Panel urges CM to take steps to stop tuition by teachers of state institutions

Kolkata: West Bengal Private Tuition Welfare Association (WBPTWA) has written to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and state Education minister Partha Chatterjee urging them to take steps to stop private tuition by school teachers.

At a press conference in the city, WBPTWA claimed to soon launch a strong movement against the practice of private tuition by school teachers, alleging that they have been flouting the government order and imparting private tuitions throughout the state right from primary to the Higher Secondary level. WBPTWA is an organisation of unemployed youths, who earn a living through private tuitions, and recognised by the state.

"We have been protesting against this for 17 years now. In 2009, the Supreme Court had said teachers associated with government schools from primary to Higher Secondary level cannot conduct private tuitions. The law of the state government also bars private tuition by teachers of state institutions. But the practice is rampant throughout the state and the school authorities have turned a blind eye to this," said Amitava Kar, who is the president of Cooch Behar chapter of the Association.

The WBPTWA has recently carried out a survey of where it has been found that the guardians of the students are spending a huge amount of money behind private tuitions of their wards in a number of districts in North Bengal.

"More than 2000 youths in Cooch Behar are in this profession. However, the District Inspector (DI) of schools have taken no steps," Kar alleged.