Proprietors celebrate five years tutoring

Proprietors of a tutoring franchise in Umina are celebrating five years in the business.

Margaret and Stig Ertner, owners of the local Kip McGrath franchise., said they had noticed changes over the five years.

"Over the past five years, we've noticed a change in the students with more coming from families where both parents work and from families where English is a second language," Margaret said.

The Kip McGrath system is for students from Year 1 to Year 10 with the most popular age groups being Years 3 to 7.

Most students took advantage of the program to help them with basic literacy and numeracy skills, according to Margaret.

"When these have been mastered, the students show a marked change in their attitude to school work," she said.

"They become more confident about their school work and more willing to do their homework."

The program is also designed to help high achievers attain scholarships or entry to selective high schools.

"Our tuition is provided in small groups.

"This helps to keep the costs to parents down," she said.

"It's great to see the change in their self-esteem and the improved attitude to their homework.

"Their study habits also improve and their positive feedback from teachers and parents provides a real impetus for them," Mrs Ertner said.

The Umina franchise was one of the first franchises established when the business started in 1980.

A school principal and his wife from Kurrie Kurrie designed the program.

It is now listed on the Australian Stock Exchange and has been exported to the United States, Britain and China.

The Umina franchise was opened by Chris Boddie who left the area to set up in Toronto and Morisset.

The current proprietors are the fourth owners of the franchise.

Cec Bucello, March 5