Like many immigrant families in Australia, Jieh-Yung Lo’s parents worked hard to put their children through private school and tutoring.
“All the kids I went to school with, a lot of them had tutoring, whether it’s Saturday school, whether it’s private one-on-one. I had both. I had Saturday school, and I had Sunday school for maths, and I had private tutoring! My parents were very keen for me to stay ahead of the game, not let my grades slip,” he says.
Now a parent himself, he’s considering tutoring for his seven-year-old daughter, Hopelyn, but with a different approach: “We’re looking at tutoring options at this point, specifically with mathematics and potentially English, to give her that whole educational experience and increased interest in learning, and also by providing her with a safe space, in particular with tutoring where its one-on-one, give her the safe space where she could boost her confidence.”
Why do parents hire tutors?
Parents hire tutors for various reasons: , improve in specific subjects, or boost confidence. Others seek tutoring for a more holistic education.
CEO Mohan Dhall notes that tutoring is also increasingly used to secure entry into selective schools.
“People have then chosen private tutoring to try and guarantee a place in a university or entry into a profession. At a schooling level, that manifests as using tutoring to either get in a private school or a selective public school. And there’s a high proportion of tutoring among migrant families for entries into those schools as well,” he explains.
Tutoring comes in various formats, from in-person to online, and can serve different purposes, including academic improvement and confidence-building. Credit: JohnnyGreig/Getty Images
What types of tutoring are available
Tutoring comes in many formats: , in centres, or online. Some tutors work one-on-one, and others teach groups. Services range from general homework help to intensive exam preparation.
Since , anyone can become a tutor. Mr Dhall warns that it’s not because a student achieved high grades that they will be a good tutor.
“I would argue that the very people that migrant communities, as vulnerable people, are choosing can actually serve to make their child less confident and less able to learn because that person is not qualified to identify their needs,” he says.
How to choose a tutor
Recommendations from other parents are a good starting point. Several Australian states suggest selecting a tutor who is a member of the , as they meet strict standards and adhere to a code of conduct.
- What are your qualifications and experience?
- Do you have a working with children check?
- Do you have a business number?
- Will I get a receipt?
- If there is a need for a refund, how will that be provided?
- What will you measure the success of the tutoring by, what will be the evidence of it working?
- How long do they recommend tutoring be done for?
- What size are your classes?
- How individualised is the tutoring?
- If the tutoring isn't working for my child, when and how do you disclose it?
Mother helping son during e-learning at home. Credit: MoMo Productions/Getty Images
For online tutoring, Mr Dhall recommends assessing engagement: “Are the cameras on? Are they watching what people are doing? Are they keeping a list of students and checking how many contributions they’ve made? Are they watching the chat and checking the chat? How are they accounting for work done? What feedback are they giving in real-time and online?”
For Melbourne dad Jieh-Yung Lo, involving his daughter in the tutor selection process is crucial.
Similarly, Brisbane dad Alex Wong, follows his daughter’s lead when selecting a tutor.
“How we chose them ended up being how our daughter responded. Whether she got bored, fidgety, wasn't paying attention, or actually went ‘oh wow’ and asked for more. That was sort of a gauge of which one to select and we went through a few,” he says, explaining that trial and error is part of the process.
Since tutoring is unregulated in Australia, parents should carefully vet tutors by checking their credentials, experience, and teaching methods. Credit: Westend61/Getty Images/Westend61
Free and low-cost tutoring
Tutoring costs vary widely, from $30 an hour for unqualified tutors to $200 for subject experts. Free options are also available.
Many organisations, like libraries, offer help with homework, and some programs cater specifically to new migrants.
In Canberra, the ) run by offers free one-on-one tutoring sessions for young people from migrant backgrounds.
MARSS CEO Sonia Di Mezza has seen positive outcomes among the students: “They feel more equipped to be able to pursue and continue their studies, their English can improve, they can get a better understanding of the education system.”
The role of parents
Mr Dhall stresses that tutoring should complement, not replace school. Parents also play a crucial role in their child’s education.
“The first question they should ask is, what can I do for my child myself? Can I read with them? Can I spend time with them? On this educational journey, how can I empower myself to be with my child?” he says.
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