Private tutoring has grown into a large industry, with many children attending extra lessons in the evenings and at weekends. Parents choose this option for a variety of reasons, and although tutoring can be helpful, I believe that its widespread use is a largely negative development.
The main reason parents employ tutors is competition. In education systems where entry to selective schools or prestigious universities depends on examination results, parents fear that their child will fall behind classmates who are receiving extra help. Some parents also feel that teachers in large classes cannot give their child enough individual attention. A pupil who has misunderstood a basic concept in algebra, for instance, may never have the chance to ask questions in a class of forty, whereas a tutor can address the problem directly. Finally, busy working parents may lack the time or confidence to help with homework themselves.
There are certainly benefits in individual cases. A struggling child can regain confidence with patient one-to-one support, and a tutor may help a student prepare for a specific test. However, when tutoring becomes the norm, its effects are more troubling. Children who spend their evenings in further lessons have little time for rest, sport or hobbies, which are important for their wellbeing. In addition, because tutoring is expensive, it gives a further advantage to wealthier families and widens the gap in achievement between rich and poor pupils. It may even reduce pressure on schools to improve, since weaknesses in teaching are quietly compensated for at home.
In conclusion, parents turn to tutors because of intense academic competition and concerns about large classes. Although occasional tutoring can be valuable, its growing prevalence harms children's wellbeing and deepens inequality, so I regard the trend as mainly negative.