Tuition teachers out of work

Teachers complain that the Right to Education Act that disallows schools from failing students till Class 8, has led parents and kids to slack off

The Right to Education Act, which prevents schools from failing any child from Class 1 to 8, led several parents to heave a sigh of relief. Yet, seven months after it came into effect, the Act is facing resistance from unexpected quarters.


All play and no work can make Jack a dull boy.
Representational pic

Tuition teachers in the city have complained that business is down since parents don't bother sending their children to tuition classes anymore.

School teacher Aranha Francisca (35), who also takes tuitions at her central suburban home, said, "Middle and lower middle class parents have stopped sending their children for tuition after the RTE came into place, to save money. And those who have retained tuition teachers are lenient if their children bunk classes. My friends who take tuitions are facing the same problem."

Walkeshwar resident Dina Shah (30) said students don't pay as much attention to academics as they used to, thanks to the Act. "They know no one will hold them back in class. Someone I know gives tuitions for free to poor students. Even she has stopped getting students."

Shah tutors students from Class 1 to 10 across subjects. Parents however feel it is unfair to pin the blame on kids, since the school curriculum has been modified in some cases and made simpler.

Andheri resident Dinesh Tarfe (42), who has a Class 5-going child, said, "The school has omitted difficult chapters to lessen the burden on children. Now that the students are scoring well in the examinations conducted by the school, why should we waste money on tuitions?"

Raj Aloni, principal of Ramsheth Thakur Public School, Kharghar however agreed that students have grown lax. "It is true that students are not bothered about studies anymore."

Aloni, who recently retired as principal from an SSC school, added, "Many teachers from my school complained that the students' performance has deteriorated after this rule has come into force."