Tutoring—An Emerging Phenomenon in the Romanian Education System

Abstract

This paper, without intending to be exhaustive, is a presentation of an increasingly prominent social reality: the tutoring of pupils, as a parallel educational activity complementary to the education system, as a form of non-formal education, or as an alternative option for students’ parents to support them in their social success. Our research aimed to identify the perception/opinions of the beneficiaries of these tutoring activities, in relation to the relevant aspects of such activities, such as the way they are organized and carried out, the type and motivational level of students participating in such activities, the real dimensions of the phenomenon as manifested in Romanian society, etc. In order to achieve the purpose of our research, a questionnaire, with open-ended and closed-ended questions, was given to a significant number of people bearing the title of student, who had completed high school studies only 1–4 years ago. Based on the research carried out, it was possible to identify a hierarchy of motivational factors that determine whether students resort to tutoring; the causes of the occurrence and expansion of this phenomenon; and the opinions of the beneficiaries of tutoring services towards the organization and conduct of these activities. At the end of the article, some measures are presented that could optimize the balance between formal and non-formal education in Romanian society.