Why We Don’t Offer Paid Mentorship Programmes

From time to time, we’ll be asked why Altum Academy doesn’t offer all-expenses-paid mentorship or “bonded” teacher training programmes.

The short answer: these programmes often serve the studio more than the student.

The Problem with Bonded Training

All-expenses-paid programmes are usually offered by studios in urgent need of manpower. They attract students with the promise of guaranteed certification in exchange for an upfront commitment to work. On paper, this might look appealing. In practice, it often leads to problems.

We’ve heard repeated feedback from students in such arrangements:

• Long hours, low pay: often below market standards

• Lack of respect: managers adopting an “I own you” attitude

• Misuse of hours": students made to do non-teaching tasks just to fulfil their bond

The result is not mentorship, but obligation.

Why Altum Chooses a Different Path

At Altum, we choose not to bind our teachers with financial obligations or contractual bonds. We want teachers who stay because they want to, not because they have to.

This creates:

• Clarity in relationships: no hidden obligations

• Mutual respect: teachers and mentors choose each other freely

• True growth: fuelled by willingness, not enforcement

Our teachers serve and grow with us because they believe in the work, not because a contract compels them to.

That, to us, is the foundation of a lasting and authentic teaching community.