As of 2024, English remains the most spoken language worldwide, with 380M native speakers and 1.2M non-native speakers. This is followed closely by Mandarin with 950M native speakers and 150M non-native speakers. For non-native speakers who make-up 75% of the entire English speaking population, the growing influence of globalization fueled by technology, social media, and online learning makes mastering English more essential than ever. As the world becomes more connected, the ability to communicate in English opens doors to endless opportunities for young and adult learners alike. According to the EF English Proficiency Index, countries rated with higher levels of English proficiency tend to have a higher gross income per capita. This suggests that better English skills contribute to improved job opportunities, higher salaries, and an overall increased standard of living.
Fortunately, learning English today is now more accessible than ever before with the shift towards digital learning accelerated by the pandemic. Students are adopting online tutoring platforms at unprecedented rates. In 2023, 49% of students globally have engaged in some form of online learning. Online tutoring now represents 25% of the global tutoring market, seamlessly integrating technology with education and bridging the gap between digital and traditional learning.
As parents and students continue to prioritize academic and professional excellence, there has been an observable growing reliance on online private tutoring to help learners improve their performance in the core subjects of English and Mathematics. This is reflected in the expectation that the language course and math course segments will continue to grow significantly at a CAGR of 14.5% in the next 5 years, powered by increasing globalization and the rising importance of these skills in the international job market.
The moment is opportune and the Philippines offers a compelling backdrop. As the Philippines is a bilingual country that has adopted both Filipino and English as national languages, 47% of Filipinos are highly fluent English speakers. In terms of English proficiency, the Philippines places second after Singapore in South East Asia and 22nd globally. With English as the medium of instruction at many schools, the assimilation to western culture by many Filipinos, and Filipinos’ relatively “neutral” English accent, this presents an opportunity for Filipinos to become teachers to non-native speakers of English. With approximately one million teachers in the Philippines across public and private schools, Filipino teachers can now extend their impact to learners globally with Edge Tutor.
Today, Edge Tutor serves clients across 30 countries spanning APAC, Europe, and the Americas with over a thousand Filipino tutors delivering 1,000,000 lessons to date since their inception in 2023. Showcasing their remarkable growth with English and K-12 Math tutors onboarded, EDGE Tutor’s operation efforts this year will be expanding further across North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East. Tutor capacity will correspondingly increase to 5,000 by the end of 2026.
In a country globally recognized for its thriving services industry, teaching stands as yet another testament to the exceptional talent of Filipinos. Edge Tutor brings this talent to the global stage by providing teaching opportunities beyond the Philippines. With their rigorous qualifications for onboarding tutors, Edge tutor has a 3% acceptance rate, which aligns with the credential requirements of their education partners. Furthermore, Edge Tutor provides training and tutor upskilling to enable teaching of higher level education. This allows for the prospect of higher compensation and career growth trajectory for Filipino tutors.
Perhaps it’s worth addressing a question that is undoubtedly top of mind for many: How will the rise of AI impact the online tutoring segment? Will it completely displace the millions of tutors globally teaching online? While only time will tell, we at Kaya Founders believe that just like any technological advancement, the impact of AI on an industry will ultimately depend on user adoption. Those who fail to adapt risk falling behind as the industry evolves quickly. AI-enabled tutoring can personalize learning paths based on individual performance and learning preferences, offering targeted practice that is expected to greatly assist tutors, but never completely replace them. The majority of learners benefit from interpersonal interactions and direct communication with a human instructor.
Led by Henry Motte-Muñoz and Cecilia Calvo-Lewis, who bring over 20 years of experience in the EdTech sector in the Philippines and global tutoring, the team behind Edge Tutor is driven by a shared passion for education. With former teachers at the helm of execution, they combine firsthand classroom experience with technology. The tutors of Edge Tutor bring deep care and compassion for their students in their learning journey. In Filipino, this value is known as ‘malasakit’. This spirit aptly describes the tutors at Edge Tutor, whose dedication goes beyond instruction. Rather, they are passionate about their learners' success and exhibit an unparalleled commitment to service excellence, translating to a global impact at scale.
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Written by Danielle King at Kaya Founders, illustration by Patrice Lecaros
