Asia spending billions on tutors: study

[FarCenter]

AFP - Asian parents are spending billions of dollars on private tutors for their children, and the practice is growing despite doubts over its effectiveness, according to a study published Wednesday.

"Shadow education" is an expanding business not only in wealthy countries but also in some of the region's poorer nations as parents try to give their children the best start in life, the Asian Development Bank said.

Nearly nine out of 10 South Korean elementary pupils have private tutoring, while the figure for primary school children in India's West Bengal state is six out of 10.

"Proportions are lower in other countries, but throughout the region the shadow is spreading and intensifying," the study said, calling for a review of education systems to make such extra teaching less attractive.

Extra academic work is aimed at helping slow learners and supporting high achievers, and is seen by many Asian parents as a constructive way for adolescents to spend their spare time.

http://www.france24.com/en/20120705-asia-spending-billions-tutors-study

[Bonobo]

1. Pushing fear of Asia. Note use of word "shadow".

Typical yellow journalism, pardon the pun.

Why is education called a "shadow".

Yes, the use of the phrase is significant and intentional in its attempt to create a subtext of fear of other.

[FarCenter]

2. "Shadow" is in the sense of an unofficial, parallel education system.

"Shadow education" in the same sense that non-bank lending is called "shadow banking".

[XemaSab]

3. This is totally not a new thing

Studying a lot does not equal being smart or competitive in the real world.