The two-day International Policy Forum on Private Supplementary Tutoring: A Multi-Stakeholder Dialogue for Common Good, held by UNESCO’s section of Education Policy at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris on October 28-29, 2024, marked a significant milestone in the international discourse on shadow education. With its aim “to raise awareness about the scale, nature, and impact” of the phenomenon, the event brought together a diverse array of stakeholders from around the world to discuss the often overlooked role of private tutoring in education systems, and to examine its challenges, opportunities, and policy implications.
Shadow education, encompassing private tutoring and supplementary educational support, has grown exponentially in recent years. The forum provided a platform to explore its multifaceted nature, from accessibility and regulation to the integration of technology and its impact on equity. Participants included policymakers, educators, researchers, and representatives from civil society, who engaged in robust discussions aimed at shaping inclusive and effective tutoring policies.
Key topics included addressing inequities in education both exacerbated and bridged by private supplementary tutoring, fostering global and regional partnerships, and ensuring the ethical use of technology in education. Stakeholders collectively acknowledged the pressing need to adapt tutoring methods to meet the demands of diverse learners in a rapidly changing world.
UNESCO Institute for Information Technologies in Education (UNESCO IITE) was proud to contribute to the forum by a plenary session titled “Private Teacher Tutoring vs AI tutoring: New Opportunities and Challenges.” The session brought together three esteemed experts:
- Prof. Mutlu Cukurova, Professor of Learning and Artificial Intelligence, University College London, presented data-driven insights into the potential of AI tutoring platforms to address learning disparities while cautioning against over-reliance on technology;
- Mr. Jack Dougall, Founder and Director of ‘Ecmtutors’, Humanities and Business Studies teacher from Spain, spoke on emotional intelligence that educators bring to tutoring, especially when working with learners of diverse needs, and his experience of integrating AI tools without losing the essence of personalized teaching;
- Ms. Veerle Ponnet, Europass Teacher Academy Director in Ghent, Teacher Trainer from Belgium, emphasized the importance of equipping teachers with the skills to integrate AI tools while preserving the pedagogical art of personalized attention.
Moderated by UNESCO IITE’s Programme Specialist Ms. Tatiana Shutova, the discussion explored the nuances of balancing technology with the irreplaceable value of human interaction in tutoring. The session sparked lively dialogue among attendees, touching on the ethical implications, scalability, and the complementary strengths of human and AI tutors, which underscored the importance of finding a balanced approach to leverage both.
A Foundation for Ongoing Collaboration
The forum’s success has paved the way for a series of future initiatives, including regional consultations and the creation of communities of practice to sustain the momentum. These efforts aim to foster ongoing collaboration among stakeholders, ensuring that diverse voices remain at the heart of policymaking in the tutoring sector.
Speaking at the closing ceremony, Mr Gwang-Chol Chang, Chief of Section of Education Policy, remarked, “This forum is only a beginning – a foundation for building a global consensus on the role of tutoring in education.” The subsequent work will focus on more detailed investigation of the phenomenon and on providing recommendations that can guide planners and other government officials in their action on private supplementary tutoring.