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Amid the rise of online 'bimbel', offline tutoring services stand their ground
Despite the rise of internet-based competition, face-to-face after-school lessons remain the preferred option for students
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Tactile learning: Students at EXIST private tutoring agency in South Tangerang, Banten, study together in a classroom in April. (Courtesy of EXIST) (Courtesy of EXIST/Courtesy of EXIST)
Despite the rise of internet-based competition, face-to-face after-school lessons remain the preferred option for students.
It has been over two years since the pandemic started. Schools have opened and closed repeatedly; students have come in and out of classrooms. But the bimbingan belajar (tutoring) industry, or bimbel for short, is experiencing things differently depending on which one you ask about: online bimbel or the conventional, offline ones.
“The number of students we have now is still far below pre-pandemic norms. We only have about 100 students,” Edwin Nofsan Naufal told The Jakarta Post on July 5.
Edwin is the CEO of Excellent Institute or EXIST bimbel, located in South Tangerang, Banten.
“But this year is a lot better, thankfully, since in-class learning is back in schools. Parents and their children are also less afraid now,” he said, preparing to welcome more students at the start of this new school year.
Pandemic battle
