In South Africa, a mathematics lesson for Grade 12 students costs up to R750 per hour — Daily Maverick
In South Africa, the cost of individual mathematics lessons for Grade 12 students can reach R750 per hour. An analysis of 750 active tutor service listings conducted by the online school Teneo found that the average price of a private lesson across all subjects and grades is R330 per hour, Daily Maverick reports.
Cost of lessons for Grade 12 students
The study covered listings collected from January 2025 to July 2026 on Superprof, Teach Me 2, Tutors SA, company websites and Gumtree. In primary school, the average hourly rate is R258, in Grade 12 it is R379, and at universities it is R389.
The most expensive subjects are in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. For Grade 12 students, the average cost of a mathematics lesson is R427 per hour, while the highest rates reach R750. Johannesburg is the most expensive city for families, where the average lesson price is R370 per hour. In Cape Town, it is R343, in Pretoria R334, while in small towns and rural areas it is R255.
According to Teneo's calculations, two 90-minute lessons per week for a Grade 12 student cost about R2,300 per month in a group format, R3,660 at the average rate of an individual tutor and R6,600 with a premium specialist.
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Turning to tutors
Taryn Jenks, marketing director at Teneo Online School, said that expensive additional lessons create a two-tier education system, as access to help depends on a family's financial means. According to her, families facing bullying at school, a student's prolonged illness, anxiety or relocation are among those who turn to tutors.
A Johannesburg resident whose child attends an elite private school and sees a tutor twice a week told the publication that the child's average grade has fallen by about 30% this year. According to her, the school advised starting extra lessons, while other parents spend an estimated additional 20% on tutors on top of tuition fees.
Tutors' pay
An anonymous tutor from Johannesburg said that, in her estimate, a company may charge around R500 per lesson, while she receives R210 and pays for fuel herself. She also noted that working independently requires time to find clients, plan lessons, issue invoices and monitor payments, while working through a company often involves unpaid travel time.
