Talking Point: Can govt school teachers conduct private tuitions

The Madras High Court has recently called for action to be taken against government school teachers offering private coaching. Education Times talks to stakeholders to share their views

Extra coaching equals extra attention

The Tamil Nadu government has revised the school syllabus which is quite vast. Hence, it would be in the students' best interest if a qualified and well experienced teacher provides extra coaching. The reason students take private tuitions is because they often do not pay adequate attention in class and teachers too often rush through the syllabus. When students go for tuitions, they feel it is their last resort to study seriously, and the teachers too become vigilant and expect results. I teach students after class hours but entirely free of cost. However, there is a perception among parents that quality education always comes at a price, so free tuitions may not get the attention it deserves.

- F Amjad Basha, assistant professor, post graduate department of Mathematics, The New College, Chennai

Private tuitions do not provide equal access

Government school teachers should not be allowed to take private tuitions since they often charge a handsome amount which not only exploits students and their families but also hampers the objectives for which government schools have been established, such as unemployment eradication through free education, and education for all. Students who cannot afford such fees have to forego such privileges which often acts as a barrier in their performance and potential.

- Dinesh Bhatia, advocate in Delhi District Court Tis Hazari and Delhi High Court

Government intervention required

Teachers at school have chosen this profession to contribute towards the overall wellbeing of the students and provide them with knowledge and skills. Their aim should be to effectively utilise all

their interaction time with students within school hours to develop and enhance their learning. Teaching as a profitable enterprise outside school hours is not acceptable and goes against the nobility of the profession. Teachers should plan, learn and implement strategies to make lessons more interesting for each child during school hours rather than outside it. If they are earning a fixed salary every month, why the need for private tuitions. Government needs to evaluate and monitor performance of the teachers and students to make education in government schools more viable and meaningful.

- Chandrei Choudhury, IB co-ordinator, Amity Global School , Gurgaon

Business of private coaching must stop

Private tuitions are the result of an education system where schools often pay attention to mostly the 'cream' of the batch, leaving the rest of the students at the mercy of tuition centres. The recent trend of 'dummy' schools affiliated to some board or the other has added fuel to the fire, waiving the need for class attendance. It gives children ample time to prepare both for the boards and competitive exams, and for that, they take recourse to private coaching and tuition centres. If teachers' main interest lies in providing private tuitions beyond the classroom, it negates the very meaning and existence of schools. Thanks to the culture of coaching classes, students have forgotten to make their own notes since it comes to them readymade on a platter, robbing them of their analytical and critical-thinking skills.

- Bharti Raina, parent of a class XII student in Delhi-NCR