Private Tutoring

Exploring the perspectives of educational stakeholders on the private tutoring (PT) phenomenon and the collaborative development of policy options for its regulation in six countries of Eastern Europe and Central Asia.

The present project was envisaged as a continuation of a previous OSI project, ‘Monitoring of Private Tutoring’ (2003-06), which provided an in-depth description of the PT phenomenon in nine former socialist countries. Like in that project, the starting definition of private tutoring (PT) is a ‘fee-based instruction in academic school subjects that is complementary to
instruction mainstream schools provide free of charge. PT includes lessons provided one-on one or in small groups by individual instructors as well as larger classes provided by individual instructors and companies’.

The research results, proposed policy options and their effectiveness are contextualized and compared with respect to different regions of Eastern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Estonia) and Central Asia (Azerbaijan, Georgia and Mongolia). The panel will raise the question of the readiness of different educational, social and political contexts for
change regarding the PT phenomenon. Additionally, it will offer ground for the discussion of the potential for scientific work to initiate policy change in different parts of the world.