FAQs (For Students)
Particulars of Tuition Sessions
1). How many sessions are there a week? How long is each session?
2). What subjects and up to what levels can I receive tuition?
3). Where are the sessions carried out? Can the sessions be conducted at my home or the teacher’s?
When you fill in our ‘Student Application Form’ online, please inform us the districts which are convenient to you for receiving these sessions.
4). Would fast food shops be too noisy for the sessions? Do we get driven away?
5). Are the sessions held during the weekdays/weeknights or at weekends?
- 3 sessions from Mondays through Fridays from 09:00 to 20:00;
- 3 sessions on Saturdays from 09:00 to 19:00; and/or
- 3 sessions on Sundays from 09:00 to 19:00.
If you are available for tuition only on certain days, say Wednesdays or Fridays, please let us know in the Remarks column. If you are unable to receive tuition on certain days or during certain time slots, leave those blank.
Enrolment
1). How can I apply for this free tuition service?
2). Are the sessions absolutely free? Are there any strings attached to me/my parent(s) after acceptance of such service?
As for the parents, they should communicate with the volunteer teacher more often so that either side can understand the needs of the other, and how the parent/s may provide the student with support to study at home. If the student is too young, the parent(s) will have to be responsible for bringing the child/children to and picking them up from the venue of tuition for safety purposes. After consulting with the volunteer teacher, parent can stay nearby and observe during the session.
3). At the time of application, do I need to submit documentary proof of my family’s economic means as well?
If no valid proof is produced, we will not be able to provide any service. If you have lost the necessary documents, you may apply to the authorities concerned (e.g., the Social Welfare Department or the Student Financial Assistance Agency) for re-issuance.
4). I am not on CSSA, nor have I been granted full textbook assistance, but I am eligible for assistance for low-income group by other funds such as the Community Care Fund, can I apply for your free tuition?
If you have any special circumstances of your own, please let us know in the Remarks column when you apply.
5). Can you offer assistance to students diagnosed with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
6). Can more than one member in an eligible family apply for this tuition service?
7). Can I update or cancel any particulars registered?
Pairing
1). How long do I have to wait to be paired up with a volunteer teacher upon successful registration?
2). What is the pairing process like?
On the day of the first appointment, we will appoint a staff member/ Volunteer to host the meeting, and he/she will confirm your identity as well as that of the teacher’s, that you satisfy the criteria for receiving such assistance, and explain to the both of you the rationale, format and rules of our service as well as confirming the details of the future tuitions.
3). Can I be paired up with more than one volunteer teacher?
4). 4. How do you choose a volunteer teacher? How am I protected?
To put you/your parent(s) at ease, we will first verify the particulars registered by the teacher concerned through telephone. On the day of the first appointment, we will appoint a staff member/volunteer to verify the identity of the volunteer teacher, request the teacher to sign the Declaration of Sexual Conviction Records (a declaration to the effect that he/she has no sexual offence convictions), and take photos of the volunteer and the student for record puroposes.
As for the venue for the tuition, it will be a public place which is safe and with other people present. We will also randomly select ongoing tuition pairs to visit and follow up through telephone.
First Appointment
1). What will be the flow like?
On the day of the appointment, the staff member/volunteer concerned will arrive at the venue beforehand to find seats and to liaise and meet with the student and the teacher. After verifying the identity of the both the teacher and the student, and confirming the student’s eligibility for our service, the staff member/volunteer will hand out relevant documents, including Declaration of Sexual Conviction Records which the volunteer teacher has to sign. Moreover, the rationale, format and rules of our tuition service will also be explained to both parties. There will also be sufficient time for the student/ parent(s) to give a brief idea of the your current studies to the teacher, and to discuss with the teacher the most suitable mode of tuition. Finally, the staff member/ volunteer will take a photo of both the teacher and the student for pairing confirmation and record purposes.
2). I have not received the volunteer teacher’s personal particulars before the appointment. How am I supposed to recognize him/her?
3). The first appointment has been fixed for me and the volunteer teacher. What do I need in preparation?
- documentary proof of your student identity (e.g., birth certificate, I.D. card or student handbook);
- Certificate of Comprehensive Social Security Assistance Recipients or Student Financial Assistance Agency Eligibility Certificate of full text book assistance your latest report card(s), test/exam papers , textbooks and homework , so that the teacher is able to understand how well you are doing and to set targets for the sessions.
4). Does tuition start at the first appointment?
5). The first appointment has been fixed with the volunteer teacher, but I have to change the date because something has come up, what do I do?
Follow-up and Support
1). I have had the first appointment with the volunteer teacher. Do I still have to fix the subsequent tuition sessions through your company?
We will also randomly select ongoing tuition pairs to visit and follow up through the telephone so as to keep track on the progress and quality of the service provided and to offer timely support to you and the teacher.
2). Do I need to make a record of all the tuition sessions?
3). Can I borrow additional materials or references for my studies?
4). If I wish to change the date/time/venue for the subsequent sessions, what do I do?
5). If problems occur with the volunteer teacher over tuition, what do I do?
6). If I wish to stop receiving the tuition service, what do I do?