Tuition agency
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A tuition agency is a commercial organisation which specialises in introducing tutors to students requiring help in the academic area. Tuition agencies exist largely due to the problems parents and students face in finding a specialist who can help them with the study of one or more specific subjects.
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[edit] Introductory Agencies
Clients (usually parents) are sent a list of names of tutors who have pre-registered with the tuition agency and are then left to contact the names on the list to ascertain which tutors are available and then make their own contractual arrangements with the chosen tutors. At the same time, tutors are given the name and contact details of the client and are 'encouraged' to get their call in first.
The agency is remunerated by the tutor adding a fee to the amount they charge the client each lesson and then passing the agency fees back to the agency weekly or monthly as appropriate. The agency is legally obliged to state clearly its fee per lesson (or whatever other fee structure it operates to the client) in writing and at the commencement of lessons. Tutors who do this type of work are traditionally self-employed[citation needed].
[edit] Importance of Tuition Agencies
These are agencies which contract direct with the client to provide a service. The point of contact is between the client and the agency throughout the request and the agency is responsible for actually employing the tutor with all that employment entails.
From the agency's point of view, there is no longer any requirement to declare the fees charged by the agency (something which can cause friction with clients who do not appreciate the high cost of recruitment, vetting etc) but they are now responsible for employee benefits due to the tutor.
The agency invoices the client either in arrears or in advance(usually half of the tutor's first month salary), the tutor will receive his salary in full for the rest of the months.
In Singapore, although tutor registration is generally free of charge, tutors will have to pay 50% of his or her first month's tuition fee to the tuition agency as commission for referring to them students. Tutors will subsequently be paid the full month's tuition fees by their employers according to pre-arranged agreement. Such a practice is the norm in the tuition industry in Singapore. Tuition agencies websites that adopt such practice include www.gradtutors.com, www.campustutors.com.sg, www.keytuition.com, www.toptutors.sg.
[edit] Reliability
Some agencies offer verification of their registered tutors' qualifications and credentials and in fact encourage their registered tutors to upload digital copies of their certificates and qualifications. In Singapore, it is customary for home tutors to verify their credentials.[citation needed]
[edit] Privacy of Tutors
From the point of view of a tutor (and with the exception of introductory-type agencies), there is a stronger feeling of security as his or her name and phone number are usually only made available to clients with the tutor's approval and after initial contact between the tutor and student has been made.
