Behind every statistic, every success story, every claim about effectiveness, there are real families—parents who worry about their children’s education, children who struggle and grow and achieve. In this article, we share their voices, letting them tell in their own words what Sino-Bus has meant to them. These are not marketing testimonials; they are genuine expressions from the families who have entrusted us with their children’s mathematical development.
A Mother’s Relief: Finding the Right Support
Mrs. Tan, mother of a Primary 4 student, remembers the frustration of watching her daughter struggle:
“Melissa has always been a bright child, but mathematics seemed to defeat her. She would come home from school with worksheets full of errors, and homework time became a battleground. I tried helping her myself, but I didn’t know how to explain things in ways she could understand. We tried a tutoring center, but she got lost in the crowd. She started saying things like ‘I’m just not good at math,’ and it broke my heart.
A friend recommended Sino-Bus, and from the first session, I could see a difference. Her tutor, Mrs. Wong, took time to understand not just what Melissa didn’t know, but how she thought. She was patient and encouraging. Within a few weeks, Melissa stopped fighting homework. Within a few months, her grades improved dramatically. But what matters most to me is that she no longer says she’s not good at math. She says things like ‘This is tricky, but I can figure it out.’ That confidence is worth everything.”
A Father’s Perspective: Consistency Through Change
Mr. Lim, father of a Primary 6 student, appreciates the consistency that Sino-Bus provides:
“Our family moves frequently for work. We’ve lived in three different parts of Singapore in the past four years. Before Sino-Bus, every move meant finding a new tutor, disrupting our son’s learning, starting over with someone who didn’t know him. It was exhausting and inefficient.
With Sino-Bus, the move didn’t matter. We kept the same tutor, the same approach, the same relationship. His tutor knows him—really knows him—after years of working together. She knows how he thinks, what motivates him, where he tends to struggle. That continuity has been invaluable, especially now that he’s preparing for the PSLE.
The online format means we can learn from anywhere. We’ve done sessions from hotel rooms while waiting for our new home to be ready. We’ve never missed a week. That consistency has made all the difference.”
A Student’s Voice: Discovering the Joy of Mathematics
Twelve-year-old Wei Jie, a Primary 6 student, reflects on his journey:
“I used to hate mathematics. I mean, really hate it. I would do anything to avoid homework. I would stare at problems and feel my brain freeze. I thought I was just bad at it, and nothing would change that.
My Sino-Bus tutor, Mr. Koh, changed everything. He didn’t get frustrated when I didn’t understand. He would just try a different explanation, a different approach. He made me feel like my questions were good, like struggling was normal. He showed me that mathematics wasn’t about memorizing formulas but about thinking and figuring things out.
Now, I actually like mathematics. I’m not saying every problem is easy—some are really hard. But I know I can work through them. I have strategies. I have confidence. I’m actually looking forward to the PSLE because I want to show what I can do. I never thought I would say that about mathematics.”
A Grandparent’s Observation: Seeing the Transformation
Madam Goh, grandmother of a Primary 3 student, offers a unique perspective:
“I watch my grandson, Jun Wei, during his Sino-Bus sessions. I see how engaged he is, how he leans forward to listen, how his face lights up when he figures something out. His tutor has a way of making him feel capable.
Before, when I would ask about school, he would mumble and change the subject. Now, he wants to show me what he learned. He explains fractions to me while we’re cooking. He points out shapes in buildings when we’re walking. He sees mathematics everywhere.
My daughter says his grades have improved, and that’s good. But what I notice is different. I notice a child who is curious, who believes in himself, who enjoys learning. That is the greatest gift any education can give.”
A Tutor’s Reflection: Why We Do This Work
Mr. Tan, a Sino-Bus tutor for five years, shares what motivates him:
“I’ve been teaching mathematics for over a decade, but Sino-Bus is different. In the one-on-one format, I get to know my students as individuals. I learn their stories, their interests, their fears, their dreams. I watch them grow not just in mathematical ability, but in confidence and character.
I had a student once who came to me terrified of mathematics. She would cry before sessions. Her parents were at their wits’ end. We worked together for two years. By the end, she was not only passing but excelling. More importantly, she believed in herself. She would tackle difficult problems with determination, not fear. When she finished Primary 6, she wrote me a letter that I still keep on my desk. It said, ‘You taught me mathematics, but you also taught me that I can do hard things.’
That’s why I do this work. Not for the paycheck, but for moments like that. Not to teach mathematics, but to help children discover what they’re capable of.”
A Parent’s Gratitude: More Than We Hoped For
Mrs. Krishnan, mother of two Sino-Bus students, sums up what many families feel:
“When we started with Sino-Bus, we had modest goals. We wanted our children to do better in mathematics, to stop struggling so much. What we got was so much more.
Our older daughter, who always struggled, now helps her younger brother with his homework. Our younger son, who was anxious about mathematics, now looks forward to his sessions. They both have confidence I never thought possible. They both see themselves as capable learners.
The tutors have become like extended family. They celebrate with us when our children succeed. They problem-solve with us when challenges arise. They genuinely care about our children as people, not just as students.
If you’re considering Sino-Bus, I would say: don’t think of it as tutoring. Think of it as an investment in your child’s confidence, their character, their future. It has been for us.”
The Common Thread
Across all these voices, a common thread emerges. It is not just about improved grades, though that happens. It is not just about mastering concepts, though that happens too. It is about transformation—children who were anxious become confident, who were struggling become capable, who hated mathematics come to enjoy it.
This is what families tell us, again and again. This is why they recommend us to friends. This is the impact we strive to have, every day, with every student.