When students from Asia’s four tigers (Singapore, Hong Kong, South Korea, and Taiwan) continually rank among the world’s top ten in international education assessments like the Trends in Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) and Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA)—it is no surprise that the high mathematical proficiency of their citizens has contributed to their countries’ high GDPs.
A common denominator of tiger math nations is their cult-like devotion to education (and tuition)—one of the strong pillars of their economic success stories.
by Covido March 11, 2022
Brain-unfriendly math questions that have been commissioned by superstitious owners of tuition centers in Singapore—who were unprovenly advised by feng shui masters or charlatans—to freelance writers, as the bosses believe that posing these word problems to their students or tutees would bring them good luck and prosperity in the Lunar Year of the Tiger.
It’s as if traditional Singapore math questions aren’t tough enough for students and their kiasu parents, but now with tuition or enrichment centers terrorizing their students with tiger math toughies in the name of superstition, the Year of the Tiger looks like another mathematical nightmare to those who are already suffering from math anxiety.
by Fasters January 22, 2022