Tuition culture has thrived here for decades together; the reports of government teachers involved is an abuse of Right to Education of children at schools. Parents and students are often too afraid to file complaints, while the stakeholders turn a blind eye. That the authorities in Anantnag district have brought to light the directions to keep at bay all categories of government teachers engaging in private tuitions/ coaching, is praiseworthy and bodes very well in every sense of the word.
Remarkably, there are unambiguous directions in place — spanning several years by the School Education Department, JK( SEDJK) — barring government teachers, across the UT, from holding tuitions. The living document has witnessed significant amount of bearing on the pressing matter in question on the ground; yet it is unsavory from scores of government personnel preferring to push the boundaries– their unwavering precedence to private tuitions. The recent directive is a dead giveaway .
With the unlawful activity up for grabs, it is by far and away crystal clear that such elements are overstepping in cahoots with certain quarters on whose shoulders lies the onus of keeping the codal norms afloat on the ground. By bending the rules, even the non-teaching workforce have been found pouncing on the prey. This raises many an eye brow .
The willful misconduct by the government employees deals a massive blow to the state of affairs at the schools in terms of discipline, attendance (of both teachers and students) . That ironically finds the government at the receiving end. With private tuitions/coaching and hush money to plunge into it paying rich dividends, why abide by the SED circular? To right the wrong, abandoning complacency and callousness towards the issue are prime requirements.
Granted that private tuition has covered itself in glory in cementing its place as an effective medium of educating students but school education realistically remains the more viable avenue; bolstering its image and helping it reclaim the pivotal place, is our collective responsibility: school environment bears the promise and potential of preparing children, our future, for confronting the challenges of life skillfully; can ensure inclusive learning and promote their well-being.
But private tuition has its downside for society. Bereft of legal and/ or moral fear, a plenty of self-serving employees indulge in private tuitions. Such employees deprive the educated hopefuls of earning their livelihood through coaching as the scourge of bribery and favoritism gets spurred. Resultantly, the shinning goal of quality education gets defeated ; in the worst case scenario, economic disparities steal the show, leading to insecurities in the wider society.
To ensure that the government school teachers do not fudge attendance in quest for their share of the pie at coaching centres, the government has done a laudable job : banned private tuition/ coaching by the government teachers .
It is hoped that the tuition ban is respected and adhered to. But defeating human mind is a challenging task. Past experience presents no rosy picture. No government employee can justify practicing private tuitions. And employing her/ himself at a coaching centre is disservice to school education by a government teacher of any category. Implementing the tuition- ban calls for a courageous heart and a visionary mindset .
Should the prohibition not get off the ground, school education is likely to become the first causality ; classrooms at schools, especially at the high and higher secondary schools, may remain hungry for students. The successive governments have redoubled their efforts on several occasions to make teachers toe the line . Even the provision of facilities — toilet, drinking water, heating, separate tuitions for boys and girls and waiting rooms for students at the centers— is awaited in 80% cases.
Agreed that some teachers were taken to task and even some facilities came up at coaching centres, things are still in their infancy. Having admittedly done considerably well for strengthening school education, the SED needs to equip itself with a follow -up roster, a must-have measure to enforcing the anti-tuition directive in relation to government employees– mostly teaching officials .
Government teachers are mandated to teach only at schools . Thus the educated job seeking youths can employ themselves at the coaching centres. With government teachers away and at schools, the student community, especially those who cannot afford good tuitions, will reap the crop.
In addition, the private tuition ban has injected hope in common people, expecting that private practice by doctors may also be banned strictly. After all, the doctors are paid to treat people (at government hospitals) from the same treasuries as teachers and finding them at private clinics during office hours –though they are paid higher salaries than most teachers– is deplorable and worrisome.
Why do government teachers venture out for tuitions? Yes, some do so out of greed after pocketing hefty salaries and having other sources of income as well . However, most of them are pushed to it by their abject desperation to make modest houses, get their siblings married and meet medical expenses of their parents. Also to buy a piece of land for a house construction, repay bank loans and pay the other expenses.
Doing tuitions, especially in winter’s bone chilling conditions, is not a dream come true endeavor for these teachers. Nor does it make them richer: it merely keeps their hearth burning and meets their essential needs. Will it not look reprehensible if a teacher is in poor financial conditions , affecting his /her mental health and social status?
Pertinently, there is no guarantee that the executive hands will stay impartial to enforce the tuition ban. Further, it is not written on the foreheads of the tuition- giving employees that they are on government payroll. Sustained and coordinated efforts are required to give teeth to the tuition ban and protect school education from greed and neglect.
(Author is a teacher by profession and RK Columnist. Feedback: [email protected])
