Private Tuition Still Rampant, Dispur Looks The Other Way

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Two years after Dispur imposed a ban on private tuition by college teachers, such practice is still rampant due to failure of the Education department to enforce the ban.

Even though there has been a decline in the number of college teachers engaging themselves in activities of private institutions, private tuition is still proving to be a lucrative deal for many teachers.

“Since Dispur has imposed a ban, teachers are taking precautionary measures to continue as well as justify private tuition. Majority of teachers are doing tuition in groups on the ground of improving academic performances of weak students. They argue that such students need attention and efforts of teachers beyond classroom teaching. In many cases teachers take written consents of parents before starting tuition to escape from legal hassles and justify their practice,” a member of Assam College Teachers’ Association (ACTA) said.

The ACTA member who has been very vocal against private tuition, alleged that the Education department has completely failed to enforce the ban. He also alleged that those doing private tuition are maintaining “good relationship” with officials of the Education department. “Teachers of all leading colleges are engaged in private tuition,” he said.

In 2017, an office memorandum issued by the then Principal Secretary to Higher Education department Ajay Tiwari categorically stated that “private organized tuitions by college teachers or participation in any such private coaching centres/tuition houses by any regular teacher of provincialised and government degree colleges is hereby banned.” It said departmental action will be initiated against any teacher found participating in any private tuition house/coaching centre at any time of the day.

According to the office memorandum, the Higher Education department has received information about college teachers who are substantively holding posts in provincialised and government degree colleges and yet participating in private tuition centres/coaching centres.

“Such participation in private tuitions hampers classroom teaching by teachers in institutes where they are substantively appointed. Further, this trend spreads a sense of insecurity amongst college students where they tend to believe that they would not be able to do well unless they too take private tuitions. This also results in disparity amongst students and impairs the goal of equity and access to higher studies. This trend has led to skipping of regular classes by many students and has resulted in decreasing attendance in regular classes,” the office memo stated.

Also Read: Traffic Congestion: Gauhati High Court Seeks Action Taken Status From Dispur

Also Watch: Guwahati all set to celebrate Vishwakarma Puja | The Sentinel News | Assam News