The school year is coming to an end. While some happily say goodbye to the holidays, others have to use the summer to catch up on the learning material and prepare for final exams.
According to a study by the Upper Austrian Chamber of Labor from 2020, 24 percent of Upper Austrian schoolchildren received tutoring. Ulrike Weiß, head of AK consumer protection, assumes that this number may have increased in recent years due to the corona pandemic.
Not affordable for many
But not all parents whose students need private tuition can afford it: around 5,000 students in Upper Austria are affected. A comparison of the AK shows the price differences for a four-week holiday course (for 60 minutes) to prepare for the re-examination. Depending on the provider and whether it is small group or individual lessons, the prices vary greatly. For small groups the price is between around 13 and 25 euros, individual lessons cost around between 28 and 49 euros.
According to Weiss, it is important that parents do not allow themselves to be lured by free offers on the Internet without finding out about the exact terms of the contract. Because these supposed free units could often turn out to be paid subscriptions.
The automatic contract extensions are often not legal. In other situations, depending on the individual situation, attachments could also have positive sides. Some institutes offer the summer course at a lower price if regular tutoring continues in the fall. “Especially at the beginning, parents should not commit themselves for too long,” advises Weiß.
First, it should be ensured that the format of the lesson, as well as the teacher, matches the needs of the student. “In addition, living conditions are changing very quickly at the moment.”
One way of trying out the right tutoring format is to take part in free VHS courses for students from elementary schools and new secondary schools. Study holidays are also offered there, “they do cost a bit, but they’re worth it to get a taste of what’s going on,” says Weiß. While not only school but also tutoring was online during the lockdown, many institutes have now returned to face-to-face teaching.
Source: Nachrichten
