History    

Our Humble Beginning

Founded by 3 returned UK scholars: Tony Tan, Hazel Poa and Vincent Lee in 1999, SmartLab^® started off as a humble set up with a rented classroom in a Civil Defence Shelter in Bishan providing english, mathematics and science tutorial classes.

During the founding years, the founders not only had to clear the bins, clean up the room and take phone enquiries, they had to develop teaching contents, teach and develop the business. In 1999, the private education market was already crowded with established players offering tuition programmes catering to large class size and respected individuals giving individual home tuition. The need to focus on a niche market and develop the education business was a challenging and humbling experience.

They identified that there was a Gap in the private education market: the provision of personalized quality tutorial classes to small class size of 8-10 students where teachers can provide the individualized attention to the learners, and at the same time engage the learners to interact, compete and learn from each other. There was also a lack of education centres that fully harness the use of Information Technology for education and the build up of knowledge capital capturing the various ways of teaching key english, mathematics and science knowledge.

With the initial vision to provide Personalized quality tutorial class, they developed the teaching contents in-house, became early adopters of information technology by equipping all the classrooms with computers, and became the first tuition centre locally to conduct laboratories as part of activity based learning. They tabulated and monitored all the results of their students during major examinations and used the students’ improvements as the sole Key Performance Indicator. Subsequently, they formulated and developed e-learning software with the intention of capturing the experience of the teachers and systemizing the various ways of lessons are to be organized and taught.
 

- Rented classroom in Block 220 and started Secondary maths & sci tutorial classes in Bishan
- Started off as a sole proprietorship with 3 founders
- Development of in-house content and laboratory in support of activity based learning

2001

- Expanded Bishan Branch
- Expanded Services to include Primary maths & sci tutorial classes
- Classrooms are equipped with computers for display of learning software and powerpoint slides

2003

- Started Hougang and Bukit Timah Branches
- 1st centre to introduce Life Science and science enrichment programme
- Conducting talks in NLB and exhibitions in shopping centres
- Education centre approved by Singapore Ministry of Education
- Training System put in place to train administrative assistants and teachers

2004

- Started Jurong East, Marine Parade and Tampines Branches
- Formalised the Exploration, Consolidation, Strengthening cycle of learning methodology
- Team building
- Online staff management system

2005

- Started Novena Branch
- Company restructuring
- Sale of Books

2006

- Started Woodlands Branch
- Cambridge International Examination Centre
- Winner of Spirit of Enterprise 2006
- Conducted inaugural Cambridge International Diploma for Teachers and Trainers
- 360^o Performance Appraisal System; and feedback from all staff members
- Centres broadband ready

2007

- Winner of Singapore Prestige Brand Award 2007
- Conducted inaugural Teen Towkay programme to raise funds for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) and the Society for the Physically Disabled (SPD) by selling their products in conjunction with the Christmas Party organised by Civil Service Club
- Conducted session for GCE O/A level students on development of marking scheme
- started full-time Private School classes in Civil Service Club, Tessensohn