The Controversy Surrounding a Young Prodigy's Tutoring Services Sparks National Debate
Explore the ongoing public debate about a gifted 9-year-old university student offering high-priced tutoring, the concerns raised by experts, and the defense mounted by child rights advocates.
A large family with a gifted young girl has been under intense public scrutiny for over a year. While the child rights ombudsman has stepped in to support the 9-year-old student, a prominent academic calls for an investigation into her father's actions.
Parents know all too well that finding a qualified tutor can be more stressful than the exams themselves. Securing the right specialist is not only challenging but can also be costly: tutoring rates for subjects like math or English typically range from $10 to $35 per academic hour, according to online listings. Recently, however, a new benchmark was set by a unique specialist—her proud father claims that Alice Teplyakova, the prodigy herself, now offers consultations charging an astonishing $700 per session.
Evgeny Teplyakov revealed this when responding to a follower's inquiry about whether the 9-year-old Moscow State University student could tutor her son. "If you are seeking a psychological consultation from Alice regarding your child's giftedness, it will also be expensive—$700 per academic hour," he explained. "As you can imagine, Alice is a unique specialist with limited availability, so the rates are high."
The demand for these sessions has been so high that no appointment slots remain, sparking heated discussions online. Many express outrage over the steep fees charged by a first-year university student. Social media users are calling for law enforcement to investigate the Teplyakov family to determine whether these tutoring sessions constitute child labor exploitation. However, the child ombudsman has already engaged with the family and publicly supports them.
"Alice Teplyakova's story touches everyone. I have been in contact with the family and met with Alice's father. I want to highlight that the Teplyakov family has faced relentless bullying," said Moscow’s child rights commissioner Olga Yaroslavskaya in an interview with RIA News. "Initially, everyone was excited about Alice attending university, but when challenges arose, many turned their backs. She is still a child, and it's not easy for her."
Yaroslavskaya believes the system is overwhelmed and unsure how to handle children with such exceptional talents. According to her, Alice has not violated any laws; she legally passed the national exams with outstanding results and gained admission to Moscow State University on equal footing with other applicants.
- Evgeny Teplyakov shares insights on why not all students become prodigies
On the other hand, Gennady Onishchenko, Vice President of the Russian Academy of Education and a medical doctor, holds a contrasting view. "She is under tremendous stress and cannot fully comprehend her situation due to her developmental stage. This is a harsh experiment. The issue is not the $700 fee but the well-being of the girl herself," Onishchenko expressed with concern. He emphasized that despite her remarkable abilities, Alice is still growing and requires psychological support.
"It is clear that the father needs funds for her education, but this borders on child labor exploitation, and he should be held accountable under criminal and administrative laws," stated the academician.
Onishchenko worries about the 9-year-old MSU student’s condition, noting that her studies are already a significant challenge—not due to her intellect but because of her age-related limitations. Adding psychological consultation sessions on top of her academic load is concerning. Professional psychologists also disapprove of the tutoring idea, stating that after the first semester, it becomes impossible for Alice to provide such help.
- A psychologist discusses how Alice Teplyakova might view her father when she grows up
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Photos: personal archive, video footage
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