Analysis: Canadian Tutoring Industry
Industry Overview
The reason for education is an incontestable topic. According to article 40 of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedom, everyone has a right to free education and as of 1871, education for children between the ages of 6-16 became compulsory in Canada. Having practiced playing school during their childhood, schools for children are a symbol of growing up; and for the parents, are viewed as a rite of passage and entry to the child’s future career (Diskin, 2010). However, most believe that the greatest achievements of life are their educational titles. Thus grades became the measure of a child’s success or failure in his young life. Consequently, efforts to help students obtain better grade in various educational institutions and levels emerged and tutoring business services were born.
Over the past decade, the tutoring industry has undergone a massive growth an increased in popularity. It was even described as flourishing according to CTV’s Ken Shaw (The growing business of tutoring students, 2002). Tutoring classes no longer concern just academic subjects but now includes sports and dance lessons.
In 2007 a report by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) sparked interest and controversy about the private tutoring sector in Canada when it announced that a third of Canadian parents (33%) have hired a tutor. This reinforced the findings of a 2005 study which determined that approximately 25% of Canadian parents hired a tutor, and the 2007 OISE/UT Biennial Survey which found that 24% of Ontario parents have used tutoring (Aurini, 2008). Furthermore, the number of formal businesses that offer fuller tutoring services has grown between 200%-500% in major Canadian cities over the past 30 years, a growth that is independent of public school enrollments or economic trends (Davies & Aurini, 2004).
In Ontario for example the number of businesses grew from 250 to just under 500 locations between 1996 and 2005. While these figures are
The reason for education is an incontestable topic. According to article 40 of the Quebec Charter of Human Rights and Freedom, everyone has a right to free education and as of 1871, education for children between the ages of 6-16 became compulsory in Canada. Having practiced playing school during their childhood, schools for children are a symbol of growing up; and for the parents, are viewed as a rite of passage and entry to the child’s future career (Diskin, 2010). However, most believe that the greatest achievements of life are their educational titles. Thus grades became the measure of a child’s success or failure in his young life. Consequently, efforts to help students obtain better grade in various educational institutions and levels emerged and tutoring business services were born.
Over the past decade, the tutoring industry has undergone a massive growth an increased in popularity. It was even described as flourishing according to CTV’s Ken Shaw (The growing business of tutoring students, 2002). Tutoring classes no longer concern just academic subjects but now includes sports and dance lessons.
In 2007 a report by the Canadian Council on Learning (CCL) sparked interest and controversy about the private tutoring sector in Canada when it announced that a third of Canadian parents (33%) have hired a tutor. This reinforced the findings of a 2005 study which determined that approximately 25% of Canadian parents hired a tutor, and the 2007 OISE/UT Biennial Survey which found that 24% of Ontario parents have used tutoring (Aurini, 2008). Furthermore, the number of formal businesses that offer fuller tutoring services has grown between 200%-500% in major Canadian cities over the past 30 years, a growth that is independent of public school enrollments or economic trends (Davies & Aurini, 2004).
In Ontario for example the number of businesses grew from 250 to just under 500 locations between 1996 and 2005. While these figures are
Cited: Diskin, K. (2010). Private tutoring: An intersection of economic interests and social capital. Walden University). ProQuest Dissertations and Theses, Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/250704758?accountid=10246 The growing business of tutoring students. (2002, Mar 10). CTV News - CTV Television, pp. n/a-n/a. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/190541507?accountid=10246 Davies, S., & Aurini, J. (2004). The transformation of private tutoring: Education in a franchise form. Canadian Journal of Sociology, 29(3), 419-419-438. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/220527745?accountid=10246 Aurini, J. (2008, Understanding the private tutoring revolution in canada. Our Schools, our Selves, 17(3), 93-93-105. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/204865923?accountid=10246 Johal, H. (1999, Aug 18). Tutoring: A booming business. The Province, pp. B.12-B12. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/269223121?accountid=10246