A study of private tuition among primary aged children in a state school

Abstract

This study aimed at investigating the incidence and nature of private tuition among primary school children in a particular state school. The age group of the children under study ranges from 7 to 11 years, namely children attending Years 3, 4, 5, 6 and Year 6 repeated classes during the 1997/98 scholastic year. The study consisted of two stages. In the first, data were collected by means of a questionnaire survey among 287 children. Of these 157 were boys and 130 were girls. Results show that, 28.6 per cent claimed to be attending private tuition at the time of study. To further evaluate any effects private tuition was having on these students, an interview was administered to 11 pupils who attended private tuition for a minimum number of four hours per week. This constitutes the second stage of the study. From the interview it results, that although these students do manage to find time for relaxation, a great number of them (72. 7 per cent) feel stressed because of an overload of work. In fact, 63.6 per cent of those interviewed stated that they would willingly give up private tuition if the decision was m their hands to take.