Private Tutoring Calls Surge During Exam Season: Convenient 'Remote' Lessons Gain Popularity

Parents across the UAE are dealing with a flood of unwanted calls from tutoring companies targeting students during exam season. These educational firms are pushing remote private lessons at "competitive prices," calling families at the worst possible times when students need peace and focus for their final tests.

The timing couldn't be worse. Parents say the calls spike right when exams begin and continue daily from unknown numbers. The companies offer online tutoring packages and want to conduct remote assessments to evaluate student performance levels.

Jasim Mohammed Al Raisi, whose son is taking high school exams, gets these calls every day since testing started. "My son is doing his exams these days, and the house needs quiet," he said. "But these constant calls disrupt everything. I don't know how these companies get our numbers, and I don't trust any organization that contacts us this way during such a critical time."

The calls often come during evening study hours, which parents find particularly intrusive. Fatima Ahmed Al Hammadi, mother of two students, questioned why companies call during study time. The response? They claimed to offer "support for students in the final exam days."

She sees this as pure exploitation. Some families don't realize that cramming new tutoring during exam week actually hurts students rather than helps them. She also pointed out that remote lessons don't work well for elementary students, who get easily distracted and struggle to engage through screens.

Asma Al Ali, who has three children in different grade levels, says the marketing calls "invade the student's study day at sensitive times." They typically come midday when kids are working through practice exams, taking breaks, or returning home after finishing one test while preparing for the next subject.

Arabic teacher Heba Mohammed, who offers in-person tutoring, says students need focused, direct review sessions during exam time - not sales pitches from unknown callers. "Final exam days aren't the right time to start new lessons or remote assessments," she explained. "Students need support based on prior knowledge of their level, not random tests that give superficial results."

She doesn't accept new students during exam periods to maintain quality support for her current ones. In-person lessons work better for addressing weak points immediately, she noted.

But there's another side to this story. Math tutor Mohammed Fouad says some of these calls come from retired teachers who used to work in the UAE and returned to their home countries. They continue offering remote lessons through various educational platforms, bringing deep knowledge of Emirati curricula and exam formats.

These experienced educators understand the UAE education system well, so some parents keep working with them despite the distance. Video calling technology makes this possible, bridging gaps between expert teachers and students regardless of location.

The UAE's Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority offers solutions for fed-up families. Parents can call 2211 to register for the "Do Not Call" list, then report any numbers that continue marketing illegally.

The penalties are serious. Individual violators face fines up to 50,000 dirhams, with possible line disconnection for repeat offenses. Companies can be hit with fines reaching 150,000 dirhams. Violations include using personal numbers for marketing and employing unethical sales tactics.

But here's the thing - enforcement only works if parents actually report these calls. Many families just endure the disruption instead of taking action. Meanwhile, students trying to focus on their futures deal with constant interruptions during one of their most stressful academic periods.