Brussels, 31/05/2011 (Agence Europe) - The question of private tuition has now assumed a European dimension, with more than 50% of school students following private tuition courses in certain member states. This information was released by the Network of Experts in Social Sciences of Education and Training (NESSE) on behalf of the European Commission. It is the first report to examine the question of private tuition in the whole of the European Union.
Private tuition has not developed in the same way across the European Union. In the south of Europe, there is a particularly high rate of school support. It is widespread in Greece and the country allocates €950 million to support private tuition every year. This accounts for 20% of total public spending on primary and secondary schools. Spain spends €450 million, Italy €420 million and Cyprus €111 million. In Scandinavian countries (particularly Sweden and Finland), however, the phenomenon is less widespread. Education provided by the public sector is considered as being of good quality in these countries and broadly satisfies parents' expectations. In other member states, the phenomenon is taking off, particularly in France (€2.2 billion spent on private tuition, with an annual growth rate of around 10%). In Germany this figure has risen to €1.5 billion and in Austria it stands at €126 million. In Eastern European countries, the decline in teachers' purchasing power led to the expansion of a parallel system of education in the 1990s. In Western Europe, the phenomenon is more about competition imposed by society, school league tables, intensive examination preparation and family pressure. In addition to all these factors, budget restrictions have reduced the ability of schools to provide individual tuition at school. The report also denounces some of the perverse effects of private tuition. It exacerbates social inequalities because it is generally not the children from poor backgrounds who benefit from it but rather those who already enjoy success at school. Private tuition can also dominate children's lives, encroach on their leisure time and produce damaging psychological and educational effects. (I.L./transl.fl)