Private Tuition: Help or Bane?

In 1996, the Government made a significant decision regarding the education system in our country when it banned private tuition on Sunday mornings. The prohibition came in the wake of views from different quarters that the growing culture of private tuition was invading the day traditionally reserved for religious activities and Sunday school.

Yet despite the ban introduced a decade ago, private tuition classes continue to be held on Sundays resulting in children often opting to attend tuition classes instead of Dhamma school. The above situation provides a fine indication to the extent to which private tuition has affected Sri Lanka’s education system and become an almost parallel system over the years.

The manner in which private tuition has got entrenched into the lives of our younger generation is clear when one observes the large number of tutories mushrooming around the country, especially in the main cities.

Like many a new development, the phenomenon of private tuition also has its supporters and critics. For most students and their anxious parents, tuition is helpful, if not indispensable, for success in the present education system based on highly competitive examinations.

Talk of the drawbacks of the tuition culture and its harmful effects, they would challenge you to point out any person who excelled at O/L or A/L without the assistance of private tuition. In any case, who could blame them for using all means available to secure higher education which according to the present system is an opportunity limited only to a few? Here we feature two articles on the tution phenomenon.

On the other hand, there are many who see more negative aspects in private tuition than its advantages. The impact it has on school education and the pressure it exerts on young minds by depriving them of the leisure required for growing up are among the main arguments levelled by them against private tuition.

Have your say on the issue of private tuition to Daily News Debate. Our topic for this months is ‘Tuition: Help or Bane?’ Send in your contributions (in 750-1,000 words) to ‘Daily News Debate’, Daily News, Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Limited, PO Box 1217, Colombo, or via e-mail to [email protected] before July 20, 2007.

Is private tuition essential?

Ananda Kannangara

There are various views on private tuition. Some parents and students think it is a ‘must’ while others think it can only complement what is taught in schools. There are a few who think it is entirely unnecessary. We spoke to a number of teachers and students to get their views.

PERSONAL FREEDOM: Pasindu Madusanka of Nalanda College, Colombo who got second highest marks islandwide in the last (O/L) was not against private tuition classes.

“I too went for private tuition for Mathematics and English, but I feel if anybody attending schools regularly and follow it up with their school work it is not necessary to obtain private tuition,” he explained. Principal of St. Paul’s, Milagiriya, Geetha Abegunawardane said she was not totally against children in the (O/L) and (A/L) classes going for private tuition, but that should not be a must for them.

“Today almost all teachers are academically qualified with good teaching ability and, therefore I feel if students

 attend schools regularly and focus much attention on their educational activities, private tuition is not necessary at all for them,” she said.

Obtaining private tuition has become a new trend today and has also become a lucrative business for teachers. “As we are aware, the majority who are not regular in attending schools go for tuition, and like to enjoy with friends but not to study,” she said.

Some children go for it for their personal freedom. Unlike in schools, they are allowed to bring in their mobile phones, she pointed out. Deputy Principal of a leading girls’ school Anula Dassanayake was also of the same opinion that if they attend schools regularly, they need not go for tuition.

“Anyway I personally oppose students in lower classes obtaining private tuition.”

She had also asked the education authorities to increase the time duration of subject periods, since 45 minutes per subject is not sufficient. Deputy Principal of another girls’ school Mangalika Gamage said private tuition for students in rural schools on the grounds that the majority of schools lack qualified teachers is acceptable.

“But when there are qualified teachers in Colombo schools, it is not at all unnecessary for students to seek private tuition,” she said.

Takshila Rajapaksha a student of St. Paul’s Girls School, Milagiriya confessed she attended tuition classes for Mathematics, Science, Commerce and English which helped her to obtain nine `A’ passes at the last GCE (O/L) examination.

“I never forget the teachers in my school, who had also helped me a lot in our lessons, conducted additional classes, but then again I was compelled to aim higher by attending private classes,” she said.

Sixteen-year-old Yasitha Kodagoda who is a student of a leading school in Colombo said she obtained 10 `A’ passes in the last GCE (O/L) examination and wished to continue with her higher studies in the Mathematics stream.

“I think I was able to get these results due to the sacrifice and devotion, made by me towards my daily lessons in school.”

She too, went for private tuition in Mathematics, Science, Commerce and English with the intention of acquiring an additional knowledge in order to face the future educational challenges.

Hasini Rathsara Weeratunga of Devi Balika Vidyalaya, Colombo who received highest islandwide marks at the GCE (O/L) examination last year said that devotion towards studies is the only way to achieve better results at any examination. “I always focus my attention on my day-to-day educational activities in school rather than attending tuition classes,” she said.

She said she was not against anybody attending private tuition classes, but they must know that the knowledge given at private classes could also be obtained by attending schools regularly.

Pasindu Madusanka of Nalanda College, Colombo who got second highest marks islandwide in the last (O/L) was not against private tuition classes. “I too went for private tuition for Mathematics and English, but I feel if anybody attending schools regularly and follow it up with their school work it is not necessary to obtain private tuition,” he explained.

Sachil Atapattu of Royal College, Colombo who secured the third islandwide highest place at the GCE (O/L) examination last time commended the College staff for conducting extra classes for students every year.

“If students attend schools everyday and do their day-to-day work regularly, then private tuition is not a must for them,” he added.

He also advised students to devote much time on educational publications and to watch educationally important programs on TV.

Retired school teacher Malathi Godakumbura of Negombo said that she was against students, especially in Colombo, Gampaha, Galle, Kandy, Kurunegala and Ratnapura areas going for private tuition for GCE (O/L) subjects.

“Schools in big towns have academically qualified teachers and therefore students in such schools need not go for private tuition,” she said. She however said that it was not wrong for children in rural schools to attend private tuition.

A mother of two, Wathsala Kapuruge of Rajagiriya said that she had to send her only daughter to a private tuition class, since the class is conducted by the same teacher who teaches her in school.

“However I appeal to the educational authorities to ban Government teachers conducting private classes, as students are lured by these teachers to attend their private classes.” she said.

A father of three school - going children Raja Wathugedara of Kandy blamed the majority of teachers of State schools for not rendering a good service towards their students.

“This is why we are compelled to send them for private tuition,” he said. A bank employee and mother of three, Chitrangani Rajakarunanayaka of Piliyandala said: “My son is studying in a popular school in Colombo and according to him teachers do not turn up on many occasion and this is why I had to send my children for private tuition.”

“However I earnestly appeal to the educational authorities to deploy a flying squad like in the SLCTB buses and rope in errant teachers as well as principals,” she demanded.

A principal of a mixed school in the Sabaragamuwa Province Sirisumana Kotalawala asked teachers not to blame students for attending private tuition classes.

“As most schools are not giving them a better education like in private schools, let them obtain their education in private classes,” he said.

School-teacher Kesara Wijegunawardana of Kadawatha said the time duration given for one subject is 45 minutes and this short period is not enough to explain subjects like Mathematics, Commerce, Accounting and Science. Therefore this duration must be extended to at least two hours, like in private classes.

Nimal Premaratna of Avissawella said that some academically qualified persons were not good teachers. “They lack the teaching ability and that’s why I send my two children to private tuition classes.”

Kicking and screaming through tuition

Samangie Wettimuny

TUITION INDUSTRY: “We couldn’t see our tuition master in our Economics class, Using huge projectors, he delivered his lecture from somewhere. I couldn’t get the hang of what he taught”, Hashini, a Colombo College student said.

Displaying the so-called excellent performances of their previous year’s batch is the popular lure used by these tuition sharks to attract students.

A private sector employee, Prasad spends more than Rs.16000 a month on his children’s tuition fees. As he doesn’t want to send his children to tuition classes away from home, the tutors visit his house.

According to him, the atmosphere in tuition classes is not favourable to children. If asked “what do you normally do after school?”, more than ninety five per cent of school children would give one common answer: Attending tuition. About four or five decades ago there were no tuition classes conducted on a major scale.

It was only the slow learning students that sought the help of a tuition master. But it appears, our students now cannot get through examinations without attending tuition classes. As 19 year old Sachin who passed his A/L’s quite effortlessly observes: “Getting through A/L’s in the Science stream is not easy.

The syllabus is huge and the exam is competitive. What we learn at school is not at all sufficient to obtain the required marks. We need extra lessons as well. The classes I attended were exam- oriented, where they used to discuss relevant questions from past papers at the end of each unit. If not for the tuition classes, I would not have been able to achieve my target.”

But, then, why are small, unwilling children being ‘dragged’ into these tuition sweat shops? Though such classes are anathema to nine-year old Dhanuka, his mother doesn’t want to take a chance, as she ‘believes’ that the Year 5 Scholarship is the most competitive exam.

“I want to get him admitted to the best school. His school teachers are not very efficient. So how can he pass the exam without attending tuition”, she asks.

That’s how the rat race begins. The competition between parents too, boosts the tuition industry. Parents generally try to get a leg up over their relations or neighbours, by sending their children to more tuition classes.

“If the neighbour’s child attends two classes for a particular subject, they want to send their child to three classes for the same subject. The more the competition, the more the number of classes they attend.”

Since there are a large number of students in a class, school teachers find it difficult to pay individual attention to each and every child. Also, the students have to engage in extra-curricular activities.

But as Mrs. Weerasingha, a Geography teacher observes, one cannot underestimate extra-curricular activities.

“School education is not merely exam- oriented, it provides integral education. In fact, we can fix up these ‘extra’ activities after school. But then, hardly anybody would stay, as they have to attend tuition classes.

I’m ready to conduct after school classes to cover the syllabus. There too, the same problem arises.” For students, tuition classes are the most popular source of instruction. Classes are not for charity. Tuition masters charge the earth.

Time was when the education system was centered around ‘pirivenas’ and the Buddhist monks imparted knowledge free of charge. It is a pity that they too have got into this business now”, said a retired teacher.

Mainly, there are three types of tuition classes, group classes, whole classes and individual classes.” In certain classes, they charge on a daily basis. At the end of each lesson, the students have to pay the required amount. If the student is unable to pay that amount he will miss the lecture.”

“Tuition charges for London O/L’s and A/L’s are high, compared with those of local exams”, says Anushka who sits for her London A/L’s this year. I take individual tuition for Pure Maths and my tuition master levies Rs.2500 for a two hour lesson.”

Certain tuition teachers charge unreasonably from students, forgetting that they have benefited from free education. But ‘good’ teachers always charge reasonably. The whole classes, which have even more than 600 students are of little use. In certain classes, ‘low grade humour’ plays a major role in attracting students.

“Some tuition teachers waste a lot of time on risque and colourless jokes at the beginning, and at the end they fix extra classes to cover the syllabus.

“Extra classes mean extra income for them. But for our parents, it is the other way round.”, complained Lathika.

Moreover, when everything is being taught at the last minute, only a very little could be absorbed.

Education was a lifelong process for our great grandfathers - even for us. They used to enjoy their leisure time, but the present generation is deprived of such happiness. Since the majority is of the view that success in education means everything, the students are caught up in this rat race. There is no one challenging this system.

Courtesy: Sunday Observer