About 15 % of Jordanian households spend some of their income on private tutoring mainly to
prepare their kids for Higher Secondary Education Examination (Tawjihi). The prevalence of private tutoring has
important educational and economical policy implications, yet it has received no attention from economists in
Jordan. Utilizing the first wave of the Jordanian Labor Market Panel Survey (JLMPS), gathered in 2010, the
study examines econometrically the determinants of both the decision to spend on private tutoring (i.e. demand
for private tutoring) and the annual amount of private tutoring expenditure. The analysis, which considers only
secondary school students, is based on Probit and OLS regression models due to the different nature of the
dependant variables.
The analysis shows that among the family background characteristics, household income is positively and
significantly associated with a higher probability to participate in private tutoring and higher private tutoring
expenditure. Mother's education level appears to be a significant predictor of demand for private tutoring.
Students in private schools were found to spend more on private tutoring. It was also found that living in urban
areas is positively and significantly affecting the decision on private tutoring. In addition, the findings reveal that
students of science stream are more likely to allocate more resources for private tutoring. On the other hand, the
role of gender in private tutoring decision and expenditure is minimal. Finally, the study reflects on the findings
and provides policy implications.