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by Afreeha Jawad

The social cost of tutories is worth probing. Seen as 'Distinction' churning centres at public exams, they get only as far as earning for one a mere paper qualification. As for life's higher values - forget it. Parents don't want that kind of stuff nor does the tutor.

All what tutors need is to send word round that the child's success was due to his coaching and the parents' concern is social glory.

Be that as it may, it is not surprising to meet many children who no longer can smile or say things that are no second to a child's nature. I know of such children - often expressionless and looking quite lost. A car is placed at the child's disposal only to be carried from one tutory to another after school and on weekends. Its more or less like the doctor's channel service - not to forget that it is in such 'learning precincts' that a child goes through a secondary socialization process where he picks up the 'finer' points of entry into adult living - the king of peer pressure inflicted living.

Hindu Boys College Principal K. Muthukumaraswamy firmly declared, "Tutories concentrate only on money. They don't inculcate values."

Taken seriously his pronouncement is food for thought.

Tutors' wallets burst at their seams, gloating parents proudly do a social broadcast of siblings' impressive academic gymnastics and recipients of distinctions and credits do a peacock strut with no constructive character formation - an essential requirement for solid societal existence.

Though the situation is reportedly far worse outside Sri Lanka Mr. Mutukumaraswamy believes the problem's arrest is worthwhile. Protecting children from external influences is his prescription to fight the malaise.

But then that's all too easily said than done because of the stringhopper like appearance of those externalities with a broad and wide network starting from corrupt politicoes to other adult members in society.

The adult world is not free of the guilt of alcohol and drug involvement. Consequently, gang formation and fights set in.

According to St. Joseph's College, Colombo Rector Rev. Fr. Victor Silva, all inter-school fights originate from something of a personal nature. It could be a big match or even a love affair in a tutory.

These tutories have children coming from various schools. So often the tutory happens to be the meeting place of opposing factions. After a few shots of liquor and drugs the squabble ends up in a big brawl - taking on the nature of a sort of inter-school feud.

The gang spirit is at its zenith among school drop outs. At grade 11 and 12 students find studies most disturbing. Under the pretext of attending school, these gangs meet at all sorts of places.

"Don't forget that these children are watching others in society do. The Mudalali has gangs. So do politicians and some others. So, these children are all the time wanting to emulate the evil in adults."

Rev. Fr. Victor Silva sees teacher/student rapport as an essential element in lessening frustration among children who finally resort to violence. But then the teacher/ guide attribute of Fr. Victor Silva is not really possible because some of today's teachers, unlike those of yesteryear, are traumatised with their own existence.

"They do their teaching well but nothing beyond that," he said.

Principal Zahira College, Dr. Uvais Ahamed, bemoaned the absence of a value based education as an essential platform for character formation. Greater emphasis is on rituals and the finer side of religion is lost. So frustration and clashes are inevitable. Children also become easy victims of the 'quick buck' mercenary attitude of tutories.

Children are also exposed to all kinds of mind polluting paraphernelia. The TV is a good educational tool. "But in what ways do children benefit from this agency?"

Students have also free access to 'adults only' films which distraught the tender mind.

At this point this writer reflected on Mr. Prabhakaran's clamp down on blue films which is worthy of emulation by rulers in the South. Perhaps, part of his cry for greater autonomy is to build a stable northern citizenry by doing things this way.

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Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
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