Choosing a Tutoring Agency: Steps to Take
In Ontario, the tutoring industry remains unregulated, leading to numerous agencies that prioritize profit over genuine educational support. This lack of oversight results in agencies that may not truly help their students and instead focus on filling their pockets.
Our Story: A Vision for Quality Education
Our agency, Tutors For Less, has been around for over 20 years. It all started during a small meeting for a principal’s qualification course assignment. We discussed the struggles students face and how parents were spending thousands on tutoring centers, only to find their children in group sessions rather than receiving one-on-one tutoring. As future school leaders, we aimed to create an affordable agency that provides high-quality, individualized tutoring. Established by principals, our vision was to maintain the essence of good education without letting business interests erode it.
The Challenge of Unregulated Tutoring Agencies
When we started in 2004, home tutoring agencies were rare. Now, there are countless agencies, many of which are unregulated by provincial or federal governments. This means there are no standards for tutor qualifications or the education provided. Some agencies hire tutors with minimal experience or post-secondary education, exacerbating learning gaps for their students.
While schools are regulated, tutoring agencies are not, allowing anyone to start an agency without formal education or tutoring experience. These agencies often focus on a business model, neglecting the students’ needs. Without educational expertise, they may hire tutors based on quick setups rather than quality, resulting in poor matches and dissatisfied parents.
Common Issues with Inexperienced Agencies
Many new tutoring agencies fail within a year or two due to a lack of vision and understanding of student success. Some founders, thinking it’s easy money, spend on websites and advertising but lack the commitment to recruit excellent tutors. This leads to poor tutoring experiences and a loss of trust among parents.
The Importance of Regulation
It’s unfortunate that this industry remains unregulated, allowing subpar tutoring to thrive. There should be licensing requirements for tutoring agencies, similar to daycares, to ensure quality education and protect parents from unreliable services.
Key Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Tutoring Agency
- How long have you been in operation?
- Do the owners have a teaching background?
- What do you look for in a tutor?
- Do you have a large roster to replace tutors if needed?
- Do these agencies operate from the same location where they offer tutoring? Some agencies have expanded into our province from USA believing they’re simply extending their business internationally. It’s questionable whether these international agencies grasp the current Ontario curriculum and the needs of its students. It seems their expertise lies more in taking your money.
Why Choose Tutors For Less
We rely on word-of-mouth referrals from public and private schools, hospitals, universities, colleges, and government organizations. Our clients trust us to take good care of their students, reflected in our strong reputation and minimal advertising.
Our Services
We provide private and online home tutoring in Toronto and Ottawa, covering various subjects and grades, including university and college levels. Our tutors tutor because they care!
Contact Us
Call us 416-607-6401 or 613-244-9185
Author: Madeleine Bodry
Very true. because its unregulated many have decided to try to be part of the tutoring service industry that have no business sticking their noses in considering they are not educators. I had a bad experience with a tutoring agency I will not mention that came to my door supposedly assessed my son academically with a bogus assessment than enticed us to buy 100 hours . After switch tutors many times I had to pressure them to give me my money refund Very happy with Tutors For Less. you guys are chill and professional.