A student-driven start-up company, UNLOCK Tutors, hopes to provide a solution to the challenges of online learning and to aid students academically.
The idea for UNLOCK Tutors, which was launched on 26 July, started when co-founder Luke Tollman began struggling to adjust to online learning when he returned home amid the nationwide lockdown.
“Immediately I saw that it would be easier and ultimately more beneficial for students to have more intimate and helpful lessons. That is why we saw a definite need for this during lockdown,” said Tollman.
For students, by students
The co-founder of UNLOCK tutors, Elijah Greenhill, believes the business is different because of its approach to the student market.
“We wanted to make [our site] a comfortable place [for students] to ask for help from students like ourselves who understand that struggle,” said Greenhill.
Elijah Greenhill (right) and Luke Tollman (left) are both students themselves. Greenhill is studying Computer Science at the University of Witwatersrand and Tollman is studying accounting at Stellenbosch University. PHOTO: Atreus Entertainment
According to Tollman and Greenhill, UNLOCK is a premier tutoring company because only students who obtained an average of above 75% are hired as tutors.
“We pride ourselves on having the best of the best,” said Greenhill.
Budget-friendly
Due to their understanding of the student budget, the pair believe that the affordability of UNLOCK Tutors’ service is another differentiating factor.
“If you look at the competitors out there, people are being charged between R500 and R600 an hour,” stated Tollman.
Tollman added that UNLOCK Tutors offer their services for R175 an hour for over 80 modules, ranging from Commerce to Social Sciences.
UNLOCK Tutors is currently providing their services through Zoom. Students seeking their tutoring can click “request to book” on the website and follow the prompts accordingly. PHOTO: Atreus Entertainment.
Over and above their tutoring service, UNLOCK will soon launch a general university mentor programme, and CV and cover letter coaching service.
“We are trying to make the entrance process to university easier, as well as the leaving process,” said Greenhill.
This service offered by UNLOCK Tutors includes advising students on internships, vacation work and future jobs. PHOTO: UNLOCK Tutors website.
One of UNLOCK’s Political Science and French language tutors, Megan Hutton, is looking forward to being part of a tutoring company that has students’ best interests at heart.
“I’m looking forward to creating connections and helping people how I was helped through tutoring,” said Hutton.