Education department to elicit undertaking from students and teachers against private tuition

By Our Correspondent

Agartala, June 10, 2025

Compounding a completely avoidable problem created by a foolish order from the high pedestal, the education department is now going ahead with another scheme of extracting an undertaking from teachers as well as students that they will neither give nor take private tuition. A copy of the undertaking has been sent to heads of institutions for eliciting the undertaking which will have to be submitted by tomorrow-that is, 11th June. The order sheet also contains a threat that unless the commitment given in the undertaking is complied with faithfully disciplinary measures will be initiated against the concerned teacher caught while giving private tuition.

Responding to the new circular sources among teachers associations described it as ‘thoughtless and impractical’ . They opined that teachers never force students to come for private tuition but it is the students and guardians who approach the teachers for private tuition because working days in the schools are very limited and completely inadequate to finish the annual syllabus to the satisfaction of students , specially at the higher secondary level (XI-XII). “Within the time-limit of schools it is impossible to finish the syllabus and, moreover, personal attention can not be given to so many students; additionally , there the serious problem of guardianship as students coming from poor families have to depend on teachers in classes and ,since class time is not enough, on private tuition; now the students and their guardians will suffer” said a retired teacher . He pointed out that the inadequacy in many respects in the schools is caused by extraneous factors like deputing teachers on election commission duties and this is exacerbated by the huge vacancies of teachers of all categories in state’s schools. This will encourage guardians to send their wards to costly private schools but what will the poor and middle class families do .

Moreover, sources among guardians said that the government can not stop the private practice of doctors even though they draw monthly salaries but is targeting the teachers . “It is possible only when all the schools are absolutely well equipped with adequate teachers and proper infrastructure and full working hours in schools are available ; the director of education N.C.Sharma and his bosses should realize this cardinal fact; the sooner they do so, the better for the students and their guardians” said an aggrieved guardian.

more news...