Tripura HC bans private tuition by govt teachers

AGARTALA: The Tripura HC has ordered a blanket ban on private tuition by teachers of government schools and colleges in the state.
Ironically, the decision was taken on Thursday, two days ahead of Teachers' Day. Disposing of a public interest litigation (PIL), a division bench comprising chief justice Deepak Gupta and justice U B Saha said, tuition for money is not acceptable anymore.
The court, however, imposed some restrictions on tuitions given by private school teachers. The bench said, "Private school teachers can give tuitions with prior permission from the authorities concerned, but without hampering classroom teaching." It said even if they are allowed to do so, they can only impart tuitions to students from other schools. In case of government schools, if additional tuitions become necessary, the teachers will take extra classes beyond school hours and school authorities will manage their compensation, the bench ruled. Expressing concern over the rampant practice of tuitions by school and college teachers, the high court has asked the state government to ensure the compliance of the government's orders banning private tuitions.
Based on a letter of a poor guardian, justice Gupta took suo moto cognizance against a section of school and college teachers and said private tuition, at least up to Class VIII, is completely against the spirit of the Right to Education (RTE) Act. Besides, the bench issued separate notices to the principals of 16 private schools asking them to file affidavits mentioning their stand on the issue. The private school authorities have opposed the practice and assured the court that they will not allow private tuitions.