WHILE Dr Yik Keng Yeong's schooling more than three decades ago is inspirational, it is certainly divorced from the realities of our current education landscape ('Elite pre-U then: No costly tuition, no snob appeal'; Feb 25).
Not every student, even among those in the elite colleges, necessarily has the intellectual gifts with which Dr Yik and his daughters are endowed.
Some students may need help to unlock their fullest potential or, at the very least, to score in examinations. The best way to do so is through extra coaching by private tuition.
Students who come from families wealthy enough to engage private tutors stand a better chance at doing well in the A-level examinations compared with students who cannot afford them.
The crux of the issue, however, goes beyond just tuition. Keeping in mind that the goal of a junior college education is to earn a place in a university, Dr Yik must also acknowledge that good grades alone do not guarantee admission.
The sheer competitiveness of university admissions means that college students must participate in activities that differentiate them from their peers. These include international competitions, overseas community projects and co-curricular activities.
Few such activities are without cost - a cost that students from more modest backgrounds cannot afford.
To dismiss students who struggle in top JCs as having enrolled based on snob appeal is to skirt the wider issue of the unlevel education playing field.
Tim Mou Hui