About Arvelia and one2tuition
Arvelia Yardhika Ong is the Co-Founder and Principal Tutor of one2tuition, an enrichment centre established in 2017 that has redefined what it means to provide quality educational support. With a philosophy centered on the belief that every child is “born to be awesome, not perfect,” Arvelia has created a learning environment that prioritizes understanding each student’s unique brilliance over conventional academic achievements.
The Foundation: More Than Just Good Grades
At one2tuition, the journey began with a simple yet profound realization: every child is inherently brilliant, and true education lies in nurturing that brilliance. Rather than focusing on conventional “award-winning” claims, one2tuition concentrates on what truly matters – understanding each unique learner.
The centre’s core mission is deeply rooted in the belief that every child is born with incredible potential and unique brilliance. Their educational philosophy centers on nurturing this inherent awesomeness, not striving for unattainable perfection. True learning goes far beyond memorizing facts for exams; it’s about igniting a lifelong love for discovery, fostering critical thinking, and building confidence that extends into every aspect of a child’s life.
What Makes one2tuition Unique
Tailored Learning Paths, Not Rote Replication: The centre doesn’t just teach what to learn; they focus on how each child learns best. Educators craft bespoke lesson plans that adapt to each student’s specific needs, strengths, and areas for growth. Some students might spend more time on foundational concepts, while others are challenged with advanced applications, all at their own pace.
Passion-Driven Pedagogy: Their educators are not just tutors; they are mentors deeply passionate about their subjects and, more importantly, about fostering a genuine love for learning. They use engaging, intuitive methods that transform complex topics into accessible and enjoyable experiences.
Beyond Grades, Cultivating Lifelong Skills: While good grades are a natural outcome of effective learning, their focus extends beyond test scores. They prioritize developing critical thinking, problem-solving skills, curiosity, and resilience.
“Born to Be Awesome, Not Perfect” Mindset: This isn’t just a motto; it’s the foundation of their teaching. They create a nurturing, pressure-free environment where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities, not failures.
A Success Story: Leo’s Transformation
One story that perfectly embodies what one2tuition stands for is that of Leo (not a real name). When Leo first joined as a bright Primary 4 student, he absolutely dreaded Mathematics. His confidence was low, he often felt overwhelmed in class, and he believed he just “wasn’t good at numbers.”
Instead of drilling formulas, his tutor began weaving math concepts into engaging narratives and real-world scenarios. Fractions became about sharing pizza with his favorite characters, and geometry involved building imaginary worlds. Slowly, Leo’s apprehension began to melt away. He started asking “what if” questions, showing genuine curiosity.
The real success wasn’t just in his AL1 for PSLE Math a few years later. It was in Leo’s transformation from a child who dreaded math to one who eagerly tackled complex problems and even began helping his peers. He learned that he wasn’t “bad” at math; he just needed to learn it in a way that resonated with his unique mind.
Interview Insights: Behind the Vision
In our exclusive interview with Arvelia, she shared deeper insights into her personal journey and philosophy that drives one2tuition’s success.
Personal Journey: From Scholarship Student to Educational Pioneer
Could you share a bit about your personal journey in education and what led you to start this centre?
Arvelia’s story begins as a MOE scholarship recipient from Indonesia. “I came as a MOE scholar and received a scholarship from MOE. That’s how I started my education journey in Singapore,” she shares. As a student herself, she experienced the struggles of trying to achieve good results and survive in Singapore’s demanding education system.
“It was quite a challenging journey with ups and downs. Throughout the process, I figured out how to motivate myself and how I could improve my studies. I wanted to share this with my students – I’m hoping to help as many children as possible.”
Having spent more than half her life in Singapore since arriving from Jakarta, Arvelia’s personal experience of navigating a foreign education system gives her unique insight into the challenges students face, particularly those who may not have access to extensive tuition support.
Early Challenges: Building Something Different
What challenges did you face in the early days, and how did you overcome them?
Like many Singapore startups, one2tuition faced significant practical challenges. “In Singapore, it’s really not easy to start any business regardless of any industry – F&B, enrichments. The rental is always an issue,” Arvelia explains. “The competition for the educational industry is very, very competitive and tough.”
However, their approach to overcoming these challenges was rooted in authenticity. “We always believe that as long as we sincerely help the students and do our best to help them, the students and parents will be able to feel it. You don’t have to try too hard if you’re doing your best.”
This philosophy has resulted in exceptionally high retention rates, with students staying from Primary 2 until they graduate at O-level, demonstrating the genuine value families find in their approach.
Redefining Success: Beyond the A1s
How do you define success for your students—and how do you help them achieve it?
For Arvelia, success goes far beyond academic grades. “We are not here to produce A1 robots. We’re here to help students grow. All students are brilliant – they are all intelligent. It’s just what kind of intelligence are we looking at?”
She emphasizes the importance of holistic development: “Even if their academic excellence is not the top, but if they know how to work with people, if they know how to be a leader, that is far more difficult intelligence to build compared to just doing 10 correct math questions.”
Their semi-private setting with 4-6 students per class allows teachers to know students very well, going beyond academics to understand their interests and challenges. They use innovative approaches like relating learning to students’ passions – whether it’s soccer (like Ronaldo’s work ethic) or dance (practicing routines) – to help students understand the value of consistent effort and revision.
Addressing Parent Misconceptions
What are some misconceptions parents often have when choosing enrichment programmes?
A common misconception Arvelia encounters is about their class structure. “When parents hear that it’s a small group class, they assume it’s like the typical group class.” However, one2tuition operates differently – even within a P4 Science class, students may work on different topics because schools don’t teach in the same sequence.
“Each student has their own program. Weekly, teachers gather and discuss the progress and learning plan for each student.” This personalized approach means that even twins in their classes might have different homework assignments based on their individual learning needs.
The centre also creates a positive learning environment through peer-to-peer learning, where P5 students might join P6 classes if they can follow the pace, helping both groups learn from each other while preventing unhealthy comparisons.
The Future of Enrichment Education
How do you see enrichment education evolving in the next 5 years?
Arvelia predicts that more people will be tempted by online or AI-based classes for convenience, especially given how busy children’s schedules have become. However, she believes this trend comes with significant drawbacks.
“Students are getting less and less independent in studying. They depend a lot on directions from people around them. Kids nowadays find it more difficult to make decisions for themselves.”
She emphasizes that certain concepts, particularly in mathematics, still require personal touch. “For example, equal fractions – maybe one student can understand explanation A, but when you go to Student B with this explanation, they may find it abstract. Personal touch is still pretty much important in education.”
The centre’s approach includes observing student behavior during exam simulations to identify issues like test anxiety, which AI cannot detect. “We had a student whose whole body was shaking when we gave her the paper. We realized she was very apprehensive towards exams, and we worked with the parents. Now she’s thriving and went to her dream school.”
Essential Advice for Parents
If you could give one piece of advice to a parent navigating today’s education options, what would it be?
Arvelia’s key advice centers on managing expectations. “I think we need to manage expectations,” she emphasizes, speaking from her experience as both an educator and a parent.
“Having good memory doesn’t mean you will excel in language. Having good memory doesn’t mean you will understand heuristics. It might not guarantee A1 for every single subject.”
She stresses the importance of leveraging children’s strengths rather than expecting excellence in everything: “It’s more important to leverage on their strength and make them happy and confident about it, and it will help them to perform better.”
This expectation management extends to high-achieving students as well: “Kids who learn very fast have their own challenges too. They cannot take hardships, they cannot take hard questions. Once they see a hard question, they’ll think ‘I cannot do this’ rather than attempting it.”
Looking Ahead: Vision for the Future
one2tuition’s future plans focus on three key areas:
Creating Safe and Adaptive Learning Environments: Where students feel secure, can take intellectual risks, and explore their capabilities – crucial skills for navigating an AI-driven future.
Developing Critical Thinking and “Survival Skills”: Moving beyond just academic achievement to include enhanced critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, adaptability, resilience, ethical reasoning, and digital literacy.
Increasing Accessibility: Making their personalized education available to more students through thoughtful expansion, technology integration, and flexible programs.
A Final Message to Parents
“If there’s one thing we want every parent to understand about one2tuition, it’s this: Your child is brilliant and intelligent in their own way, truly special, and our mission is to help them discover and unleash that unique potential within a genuinely safe and nurturing learning environment.
We don’t focus on quick fixes or ‘secret formulas.’ Instead, we invest in truly understanding your child as an individual. We believe that genuine academic success and confidence stem from a deep, personal connection to learning. Your child’s potential is boundless, and we are here to guide them every step of the way to realize it.”
one2tuition operates with locations in Singapore, offering semi-private classes for Primary and Secondary students. For more information about their personalized approach to education, visit their website or contact them directly.
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