Tutoring companies and franchises alike, rejoice! Although still a fairly new market, academic tutoring is growing steadily in almost all parts of the globe. According to Zion Market Research, in the US alone, it is expected to have a CAGR of 7.1% from 2018 to 2026.
It also projected to generate around $178 million by the end of that year range. While this may be good for businesses, the bigger question is: What does it mean for the quality of education?
Defining academic tutoring
Before anything else, let’s talk about what academic tutoring is. There might have been a time in the past where tutors were associated with low-performing students and remedial classes. But now hiring a tutor does not necessarily mean that a student cannot perform in class.
There are other factors at play that can hinder one’s learning. They include class size, the pacing of the lessons itself, or even their teacher’s teaching style.
Who gets tutored?
Students who get tutors mostly fall into three groups: those who don’t do well and need extra help; those who are doing well and require more advanced lessons; and those who are preparing for standardized exams like SATS and ACT.
Aside from these, tuition agency and franchises also sometimes offer lessons that aren’t commonly taught in classrooms like foreign languages or the KUMON method.
Does it mean poor education quality?
Contrary to what might most people think, this doesn’t mean that there is a problem with schools and the education system. Even with schools that have smaller populations, one cannot expect teachers to give their students all the attention they need.
With almost all schools working with a one-is-to-many system, there can only be so much that can be done. No matter how good the teacher is or even the curricula, there’re still limitations on what can be learned inside the classroom.
Then, there’s also the need to acknowledge that students, no matter what grade or age, all have different learning styles. Perhaps a private one-on-one session with a tutor would be just the thing they need to get that “a-ha!” moment.
So, should I get my child a tutor?
Let’s rewind. We say there are three groups of students who commonly go for academic tutoring. If you are a parent, it would be best if you talk with your child and assess for yourself whether they need one or not. It would also be good if you can speak to their teachers and ask how they are performing in school.
Based on these, you should be able to see whether your child needs extra help with specific subjects in school. Or even to get themselves in the right frame of mind to take tests. Sometimes it can just be your kid being anxious about a standardized exam or moving up a level!).
Investing in the education of your children is definitely important, but blindly deciding on how to go about it is a no-no. Discuss with everyone concerned and do your research. Remember, it takes a village to raise a child. Certainly, this applies to their education as well!