"I have benefited significantly from my online tutoring classes", exclaimed Robert to his classmate and friend George. "Is it? But how can someone teach you something without sitting in front of you?" enquired a confused George. "Its simple, we chat on internet, use a simulated white board and he has the scanned copies of all my textbooks. The online tutor provides me with homework help, assignment help, project development and what not!" replied Robert. George and Robert are both 9th graders in California, US. This may be not a conversation too far from you too. The average American household has become accustomed to the benefits of online tutoring. Its flexible, its fun, and its remarkably cheap!



Tutors from countries like India have capitalized hugely on the fact that there is a shortage of qualified and efficient teachers in the US. This is especially true for subjects like mathematics, physics, chemistry etc. Online education has emerged as a first-class revenue generator for Indian tutors in this emerging segment of outsourcing.

Emerging as a branch of business process outsourcing (BPO) and knowledge process outsourcing (KPO), the education process outsourcing (EPO) services are India's new offering to the world. The industry has garnered extensive support from both students as well as clients in America.

Based thousands of miles away and working early mornings these online tutors equipped with a headset and pen mouse, are teaching students from course curriculum according to American specifications. And all this in an accent familiar to Americans! According to some estimates, about 35 percent of the American students fail in their mathematics examination. This calls for immediate attention because of the fact that there is a huge dearth of qualified people to act as private tutors for American students. Private tutoring is currently $8 billion industry (out of which, $3 billion is accounted for by online tutoring) and is growing significantly at a rate of 12 percent per year. America will need about one million qualified teachers over a period of next 10 years.

Indian companies like TransWebTutors (TransWebTutors.com), career launcher, growing stars, tutor vista etc. are some of the early entrants to this new education outsourcing business. In the coming times many more companies are expected to join them, experts feel.

"When we are providing the same standards of quality at reduced rates to the average American student, I do not see a reason why we won't succeed" Says Mr. Nishant Sinha, Co-founder of TransWebTutors, an online tutoring company based at Delhi, India. "We are committed to providing the best quality at the cheapest prices for not only K-12 studies, but also for Pre College and college level studies." Mr. Aditya Singhal, Co-founder, added. In fact TransWebTutors is attracting American students by offering unlimited tutoring sessions for a nominal fee of $ 99 per month. Now that's value for money!

In spite of some US players in the online tutoring market, Indian tutors with their price benefit and a vast pool of qualified teachers are on a sturdy platform. They do not feel any major competition from their business counterparts in the US.

What started off as an active reaction to the 2002 legislation called the No Child Left Behind Act has grown into a vast industry. The legislation was passed after the American administration expressed fear over the rising failure rate of American students. The act aims at improving teaching standards and results. The American schools will have to meet cent percent proficiency goal by the year 2014. India is there to help by his way of outsourcing online tutoring!