Private tutoring becoming a trend in the UAE

A substantial number of high school students in UAE schools opt for private tuitions and experts have attributed it to peer pressure, competition and a trend brought on by expatriate teachers from countries where it is common.

Some schools have recorded more than 60 per cent of their students from Grade 10 upwards seeking after-school support for subjects including mathematics, physics and English. The phenomenon is present in both the public and private education system in the country.

According to the Abu Dhabi Department for Economic Development, 27 per cent of Emirati families spend Dh1,436 per month on private tuitions which works out to 4.8 per cent of their household expenditure on an average.

Professor Mark Bray, author of the Confronting the shadow education system: what government policies for what private tutoring?, said social drivers like an image that needs to be upheld by parents, especially among Emirati families, fuels the private tutoring business.

“Some parents feel that they are being a good parent if they send their children for tuitions and if they do not they have a finger pointing at them,” he said at the Dubai School of Government.

For his book, Bray researched the private tutoring scenario in East Asia, Africa, Western Europe. North America and Australia.  Also called shadow education, it plays a major complementary role to the education system in South Korea, India and China and is fast catching on in the US and Europe as well.

Another factor that contributes to the phenomenon is the prevalence of expatriate teachers where private lessons is a norm. “Expatriate teachers that come from countries where there is a huge demand for tutoring and the society accepts it, bring their baggage with them and that is where Dubai is receiving the culture of another country,” said the professor who between 2006 to 2010 was also the Director of the UNESCO’s International Institute for Educational Planning (IIEP) in Paris.

However, private tutoring cannot be eliminated from a system where students of varied capabilities are educated in the same classroom. “It’s a good thing if it helps a child catch up with peers,” Bray stated.

“It’s bad when it begins to create social inequalities and when it begins to burden the household income.”

Many teachers supplement their income with private lessons and Bray said it could corrupt the education system.

“It’s bad when it begins to create social inequalities and when it begins to burden the household income.”

Many teachers supplement their income with private lessons and Bray said it could corrupt the education system.

Private tuitions can cost anywhere between Dh100 to Dh1,000 for hourly sessions.

In some cases, educators have found students performance deteriorating after they began private lessons after school.

As an assistant principal of the American International School in Dubai, Dr Khadeegha Alzouebi introduced a Study Support Programme at the school earlier this year, after finding a large number of high school students seeking private tuitions in Calculus and Physics.

After school, teachers of those subjects stay back and tutor students who require extra classes within the school premises.

” The classes are given at a reduced rate to the parents,” she said.

“So, a private tuition outside that would cost them anywhere between Dhs100 to Dh200 for an hour are being provided at Dh50 to them at school.”

According to her, such after-school programmes are better monitored and avoid fraudulent practices.

“The teacher need not continue the practice in hiding for fear of being caught as well,” she added.

Private tutoring is banned in the UAE, but cannot be effectively monitored. Brays said it cannot be eliminated but can be regulated in the country.

“Firstly the government must figure out what is going on and why,” he said.

“Professional discussions need to be held with schools and find out why students are reacting in certain ways.”

“There is also a need to raise awareness with parents and address the concept that you are a good parent if you send them for tuitions.”

By Afshan Ahmed

© Khaleej Times 2010