Karnataka government comes down on tuition mafia
Pre-university teachers who take private tuitions will be dismissed from service, if they don’t desist.
Following a number of complaints received against teachers working at several government and aided PU colleges in the state conducting private tuitions after college hours, the department of pre-university education (PUE) has issued this ultimate threat.
A circular issued by the director of the PUE department Ramegowda states: “If a teacher working at a government or aided college continues to take private tuitions, severe disciplinary action will be initiated against them. The same applies to private coaching centres which use government and aided college lecturers to run their coaching centres.”
A senior official of the PUE department said on condition of anonymity: “Every year, we direct our teachers not to take private tuitions. But this year, we have warned them of dismissal. Though the government has banned private tuitions, most teachers have continued to do so. Some have a tie-up with nearby coaching centres and some take up the same at their residence.”
The Karnataka State PU Federation backs the move for dismissal. Federation general secretary G K Sriram said: “We will never support teachers who cheat students in the classroom and conduct tuitions.”
In the last three months, the department has received over 50 complaints against PU college lecturers who are taking private tuitions.
Ramegowda has called a meeting with all deputy directors of pre-university education on Monday to obtain information on the number of teachers involved in private tuitions. The department plans to initiate enquiries against such teachers.
“During the enquiry, if it is proved that a teacher is conducting tuitions, we will not wait for any other report. We will issue their dismissal order immediately,” the official said.
According to section (4) of the Karnataka Education Act-1983, the State Government has prohibited private tuitions. If anyone wants to conduct private tuitions, he/she must register the same with the DDPU of that district concerned. The Act, however, doesn’t specify what disciplinary action can be taken against erring teachers.
In Mysore, DDPU K M Puttu said there was no such case in the district. “I discussed the matter with principals of all colleges immediately after I received the circular from the director on Tuesday.”
Mysore DDPU K M Puttu said: “I strictly informed the principals that I will report to the government if the faculty conduct private tuition against the rules.
On whether action against the faculty would demoralise them, Puttu said parents would have to play an important role in discouraging government lecturers from taking private tuitions by not sending their wards.
Students, parents and the public are free to complain to the department directly.
Charges
According to H S Nagaraja, founder of BASE, a leading coaching centre, most admissions are made at private coaching centres due to the system itself. “In the formal system there is no place for coaching for entrance exams like IIT and NIT and that is the main reason for the growth of the tuition industry.”
The charges for tuition vary from subject to subject. To coach Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, individuals in Bangalore charge `5,000 to `25,000 for 8 months per subject.
Established institutions charge between `30,000 to ` 60,000 per subject per annum.
For Accountancy, Economics and Business studies, individuals charge anywhere from `2,500 to `5,000 per year per subject. Institutions charge around `10,000 to ` 15,000 per year per subject. For English, individuals charge around `10,000 to ` 12,000 per year.
In Hubli, for Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology, the charges are `12,500 for all four, per annum. The other package where the subjects are taught during the May-June vacation costs ` 8,000.