focus – the mastery of content knowledge and skills by your student/s. It is in my teaching as a tutor that I discovered Breakthrough Teaching, a new teaching approach which I shall write about one day. Insha Allah.
After less than 3 years as a full time primary school teacher, I became disillusioned with Singapore's education system. Some may think how can one be disillusioned with a good education system like Singapore's. For your information, I still am. Anyway, in 1998, I set up my own tuition centre called Metamorphosis Education Centre in Ang Mo Kio, just above the town council, on the 3rd floor. I became disillusioned too with the tuition industry which focussed on money and marks only. "This is not education," I told myself. I was searching for meaning in the wrong place. In my second year of operations, with my frustrations reaching a climax, I wrote a book entitled I Challenge The Education Culture, in 2000. I was so green and naive. Very foolish of me.
Today, I am a little embarrassed of the book. But I guess this is the journey of a writer. As you write, you may regret publishing this and that. Although the book contains some important truths, I would not have published it today. Why? More research is needed on the solutions. And, it gave the wrong impression to people back then. I was searching for a distributor and met up with one. He was willing to explore possibilities, and gave the book to some school principals. I doubt they really the book. He told me that they had said it was "unhealthy" – whatever it means. A few days later, a friend of mine (I cannot remember who) called me up and said that his wife had heard something about my book in her school. Her school principal had declared that a banned book about Singapore's education system was in circulation and it was written by a Malay man who had declared a holy war against Singapore's education system.
A holy war!? How does one have a holy war against an education system!? These so-called educators did not read the entire book. They may have come across the word "jihad" in the book, but I went to some length to explain the "jihad" of this initiative. I even quoted Karen Armstrong, but readers read and imagine what they want to, whether it is really there or not. And so, there were Singaporeans who thought of me as a young, angry and vocal Muslim teacher. Oh dear! Perhaps I could have chosen a better title for the book.
I managed to contact Mr Zainul Abidin Rasheed, and gave him a copy of my book. "I heard it is banned. Is it?" I asked him. He did his checks and read the book. He told me it was not banned, and about the book, he said I had "miscalculated". Perhaps I did. During that period, some saw me as anti- government person. Was I? No, I wasn't. I had even quoted Mr Goh Chok Tong's call for Singaporeans to contribute to Singapore, to speak up. I thought I was doing just that. But instead of welcoming hands, I received worried looks from some. I was green.
Today, I understand better. The idealism is still alive in me, but tampered with painful experience. Change comes slowly, gradually, an inch at a time, over many years. I have accepted this general truth. But I still dream of change – for the Malay/Muslim community in Singapore and for the poor communities in the developing world. Will I ever succeed in contributing to this cause? Looking at my life so far, I doubt I will make any change or dent to the status quo. But we must dream that such noble causes will succeed, and until I am long dead, I dare not say the word "impossible" Why? Well, the impossible has taken place in my life a couple of times. My forays into the film industry can be categorised as unrealistic and even impossible before they took place. The stories I read in the Qur'an about some prophets of God like Prophet Yusuf (Joseph) [peace be upon him] tell me that nothing is impossible. Every thing is possible and easy for God. So, I too am curious as to how much success I will achieve in the projects I spearhead. Perhaps I will only know on my dying day or perhaps even later.
What are my goals as an educator now? Beyond the empowerment of my current students, I dream of empowering the Malay/Muslim community of Singapore to break the glass ceiling of underachievement. I also dream of empowering some poor communities of the world in the field of education. Will I succeed in my quest? As crazy as it sounds, I sincerely believe that as the future years unfold, I will attain some success in both dreams. Allah knows best and ultimately He decides on all things. When God decides on a matter, He merely says "Be", and it comes into being. I am therefore hopeful.
(Will write more in the future.)
About Tuition Services
For the moment, I do not offer face-to-face tuition sessions. Tuition lessons are conducted online via Zoom. I am a little busy too. If you have exhausted alternative options and still cannot find a solution for your child, then do contact me via WhatsApp Messages: 97739441.
Do also check out www.shaheedsalimtuition.blogspot.com for updates.
Remember one more thing – tuition classes are for students who struggle with their academic subjects. If your child is already scoring As, he/she does not need tuition. Cycling in the park may be a better alternative for your child. Think, act and decide with wisdom.
