Five practical options
From the local student to the registered organisation
Five distinct routes: national platforms, local associations, independent tutors, registered private agencies and in-school schemes. Here are the rates, who each suits and the downsides.
Option 1 · The widest choice
Who it's for: Busy parents who want to compare several tutors within an hourRate: €15-40/h depending on profile, paid directly to the tutor or through the platformDownside: Quality varies, so check reviews and book a one-hour trial before committing to a block of lessons
The big national platforms list several hundred tutors in Reunion Island. Profiles rated by former students, visible rates, direct contact by message. You filter by subject, level (primary, middle school, high school, higher education), municipality (Saint-Denis, Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul, Le Tampon) and format (in person or video call).
Worth remembering: The fastest channel to get started in under a week
Option 2 · Community-based, free or low-cost
Who it's for: Families on a tight budget, children who need a regular framework as much as lessonsRate: Free to €5-10 a session depending on the organisationDownside: Places are limited and sign-up is at the start of the school year, so plan ahead
At municipality level, several associations offer tutoring at a community rate, sometimes free. The Educational Success Programme (Programme de Réussite Éducative, PRE) supports struggling children from nursery school up to troisième (Year 10), through youth workers and volunteers. Youth and culture centres (MJC) and some community centres also run homework clubs.
Worth remembering: The only channel that combines tutoring with social support
Option 3 · The most affordable
Who it's for: One-off needs (a chapter, revision before a test), tight budgetsRate: €10-20/h generally, sometimes less in rural areasDownside: No quality guarantee, entirely dependent on the tutor chosen
Local Facebook groups, flyers in bakeries and neighbourhood shops, word of mouth outside the school gates: this is the traditional way to find a tutor in Reunion Island. Many students at the university campuses in Le Tampon and Saint-Denis give lessons to fund their studies. Rates are often lower than on the platforms, but there is no guarantee of teaching quality.
Worth remembering: The cheapest option, provided you start with a one-hour trial
Option 4 · Structured follow-up
Who it's for: Students falling behind who need a long-term framework, families who want to delegateRate: €30-50/h before the tax credit, so €15-25/h in real termsDownside: Usually an annual commitment, check the cancellation terms
Several local and national organisations based in Reunion Island offer annual packages with a dedicated tutor, a termly progress review and coordination with the school. The 50% tax credit for home-based personal services applies to home tutoring, which makes the real rate more affordable than it first appears.
Worth remembering: The 50% tax credit halves what you actually pay
Option 5 · Often free, underused
Who it's for: All middle and high school students in Reunion IslandRate: Free or a token fee (€5-15 for a revision course)Downside: Varies from school to school, so ask directly
Many middle and high schools on the island offer internal tutoring (volunteer teachers, final-year students tutoring younger ones) and revision courses during school holidays. It's free, supervised by teachers, and hardly anyone thinks of it first. The student welfare officer (CPE) or the head teacher is the right point of contact to find out what the school offers.
Worth remembering: The island's most underused option, worth asking about first
