Excellent posts from Kaptin M & Hugh Jarse and I agree the CFI should best be the one doing the job of Mentor...
However this is not a perfect world and whilst General Aviation says there is nothing wrong with our standards the Airlines do not agree, and after all shouldn't we listen to what they (the future employers) are saying.
(This information I have been given in a number of personal interviews with the Chief Pilot of our countrie's largest Airline.)
If the minimum times for various licences and ratings can be achieved by an above average student in ideal conditions why are so few achieving these?
ie how can I turn this student into an above average student by providing him/her with ideal learning conditions?
(and also reaching much higher standards in the process)
I am sugesting an independant mentor could (with the right sort of input and thinking outside the box) achieve this,
My 2 cents worth ...