How to find a tutor for your kid ahead of finals season: It’s no secret that students at Egyptian schools — whether public or private — often rely heavily on private tutoring for their studies, whether in subjects like math and science, or specialized testing like International Baccalaureate (IB) and Advanced Placement tests. An estimated 69% of students at public schools alone across Egypt relied on tutoring and other forms of supplemental learning to complement their formal education in 2016, according to figures from CAPMAS picked up by an academic paper (pdf). (Editor’s note: These statistics predate the state’s efforts to crack down on the private tutoring sector in recent years.) The industry is currently worth some EGP 66 bn a year, state officials have said.

IN CONTEXT- The growing popularity of tutoring in Egypt is attributed to many factors, including the inadequate quality of public education and lack of school resources, like a teacher and classroom shortage. With that, tutoring centers and one-on-one tutoring sessions have become a rite of passage for students hoping to excel, or even just stay afloat in an increasingly competitive academic environment, with many students competing for limited spaces in universities and professional programs.

There’s no shortage of tutors in Egypt — but it’s not always easy to find the right one for your kid’s needs. There’s a deluge of programs available both in-person and online, but the key is finding a tutor specialized in the subject and diploma your kid needs to learn. It’s also tough finding physical tutoring centers in Egypt, what with the ongoing battle between the state — which was looking to ban them entirely, before more recently considering taxing them and bringing them into the formal economy — and the centers.

Online platforms > tutoring centers: While there are a few tutoring centers scattered around the country, they lay low — with virtually none having any online presence. The sector seems to currently be dominated by online platforms, some of which offer both in-person and online tutoring sessions.

One tutoring center worth your bucks (especially if your kid goes to an American school):American Egyptian Education Group — located in New Cairo — is specialized in the American Diploma, including advanced placement tests, SATs and ACTs. The center offers both in-center and online sessions. You can contact the center via email or WhatsApp.

ORCAS- By far the largest and most well-known online platform for tutoring in Egypt is Orcas. All you need to do to find a tutor on this platform is give basic info about your youngster, specifying their school system, the subject they need help in, and their school grade. Sessions are one-on-one either online or in-person, and allow you to track your child’s progress directly on the platform. The platform offers lessons in all subjects for all age groups, from kindergarten to high school. It also allows you to browse not only by subject but by tutor, reading reviews left on their profiles by other parents.

SKOOLI- Skooli offers more limited options when it comes to education systems. You can tailor the program by grade and subject, but the platform doesn’t offer tutoring for specific syllabi based on the diploma in which your child is enrolled. One advantage to using Skooli is that sessions are automatically recorded, which adds a comfortable level of safety, and makes it easy for students to access any information they need at any time if they need to revise. The platform offers tutors for a wide range of subjects, offering 20 programs for students from elementary to university. Like on Orcas, you can pick the instructor based on their experience, rating, and hourly rates.

SUPERPROF- US-based Supeprof has over 600 tutors offering their services to students based in Egypt in subjects ranging from English to math, history and ICT. The perk on this platform? Tutors offer their first session without charge — though the downside is that most of them are paid in either USD or EUR.

RAFIKEE- Another online tutoring platform offering tailored remote tutoring sessions for all grades, diplomas and subjects, Rafikee also provides a virtual classroom environment for online sessions that offers students an interactive experience, using a whiteboard and file exchange features.

MYDRASA- Mydrasa is yet another online tutoring platform with countless tutors for different diplomas, subjects and grades — but this platform’s edge is the live sessions it offers, led by some of its star tutors. This offers students a chance to take tutoring a step further and learn as part of a group, with the added benefits of an interactive experience as well as specialized attention.

FOR NEURODIVERSE CHILDREN- Children with special needs require programs that are tailored to their learning style, and tutors that are experienced (and certified) to teach and train students with learning disabilities. Luckily, due to increasing awareness of cognitive issues, there are several institutions cropping up to address this gap. Two notable organizations are The Lighthouse Center in New Cairo and The Learning Resource Center, located in Maadi.

The Lighthouse Center focuses on children with language disorders, offering them specialized reading, writing, and spelling support programs in both English and Arabic. It also offers psycho-educational evaluations and cognitive brain training programs, life skills coaching, and psycho-educational evaluations.

Meanwhile, The Learning Resource Center offers a broader range of services, including learning support, speech and language therapy, neurodevelopmental support, and sensory motor services.

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