Friday, Jun 22, 2012
Dubai Tutoring is not confined to a few countries nor is it a new phenomenon.
Historians say that tutoring was very popular in Greek civilisation and was also a common mode of teaching for many Eastern and Arab countries throughout the early and medieval periods of history.
However, the present day tutoring is significantly different to the historic tutoring in the sense that currently it has turned as shadow education to supplement the mainstream system.
“It has been prominent in East Asia from as early as 1960s, and to some extent it has been significantly visible in South Asia as well.
The trend is now moving across the world, with many European countries falling for it as well. It’s growing in western Europe, in the Middle East, particularly in Egypt, where it is strongly imbedded in their culture,” said Dr Mark Bray, who recently released a book “Shadow Education” co-authored by Chad Lykins.
Surveys suggest them South Korea has been the leader in private tutoring for several decades, Dr Bray’s book quoting figures suggesting 90 per cent of its elementary students receiving some sort of tutoring, however, off late Sri Lanka has surpassed every other nation with 92 per cent of its class 10 students receiving tutoring and the number further increases to 98 per cent in class 12.
Hong Kong and China follow closely behind with 85 per cent of its senior secondary students doing so.
Tutoring is equally popular in India with figures varying in different states, from as high as 77 per cent in Northeastern states with an average of 60 per cent in West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Kerala etc.
In Bangladesh over 80 per cent of class 10 students received tutoring, The numbers are similar across most Asian countries as well as some East and South European countries with Western Europe and Middle East picking up very quickly.
The subjects that are popular in tutoring varies from country to country, with Math being the only exception, as it is the only subject that is most sought after in tutorials irrespective of the region.
English and other sciences like physics and chemistry are also very popular.
When it comes to number of tutorial hours the average is around at least 10-12 hours per week, while it goes up to 30-30 hours in countries like Armenia and South Korea, while there are a few cases of only a couple of hours per week as well.
By Shafaat Shahbandari Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
