The perceived reasons for participation in private tutoring in the Sultanate of Oman

Abstract

Private tutoring (PT) is becoming increasingly widespread around the globe, and the Sultanate of Oman is no exception. Even though the Omani educational system witnesses continuous development, PT is gaining popularity. The present research paper aims to explore the reasons that drive the need for private tutoring lessons as perceived by the students, parents, and teachers. Three distinct questionnaires were developed based on a review of pertinent literature to collect data for this descriptive analytical study. Participants in the study included 261 students, 214 parents, and 87 teachers, and the findings revealed that students seek PT primarily to ensure that they score high marks in grade 12, the last year of high school, to secure college admission, raise their overall academic achievement, and get ready for exams. As for the parents, they emphasized how PT assists their children in understanding difficult content and doing well in school, while the teachers mentioned that the reasons behind resorting to PT include helping students fill in existing learning gaps, teaching them effective techniques to answer exam questions, and explaining subjects and activities that students find challenging in school. Due to the increasing demand for PT in Oman, the study recommends developing educational policies to regulate and institutionalize it.