How to Choose an Online Quran Academy for Your Child: 10 Questions to Ask Before You Pay

Disclosure: I run Online Quran Lessons, an online Quran academy, so I am not neutral. What follows is the checklist I would give any parent, whichever academy they choose.

There are now hundreds of online Quran academies, and almost every one calls itself "the best". For a parent, the websites start to look the same: qualified teachers, flexible timings, free trial. So how do you actually tell them apart?

After years of teaching children online, I have found that the difference is rarely in the marketing. It is in a handful of practical details that most parents only discover after they have paid. Here are ten questions to ask before you sign up.

1. Is every class live and one-to-one?

A child learning to read the Quran needs a teacher who hears every letter and corrects it on the spot. In a group of eight or ten, most children spend the class waiting for their turn. Recorded videos and apps can help with revision, but they cannot correct pronunciation. For young beginners, one-to-one live classes are worth the extra cost.

2. How long is each class, and how often?

For children under ten, 30 minutes is usually the right length. Longer than that and attention drifts. Frequency matters more than length: three or four short classes a week build fluent reading much faster than one long weekend class. Ask what plans are available and what they cost per class, not just per month.

3. Can I choose a male or female teacher, and does it cost more?

Many families prefer a female teacher, especially for daughters. Some academies charge extra for this or have a waiting list. Ask directly, and ask whether you can switch teacher later if your child does not settle.

4. Can I sit in on the classes?

This is the single most important safeguarding question. A trustworthy academy will let you watch any lesson, at any time, without warning. If an academy is reluctant, keep looking.

5. Who checks the quality of the teaching?

Ask whether anyone besides the teacher reviews the classes. Some academies have a supervisor who sits in on lessons or reviews recordings. This catches problems early, such as a teacher who is impatient, late, or not correcting mistakes properly.

6. How many free trial classes do I get, and do I need a card?

One trial lesson is often not enough. A child may be shy in the first class and only relax in the second or third. Look for a trial of more than one class, with no payment details required.

7. What happens if it doesn't work out?

Read the refund and cancellation terms before you pay. Is there a money-back guarantee? Can you cancel any month? What notice do you need to give to cancel or reschedule a class? Good academies publish these terms clearly on their website.

8. What does my child actually study, in what order?

A child who cannot yet read Arabic should start with the Noorani Qaida (the letters and their sounds), then move to reading the Quran with Tajweed, and only then, if the family wishes, to memorisation (Hifz). Ask how the academy decides when your child is ready to move on. Rushing ahead is one of the most common reasons children lose confidence.

9. How will I know my child is making progress?

Ask how often you will hear from the teacher, and in what form: a short message after each class, a monthly report, or a test. You should always know what your child is working on and what to practise at home.

10. What do other parents say?

Look for reviews on independent sites, not just testimonials on the academy's own website. Better still, ask other parents in your community which academy their children use and whether they are happy.

A few warning signs

• Pressure to pay for several months in advance before a trial.
• No clear prices on the website.
• A teacher who changes every week.
• No way for parents to watch the class.
• Children spending most of the lesson listening rather than reading.

What we do at Online Quran Lessons

Since this is our field, here is how our own academy answers these questions, so you can compare:

• Live one-to-one classes of 30 minutes, from 1 to 5 classes a week.
• Male or female teacher for the same fee, and you can change teacher at any time.
• Parents can sit in on any lesson, and a female supervisor checks classes for teaching quality.
• Up to 3 free trial classes, with no card needed.
• A 7-day money-back guarantee on the first paid month, and no registration fee.
• Noorani Qaida, Quran reading with Tajweed, Hifz and Islamic Studies, for children from age 4.

You can see our plans and prices at onlinequranlessons.com/pricing.

Whichever academy you choose, use the free trial properly. Sit next to your child, watch how the teacher corrects mistakes, and notice how your child feels at the end of the class. A child who finishes the lesson smiling and wants to come back is the best sign you have found the right teacher.

Ibrahim Sattar is the founder of Online Quran Lessons (onlinequranlessons.com), which has taught Quran, Tajweed and Hifz online since 2018.