AI Generated Summary
- Punjabi families abroad are eager for their children to learn to read, write and converse in their mother tongue, and both professional instructors and budding linguists are answering that call.
- A Rising Demand AbroadIn nations such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and even neighbouring Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, school curricula are often viewed by expatriate parents as less rigorous than those back home.
- When the world went into lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, many educators in India discovered a new mode of teaching.
When the world went into lockdown during the Covid-19 pandemic, many educators in India discovered a new mode of teaching: the virtual classroom. Five years on, these teachers have not only refined their digital pedagogy but have also tapped into an unexpected opportunity—offering high-quality online tuition to children of Indian families living overseas.
A Rising Demand Abroad
In nations such as Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and even neighbouring Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, school curricula are often viewed by expatriate parents as less rigorous than those back home. Keen for their children to tackle more challenging material, parents are turning to India’s educators—renowned for their subject mastery and disciplined approach—to supplement their children’s learning.
Notably, the time-zone difference works in everyone’s favour: Indian tutors are usually free between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. IST, just as Australian and New Zealand students return from school and are ready for evening lessons. “My foreign batches begin around 11 a.m., while my local students only start after 3 p.m.,” explains Jalandhar-based mathematics tutor Simranjit Kaur. “Overseas students send me their syllabus topics and worksheets as PDFs. I design extra practice problems to help them master each concept—and they’re thrilled with the results.”
Core Sciences and Mathematics Lead the Way
Subjects like physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics top the list of services sought by the diaspora. For students abroad, these subjects often receive less depth in class, especially the calculus underpinnings in physics courses. Former MGN Public School principal Jatinder Singh, now an online physics coach, notes: “Many of these students haven’t covered calculus by Class XII, so they struggle with advanced physics. Indian teachers can bridge that gap because our syllabus tackles those topics earlier.” His online classes attract learners keen to raise their academic standing and prepare for competitive entrance exams.
Opportunities for Retired and Emerging Educators
This global demand has opened doors for both seasoned educators and university students alike. Retired teachers find a second career guiding international pupils, while college students—particularly native Punjabi speakers—have begun offering language lessons. Punjabi families abroad are eager for their children to learn to read, write and converse in their mother tongue, and both professional instructors and budding linguists are answering that call. These tutors report earning substantial supplementary income, sometimes rivaling their on-campus stipends.
A Win–Win Educational Exchange
For Indian teachers, virtual tuition offers financial rewards and flexible schedules; for expatriate families, it brings access to a deeper, more robust curriculum. As technology continues to shrink the world, this flourishing online-tuition ecosystem exemplifies how educators and learners can benefit mutually across continents—long after the lockdowns have ended.
