DOHA: Private tuitions for school students are much in demand, particularly during exams, but most of those providing such services are jobless people with no teaching background.
Tutors in English, mathematics and biology, for students at all levels — primary, preparatory and secondary — are more sought after, reported local Arabic daily Al Watan.
These so-called tutors charge anything from QR150 to QR300 for an hour or two of one-to-one instruction.
Almost every day local Arabic newspapers carry advertisements from people offering private tuitions in one or more subjects.
There is no dearth of such advertisements in the shopping complexes as well.
For primary school students, the charges for one session on the above three subjects can range from QR150 to QR200, while those for preparatory and secondary school students can cost QR250 to QR300.
Parents say they pay through the nose for private tuition for their children, and blame schools for not doing enough and ignoring students.
Umm Ahmed, a mother, said that one of the reasons private tutors were hired for children was that many mothers didn’t help their children with studies at home.
“There is a problem with the school education system,” the daily said, quoting another mother.
Parents must spend at least QR2,500 ($686.5) a month on average on a schoolgoing child. Many have two or more children in school.
Jassem Al Mohannadi, a secondary Independent School operator, told the daily that there was absolutely no need for private tuition for students as nearly all schools provided extra classes.
However, attendance in extra classes is always poor (between 20 and 30 percent) during school days, though it is high (around 80 percent) during vacations, said Al Mohannadi.
Attendance is poor on school days because students are tired by the time the extra classes begin, after 2pm, he said.
Some educationists the daily spoke to on the issue said parents hired private tutors for their children basically for their own psychological satisfaction.
“In reality it doesn’t serve any purpose, but some parents like to believe it does, so they hire tutors, especially during exams,” said an educationist.
THE PENINSULA
DOHA: Private tuitions for school students are much in demand, particularly during exams, but most of those providing such services are jobless people with no teaching background.
Tutors in English, mathematics and biology, for students at all levels — primary, preparatory and secondary — are more sought after, reported local Arabic daily Al Watan.
These so-called tutors charge anything from QR150 to QR300 for an hour or two of one-to-one instruction.
Almost every day local Arabic newspapers carry advertisements from people offering private tuitions in one or more subjects.
There is no dearth of such advertisements in the shopping complexes as well.
For primary school students, the charges for one session on the above three subjects can range from QR150 to QR200, while those for preparatory and secondary school students can cost QR250 to QR300.
Parents say they pay through the nose for private tuition for their children, and blame schools for not doing enough and ignoring students.
Umm Ahmed, a mother, said that one of the reasons private tutors were hired for children was that many mothers didn’t help their children with studies at home.
“There is a problem with the school education system,” the daily said, quoting another mother.
Parents must spend at least QR2,500 ($686.5) a month on average on a schoolgoing child. Many have two or more children in school.
Jassem Al Mohannadi, a secondary Independent School operator, told the daily that there was absolutely no need for private tuition for students as nearly all schools provided extra classes.
However, attendance in extra classes is always poor (between 20 and 30 percent) during school days, though it is high (around 80 percent) during vacations, said Al Mohannadi.
Attendance is poor on school days because students are tired by the time the extra classes begin, after 2pm, he said.
Some educationists the daily spoke to on the issue said parents hired private tutors for their children basically for their own psychological satisfaction.
“In reality it doesn’t serve any purpose, but some parents like to believe it does, so they hire tutors, especially during exams,” said an educationist.
THE PENINSULA
