Bidding farewell to the old education system, these Gen Y tutorpreneurs are gearing up for EDU-FUSION

Brain behind India's first hybrid tutoring platform Ali Asgar Kagzi explains the need to reform the archaic Indian Education System and mix things up a bit to cater to Gen-next
Ali Asgar Kagzi, Director of Genext holds a degree in Marketing Strategy
Ali Asgar Kagzi, Director of Genext holds a degree in Marketing Strategy

Studies show that at least 90% students in India, whether from government, private or international schools require after-school tuitions. Home tutoring has often been thought of as a tool of the elite or those with big bucks to shell out. GenextStudents, touted to be India's first hybrid tutoring platform, fuses technology combined with dedicated Tutorpreneurs or tutor partners to deliver a personalised education at home.

Genext's first session called a demo session attempts to establish a connection between the tutor and the child. A diagnostic test is handed over to the child, on the completion of which the tutor receives an immediate report of the student's strengths and area's that require improvement.

The brainchild of Ali Asgar Kagzi, a native of Rajasthan with a degree in Marketing Strategy from the London School of Economics (LSE), was inspired by the interactive fusion of technology into academics to educate and inspire.

Hop on: Genext is the India's first hybrid tutoring platform

Genext, with at least 4,000 tutors across Pune and Mumbai aims to impact lives through education in India by combining personalised education with tutors. Genext has made acquiring a tutor for a child much easier while delivering their service to their homes. Tutors are assessed and graded on the app by parents and students making it direct and transparent.  

However, unlike the imposing Indian education system, tutors here are selected based on the requirements and specifications of parents and children.

We collect the candidate's information and do a background check and assess all tutors on language and their subject before they qualify. One of our members speaks to the teachers after all formalities are complete before they go live or become Tutorpreneurs

Ali Asgar Kagzi, Director, Co-founder Genext

Unlike tuition classes, which ring with the monotony of rote learning and little room for questions, doubts or individual attention, a Tutorpreneur gives their undivided attention to the child in his comfort zone. " What we're doing is personalising content that can be catered to each child by a home tutor depending on their demography and lifestyle," says Kagzi.

"The app is a driver of this technology, it helps find tutors, match student-tutor criteria, assessment of the tutors etc. We also have a tutor rating algorithm. Technology helps us keep a track of the tutor, attendance, classes etc. It makes management easier, however, the tutoring is done in person. "Communication is a very important part and we also stress on the language of the teacher," says Kagzi.

GenextStudents has partnered with the Army in Lucknow to provide complimentary access to educational content for children of martyrs and Army personnel. Also Adopting two villages fell within Genext's vision of impacting lives through education. It was found that the two villages in Raigad, Maharashtra were not even located on google maps and had no proper mobile connectivity. 

A Tutorpreneur, says Ali, can be anyone with a passion and desire to teach. They could be graduates, home-makers, even retired professionals. While artificial intelligence seems like the next big thing, Genext stresses on emotional intelligence. "We've had parents who wanted young teachers who could, apart from academics, also help groom their child and cater to their emotional needs," he says.

To Kagzi, the online platform is not just a form of educational outreach but also one to create a social impact more so for the tutors.

I had a female tutor tell me she and her sister-in-law signed up for NextgenStudents. She said the conversations at home have now evolved to assignment discussions and what they can do to improve in comparison to their normal talk about TV serials and household works

Ali Asgar Kagzi, Director, Co-founder Genext

An impactful solution would be a combination of technology where it enables human actions in terms of the teacher. That is our philosophy, adds Ali Asgar Kagzi.

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