Education Minister Jai Bir Rai

MoE to provide tuition classes instead of private tuition

After learning that teachers of both public and private schools are providing tuitions to students to earn money, the Ministry of Education (MoE) will not allow teachers to provide private tuitions to students. Instead, the government will have the schools provide free tuitions to students in the form of remedial classes.

Tuition classes were found to be rampant in urban centers, particularly Thimphu and Phuentsholing. Tuition classes are conducted during winter and summer vacations. Students have to pay a fee of Nu 2,000 to Nu 8,000 depending on the number of subjects, and each tuition group takes in around 50 students.

MoE said that providing private tuition classes by teachers is against the education policy  guideline. It states teachers of both private and government schools are not allowed to give tuition classes to the students.

Education Minister, Jai Bir Rai, said that although there is the directive that does not allow teachers to give tuition, however, there is a problem in implementing it.

Lyonpo said, “In the past, the practice was widespread because teachers were paid less and their salary was not sufficient. And apart from salary, they did not have other benefits like the people working in government services, and in order to earn extra income to make their living, they resorted to such practices.”

He said that before implementing any rule and regulation or policy or guidelines, which have social impacts, they have to understand the issues and the ministry couldn’t do much then.

The Education Minister said that, now, with one of the highest pay raises given to the teachers, the ministry cannot allow such practice to continue, but there are still many teachers who are practicing it and the ministry is looking into it.

“With this government’s vision to narrow the gap, we cannot allow such practice because rich parents who can afford can provide tuition to their children, but what about children whose parents can’t afford it?” Lyonpo asked.

He said, “We want to give equal opportunity to our students, and for that, we cannot allow private tuition. I think it is the responsibility of teachers to provide quality education to all, and if there is need for separate tuition, the ministry and the schools are responsible to provide extra classes for those who are in need of it. The ministry will provide tuition for free.”

MoE will also create awareness among the teachers and parents to not to send their children for private tuition classes.

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