Hiring private tutors has become increasingly common today. Getting extra classes for children is not considered as something abnormal anymore. However, in my view, although they can help improve students’ knowledge, they also bring a heavy academic workload and a high risk of burnout, which is a negative development.
At first glance, additional lessons may seem beneficial because they provide an opportunity for students to improve their understanding of school subjects. Attending group sessions allows children to socialize and receive professional academic support. Teachers can identify each student’s weaknesses and help work on them. With efforts from both sides, this can be extremely beneficial in the long-term, particularly when high-schoolers are preparing for their final exams. Nevertheless, despite this apparent advantage, I still have a belief that the drawbacks of having supplementary classes outweigh the benefits.
Adding after-school lessons can lead to excessive academic pressure and emotional exhaustion. Many students already have a demanding school schedule, homework, and extracurricular activities. For example, in China, intense academic competition has resulted in children attending numerous private tutoring sessions in order to achieve high exam scores. As a consequence, many students experience stress, anxiety, and even burnout due to the overwhelming workload. This educational pressure has become so serious that, in 2021, the government has even introduced the “Double Reduction” policies to limit private tutoring and reduce the amount of homework by half.
In conclusion, while supplementary classes may offer academic support and opportunities for improvement, the significant stress, heavy workload, and risk of burnout make them more harmful than beneficial for many students. It is important to pay attention to students’ well-being as well as their academic progress, because a balanced approach helps them succeed in the long term and develop personally.