Several organisations are expected to look after the protection and welfare of children. Parents, teachers and government have a key role to play in this aspect. If any of the three parties fails in their duties, the whole system is bound to fail. Each party has heavy responsibilities.

It is sad to note that political parties dance to the tune of the season. I fully agree that there should be a dose of competition in primary and secondary schools, as we have in sports at any level. This is natural. There should be fair play and no doping. We must protect our children from the fetters of greedy teachers and over-ambitious parents. Teaching is a noble profession. It is not a job, but a vocation.

Many teachers at primary level give private tuition (i) during weekdays at school and (ii) during weekends at home. With separate tuition fees, of course. And the parents, happily or unhappily, adhere to such dirty schemes of giving two tuitions to their children. Do they realise that they are doing more harm than good to their poor offspring? Very often tuition starts at 8am and continues in the afternoon up to 5pm. Tuition again on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays. Enough is enough. The children have no time to play, no time to have a hobby, no free time and no time to participate in any social activity. They are always taken up with their homework. In the end, all this affects their health.

<B>Students live a life of slavery</B>

At secondary level, it is the same thing. Many students at Form V level take two tuitions in some subjects. At Form VI level, many students take two tuitions in each main subject and General Paper. Tuition everyday, even on Sundays and public holidays. All this is equivalent to a form of hard labour. Students are living a life of slavery. The parents and the government are equally responsible for such a state of things. Several governments have tried to find a solution without much success. It is a vicious circle. To protect our children, there is no option. The government should legislate so as to free children on Sundays.

Allow me to make the following suggestions:

Legislation by the government so that teachers (primary and secondary) shall have no right to give tuition to any student and the parents (responsible parties) shall have no right to send their children/wards to take private tuition (with or without pay) (a) on Sundays (b) after 5 pm on weekdays and Saturdays. Penalties should be heavy.

To find a reasonable solution for everybody, pending the implementation of the new proposals for CPE exams, government should suppress the A+ and enforce A from 80 marks and above.

Hoping that all parties concerned will collaborate and co-operate in this delicate and serious matter.

Atmanand G. FOKEER</B>