Singapore’s Ministry of Education (MOE) is exploring two ways to respond more closely to students’ learning needs: smaller classes where they could help, and technology that gives teachers better information about students’ progress.

The developments are at different stages. MOE introduced an AI-enabled Adaptive Learning System for Primary 5 mathematics in 2023.

More recently, it announced a pilot involving six schools from January 2027 to explore smaller classes as part of changes to teaching and teachers’ work. The smaller-class pilot has not been rolled out across all schools, and it is too early to judge its results.

How AI can help teachers spot math difficulties

Source: https://www.learning.moe.edu.sg/

MOE’s Adaptive Learning System uses a student’s responses to recommend learning activities and resources.

In the Primary 5 mathematics example reported by CNA, teachers could use the information to identify areas where students needed help before or during a topic.

The system is part of the Student Learning Space, which schools use for online learning.

Consider a student who repeatedly gets questions involving fractions wrong. A record of those answers can point the teacher towards a difficulty. The teacher can then look more closely: Does the student misunderstand what the fractions represent? Are they applying a rule incorrectly? Or are they making an arithmetic error despite understanding the method?

Identifications will help with   clearifying misunderstandings that require an explanation, a diagram, or a conversation in which the student talks through their reasoning.

What smaller classes could change

In September 2026, MOE said it would pilot approaches involving smaller classes in six schools

(3 from primary and 3 from secondary schools from January 2027.)

The aim is to explore where smaller groups could support closer attention, more timely feedback and different ways of teaching. 

In math, a smaller group may give a teacher more opportunities to hear how each student reached an answer.

How a small class size may help 

Two students can arrive at the same wrong answer for different reasons.

One may have missed a basic concept; the other may understand it but struggle to apply it in an unfamiliar question. Asking them to explain their steps helps the teacher respond to the actual problem.

Limitations of a small class size

It is also acknowledged that class size alone cannot guarantee that every student receives the support they need.

The value lies in what the teacher can do with the extra opportunities to check understanding, discuss mistakes and adjust the lesson.

Why the two developments belong in the same conversation

AI can help reveal where a student is having difficulty. A teacher can investigate why it is happening and decide how to teach the concept again.

Smaller groups may create more room for those conversations.

A useful cycle for math learning looks like this:

1. Notice the pattern. Identify the topic or type of question the student repeatedly gets wrong.

2. Find the cause. Look at the working and ask the student to explain their choice of method.

3. Teach the missing step. Revisit the concept or correct the specific error.

4. Check again. Give a different question to see whether the student can apply what they learned.

This matters as students move into Secondary and JC mathematics. A difficulty with algebra, for example, can surface later in functions or calculus.

What parents can ask when a child struggles with math

Parents do not need a detailed report on every question. A few focused questions can show whether support is reaching the right place:

• Which types of questions does my child repeatedly find difficult?

• Is the main issue understanding the concept, choosing a method, or carrying out the working?

• Can my child explain the solution without looking at a worked example?

• After feedback, can my child solve a different question independently?

These questions are useful whether a student learns in a large class, a smaller group, or with digital tools. 

Where Math Tuition Can Help

School lessons and learning tools provide an important foundation. Some students also benefit from dedicated time to revisit gaps, ask questions and practise applying methods independently.

This can become especially important in H2 Math, where a weak foundation may affect several topics and where students must choose suitable methods under exam conditions.

At MuscleMath, math tuition gives Secondary and JC students a setting to work through challenging questions and strengthen the reasoning behind their answers. If your child keeps making the same mistakes, struggles to explain their working, or needs support with the jump to H2 Math, explore MuscleMath’s math tuition to find out which class suits their needs.