I have heard the conventional and expert advice for years — make school-age children self-dependent on academics and beyond.

Now I think it may fail miserably for a few percent of the kids. My son could be one of them.

I (grandpa too) feel he is years younger than other 11-year olds, in terms of academic motivation and self-discipline. Such academic motivation requires a form of long-term vision. Some young kids lack any long-term vision. They can’t see beyond the next week. Grandpa now advocates

• use outside tuitions
• parents to baby-sit him for his studies

The P6 increased workload demands significant effort ,,, usually an effort from the pupil, but in our case, an effort from parents and tutor, since dabao can’t find the /energy/ from within.