27th February 2012 9:00
By Blue Tutors
A survey of private tuition in Australia appears to dispel a number of myths about when and why students hire a tutor. It showed that 62% of parents who employ a tutor do so before their child is 12, whereas it is often thought that the majority of tutored students begin at the last minute before important exams, such as at ages 16 and 18. The highest number of new students are aged 10, but a significant number are aged 17, suggesting that there are two clear trends: students having tuition from an early age as part of a longer term plan, and students beginning lessons as a reaction to needing help for their most important exams.
The most significant result of the survey was that 92% of parents felt that private tuition boosts their child’s self-esteem and confidence, and caters for their individual needs. Parents’ satisfaction with hiring a tutor was shown by the results that, in large families, the third child and fourth child tend to start tuition earlier than their older siblings.
It was suggested that the results, which some say are surprising, show that many parents now consider tuition to be an important part of the education system. They are not turning to a tutor upon realisation of an academic problem with a student, but as a long-term supplement to their child’s education.