Tuitions Go The Electronic Way

The culture of private coaching and tuitions in India is thriving. But what is the scope for e-tuition in the country? Is it practicable and sustainable?

What is online tuition or e-tuition?

Online tuition is a cyber technology enabled pedagogical space wherein a live tutor imparts instruction and knowledge over the internet using interactive technologies such as digital whiteboards and special software.

The basic requirement for starting online tuition is a computer with Internet connection and headphone, mike and digital pen tablet.

In e-tutorials, the teacher/tutor may send you lessons over email or can discuss problem areas and coursework over chat or other interactive media.

Credibility of e-tutors?

Teachers are recruited through a very structured process. A rigorous selection procedure is followed. Personal interviews are complemented by technical competency, teaching aptitude and computer proficiency tests. The selected teachers are then made to undergo a comprehensive training programme of at least 15 days - eight to nine hours a day - whereby they are trained on all aspects of online tutoring including technology, pedagogy, communications skills etc.

Why should you go for e-tutoring?

The reasons to opt for e-tutoring make sense in an environment where children are suffocating between school, competitive exams and homework. Most coaching centres are structured just like school classrooms where kids are bombarded with notes and information without the content differing in any significant way. These function as ‘the school after school.’ It certainly is quite ridiculous given the amount of money, energy and time that is invested.

The advantages of e-tuitions are:

1. E-tutoring is completely personalised in accordance with the student’s preference. He/she can choose his time, tutor and decide on the specific problem areas to work on.
2. You don’t waste your time commuting.
3. If you miss school for some reason, e-tutors will help you make up for the lost lessons.
4. More importantly, the whole point of e-tutoring is personalised attention tailored to meet individual needs. Your lessons are simplified till a concept has been perfectly understood.
5. You can control the pace at which your lessons are taught. Usually in a classroom environment you have to keep up with the pace that the teacher or the class as a whole sets. This is not the case over the internet.
6. E-teaching is affordable.
7. Parents can oversee the performance of the children and keep a tab on their activities. You’re your chances of sneaking into the movies will get considerably fatter.

The status of e-tuition in India

E-tuition is no substitute for proper school education. But in the face of mushrooming private coaching institutes where students are gathered like herds, e-tutoring, with its tailored sessions, is certainly a promising alternative to young urban scholars.

It is worthwhile to mention that Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited in 2008 launched free tuition facility for standards X and XII in the state of Tamil Nadu. The scheme was put in place to expand the broadband base in the state. Tutors for Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry and Biology are available for an hour every evening for students appearing for their board exams every year.

Sites like etuitions.com offer guidance to CBSE, ICSE, IB, GMAT students and candidates. Most children in India cannot afford tuitions which seem to have become a parallel education system. Those who can pay avail better tutors whereas the rest have to survive with substandard schooling. India has an immense potential as a market but due to the lack of infrastructure in small towns and rural areas, e-tutoring will take a long time before it is gets a firm foothold.