Sometimes you gotta do, what you gotta do to take a class. That said, it is very rare for an instructor not to be able to find a former student or just another friend to tag along on a dive and play buddy for a class.
Solo academic work is fine, but I have done enough advanced training to make having a "buddy" outside of the instructor a prerequisite for in-water class work. The difference in quality and experience is just night and day.
Where I am, you normally have a line of former students who will hop in and play the role of the additional student. Typically we have courses with teams of three but two will work.
The former student gets good practice while helping out the current student. Plus, it is loads of fun!!
Never will you see 1 on 1 in-water instruction for tech courses based on all the reasons mentioned above.