School Partnerships with Private Tutoring Providers: Weighing the Risks and Benefits by Czech School Principals (2021)
School Partnerships with Private Tutoring Providers: A Comprehensive Overview
In the ever-evolving landscape of education, schools are constantly seeking innovative ways to enhance student learning. One such approach is the formation of partnerships with private tutoring providers. This article summarizes a study conducted by Vít Šťastný, Martin Chvál, and Eliška Walterová, which explores the risks and benefits of such partnerships as perceived by Czech school principals.
The Study
The study, titled “School Partnerships with Private Tutoring Providers: Weighing the Risks and Benefits by Czech School Principals,” was published in the Leadership and Policy in Schools journal. It provides an in-depth analysis of the various forms of partnerships between schools and private tutoring (PT) providers, focusing on the Czech education system.
Advantages of School-Private Tutoring Partnerships
The study identified several advantages of these partnerships:
Enhanced Learning Opportunities: External tutors can introduce teaching strategies more suitable to the student, positively affecting a student’s motivation and learning gains.
Convenience: Private tutoring sessions taking place within school premises eliminate the need for students to commute, saving time and effort.
Additional Income: Schools can generate additional income by renting facilities to private tutoring providers.
Disadvantages and Risks
Despite the potential benefits, the study also highlighted several risks and disadvantages:
Ethical Issues: If unregulated and unsupervised, schools may legitimize private tutoring that is unethical (e.g., coerced) and may exacerbate inequalities (e.g., unaffordable to most families).
Competition with School Activities: Some private tutoring offerings may compete with schools’ offers of extracurricular activities.
Dependence on Student Numbers: The viability of some private tutoring services may depend on the number of students interested, which can fluctuate.
Recommendations for School Leaders
The study recommends that school leaders address ethical issues in discussions with schoolteachers and other community members. It also suggests monitoring the impact of school-private tutoring partnerships on student achievement, attitudes, and other non-cognitive outcomes to evaluate the meaningfulness of the partnership.
Conclusion
While the study was conducted in the Czech education system, the patterns identified could be relevant for policymakers and school leaders worldwide. However, these decisions will be influenced by the overall context, which may differ from the analyzed one. As such, it is crucial for each school to weigh the potential benefits against the risks before deciding to form a partnership with a private tutoring provider.
