Calls promoting “remote” private lessons during the exam period

Students’ families complained of an increase in calls from educational companies promoting “remote” private lessons, at “competitive” prices, in clear exploitation of the exam period, and the students’ anxiety and concern for their academic results.

They stressed that the communications cause “unacceptable disturbance,” during a period when students need the highest levels of calm and concentration, expressing their concern about the use of the personal data of students and their parents.

They explained to “Emirates Today” that some educational companies exploit students’ psychological pressures and intensify their contacts with them at different times of the day, which distracts their minds and negatively affects their preparation for exams.

They demanded that controls be imposed on the timing and mechanism of educational advertisements, such that marketing of private lessons over the phone during school days or exam periods is prohibited.

The guardian of a high school student, Jassim Muhammad Al-Raisi, said that communications have been increasing since the first day of the exam, and are repeated daily from unknown numbers, offering packages of private lessons via the Internet.

He added that the caller asks the guardian to specify the required subjects, then conduct a “remote” test for the student to evaluate his level.

He continued: “My son is taking his exams these days, and the house needs calm, but the successive calls are confusing the atmosphere. I do not know how these companies reach our numbers, and I do not trust any party that communicates in this way during such a delicate period.”

The parent of two students, Fatima Ahmed Al Hammadi, said that promotional calls increase with the beginning of the evening study hours, adding that she asked about the reason for calling at this time, and she was told that “the company provides support to students in the last days of exams.”

She saw this marketing method as “exploitation,” pointing out that there are families who are not aware that this type of lessons during the exam period confuses students, and does not provide an actual educational service. She stressed that “remote” lessons are not suitable for primary school students, as the child gets easily distracted and does not interact via the screen.

Asmaa Al Ali, a parent of three students in different educational stages, said that marketing calls “penetrate the student’s school day at sensitive times, as they often come in the middle of the day, when he is busy solving exam forms or taking a break, or even when he returns home after completing one of his exams and preparing to review the next subject.”

An Arabic language teacher who provides in-person private lessons, Heba Muhammad, confirmed that students these days need focused and direct review, not “marketing offers that come to them through anonymous communications.”

She explained that “the days of the final exams of each semester are not an appropriate time to start a new lesson or a remote test, as the student needs support that reflects prior knowledge of his level, not random tests that give formal results,” pointing out that she does not receive any new students during the exam period, in order to preserve the quality of follow-up of her current students, pointing out that “in-person lessons are more capable of addressing weak points immediately.”

On the other hand, a mathematics private lessons teacher, Mohamed Fouad, said that some of the communications that parents receive these days come from retired teachers who used to work in the country, then returned to their countries, and continue to provide lessons “remotely” through various educational platforms.

He explained that these teachers have extensive experience in the Emirati curricula, and know the nature of its questions and the details of its study plans, so some parents continue to communicate with them, benefiting from their prior knowledge of the educational system in the country. He pointed out that video communication programs today have bridged distances and facilitated the provision of private lessons, no matter how far the locations of experienced teachers are from the students.

The Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority stated in its publications on social media that the procedures for reporting annoying marketing calls begin by calling the number (2211) to register in the “Do Not Call Registry,” then reporting any number that promotes its services in a violation. The Authority confirmed that the subscriber can send the annoying number to (2211), so that the Authority will take the necessary punitive measures.

She pointed out that the fines imposed on violators, individuals and companies, reach 50,000 dirhams for individuals, and may lead to disconnecting the line in the event of a repeated violation, while the penalty for companies may reach 150,000 dirhams.

Violations include using personal numbers for marketing or adopting unethical marketing methods.

Muhammad Fouad:

. Some of the communications came from teachers who worked in the country, returned to their countries, and continued to provide lessons “remotely.”

Ali family names:

. Communication often comes when the student returns home, after completing one of his exams, and preparing to review the next subject.

Heba Muhammad:

. Students need focused and direct review, not marketing offers that come to them through anonymous communications.