Tutoring Franchise Singapore

Singapore may be the most tuition-literate country on earth. Parents compare centres the way other people compare phone plans, and a weekly English or Maths class is a normal part of primary school life in almost every HDB town. Success Tutoring, founded in Sydney in 2017, has announced Singapore as one of its international markets, and this page sets out what a tutoring franchise in Singapore looks like: the school system, the money families already spend, the towns where territories are drawn, and how a membership-based centre fits in.

Unlike most of our markets, the whole island is mapped. Territories are drawn around HDB neighbourhoods and town centres in every region, so the question is less "where is the market?" and more "which heartland catchment suits you?"

How the MOE system shapes demand

Singapore's schools are run and regulated by the Ministry of Education (MOE), and the national examinations are set by the Singapore Examinations and Assessment Board (SEAB) with Cambridge. A few features of the system explain why tuition is so deeply embedded.

• The PSLE at the end of Primary 6. Since 2021, each subject has been graded on eight Achievement Levels (AL1 to AL8), giving a total score from 4 to 32 that drives secondary school posting. According to MOE and SEAB, 37,926 pupils sat the PSLE in 2025. Because one AL band can change a school choice, preparation often starts in Primary 4 or earlier.
• Full Subject-Based Banding. From the 2024 Secondary 1 cohort, MOE removed the Express, Normal (Academic) and Normal (Technical) streams. Students now take subjects at G1, G2 or G3 level according to their strengths, which makes subject-by-subject support more relevant than ever.
• The new SEC. SEAB has confirmed that the GCE O-Level and N-Level examinations will be replaced by the Singapore-Cambridge Secondary Education Certificate (SEC) from 2027, with subjects offered at the G1, G2 and G3 standards.
• Direct School Admission (DSA). DSA lets pupils secure a secondary or junior college place on talents and achievements before results are released, which adds another layer of planning for ambitious families.

English and Mathematics run through every one of these transition points, which is why they are the two subjects Singapore parents prioritise from Primary 1 onwards.

A tuition market measured by the government

Few countries publish what households spend on tuition. Singapore does. The Department of Statistics' Household Expenditure Survey 2023 reported average spending of about S$105 a month per household on tuition, up from about S$88 in 2018. Analysis of the same survey by The Straits Times put total household tuition spending at about S$1.8 billion in 2023, compared with S$1.4 billion in 2018.

The other structural fact is housing. According to the Department of Statistics, around 77 per cent of resident households live in HDB flats, and every HDB town is planned with its own town centre, neighbourhood centres, schools and MRT links. That makes catchments unusually easy to define, and it is why so many tuition centres sit above or beside a hawker centre or heartland mall.

Regulation for tuition centres

Under the Education Act, tuition and enrichment centres teaching 10 or more students must register with MOE as private schools, with the premises, courses and teachers all part of the registration (MOE parliamentary reply, 2021, and the GoBusiness licensing portal). Premises must meet building and fire safety requirements, and tutors must be registered too. Singapore has no franchise-specific statute; franchise agreements fall under general contract, competition and consumer law, and the Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore) runs a voluntary Code of Ethics.

Where the territories are

Territories cover all five regions of the island. Each region has its own page with the local towns, schools and growth areas:

• East Singapore: Tampines, Bedok, Pasir Ris, Simei and Siglap.
• West Singapore: Jurong East and West, Clementi, Bukit Batok and the new Tengah town.
• North Singapore: Woodlands, Admiralty, Sembawang, Yishun and Marsiling.
• North-East Singapore: Punggol, Sengkang, Hougang and Serangoon.
• Central Singapore: Bishan, Ang Mo Kio, Novena, Potong Pasir and Bugis.

Beyond those, territories such as Bukit Panjang (Bangkit, Senja and Petir), Choa Chu Kang (Yew Tee, Teck Whye and Peng Siang), Queenstown, Tiong Bahru, Tanglin, Holland Village, Bukit Timah, Marine Parade and Kaki Bukit appear on the island map above. Each territory is intended for one franchise partner, on terms set by the franchise agreement.

Support for a Success Tutoring partner in Singapore

The model is the one developed in Australia: retail-style centres with a core focus on English and Maths, with families joining as members for regular weekly sessions. Support from head office may cover site selection, leasing and fit-out, tutor recruitment and online tutor training, learning resources and a structured program, and launch and ongoing marketing. Because Singapore has no mandatory disclosure regime, read the franchise agreement carefully: it is where the support on offer is actually set out. You do not need to be a teacher.

Frequently asked questions

Are there Success Tutoring centres open in Singapore yet?

Singapore has been announced as an international market, and partners joining now are part of the brand's early Singapore network. The map above shows which territories are available today.

Do I need MOE approval before opening?

Yes, if your centre will teach 10 or more students. Registration covers the centre, its courses and its tutors, so build the timeline into your fit-out plan and check current requirements with MOE.

How does the 2027 SEC change affect a tuition centre?

It mainly changes how secondary subjects are labelled and examined, with G1, G2 and G3 standards replacing separate O-Level and N-Level papers. Core English and Maths skills remain central, and families are likely to want guidance as the new format beds in.

Is there a franchise law in Singapore?

No specific franchise law or disclosure regime exists, so ask for full information and seek independent legal advice before signing anything.

For a deeper look at the market, read the Singapore tutoring franchise guide, then see how the process works and our investment schedule.