The article ?Private tuition: an economic and social injustice? published in Outlook dated February 7, 2006 attracted my attention. I went through it several times and could not agree with the writer Dr. Saoud BACCUS completely.

Private tuition is an informal education system. Its objectives are to help slow learners in their studies by giving them additional work and explanations and to prepare private candidates, who do not or cannot go to school, for their examinations. This system does not exist in Mauritius only but in many countries in the world, for instance UK or India, where the teachers even go to students? houses to give private tuition.

Dr. Baccus mentioned in his article that lawmakers should criminalise private tuition as it favours one segment of the population, the rich, and because teachers should not be allowed to work after school hours. I would like to ask him if he has thought about slow learners and the private candidates before stating that?

He has said that teachers do very little in school. I do not know where he got this information from. Did the ministry of Education or some other organization conduct any survey on it? Let?s agree with him that teachers do very little in school, but do all teachers work in the same way? By generalizing the issue does he not discourage the teachers who really work very hard?

Difficult and monotonous

Dr. Baccus also claims that ?private tuition is socially unjust, unacceptable and hardly democratic, the playing field is not level. Due to private tuition, only the rich kids will do better in school than poorer students?. I do not find this completely true. Many students from poor family backgrounds do quite well in examinations. Take the example of the shoemaker?s child who became a laureate in the 2005 HSC examination. I partly agree with Dr Baccus that they might do better if they also are given private education. But this job can be done at school the way some private fee-paying schools do. They keep slow learners from 2.30 pm to 3.30 pm for extra tuition to make sure they understand their lessons and get a good result. So, they do not need or even have the time to take tuition. I know many readers will not agree with me if I say that the government should pay additional salary to teachers working overtime! Yes, if they work extra hours they are supposed to get extra pay.

Teaching is a very difficult and monotonous job. Most teachers are tired of doing the same thing everyday. There is very little chance of getting promotion. A teacher?s job starts early in the morning and does not end at 2.30 pm... Very often they have bulky work to do at home. Many teachers go to the MIE after school to take courses till late. During the holidays they prepare the term planner, scheme of work, lesson plan, question papers for term examinations, etc. as well as mark papers. Those who are envious of teachers, thinking they go home earlier than them and get more holidays, do they think about all this work?

It is true that teachers are not paid as well as doctors, lawyers and other professionals. So, what is wrong if they give private tuition for some additional income? I agree that teachers should declare it in their income tax returns and pay tax honestly. However, Dr. Baccus is not right to blame only teachers and accuse them of being liars by not showing their side income. There are other professionals who after completing their duties at their respective work place take up part-time jobs to make both ends meet. There is nothing wrong in it as far as this job is legal and honest.

Students not compelled

I would like to bring to the attention of Dr. Baccus the fact that there are several institutions like Mutual Aid, Mauritius Housing Company and other commercial banks which offer loans at affordable interest rates. It is not at all mandatory that mansions built by teachers are from the income of private tuition.

Furthermore, students are not compelled to take tuition. They do so out of their own will. Also there are some teachers who sacrifice their time and energy to give additional help free of charge to students especially those who are not financially sound. Why do we close our eyes on these teachers?

Dr. Baccus has accused only teachers of giving tuition. I think he is unaware that many young graduates and even HSC holders are giving private tuition as they are unemployed. This way they are earning their livelihood and may be sustaining a family where they are the only bread-winners. If the government listens to Dr. Baccus, what will happen to these poor unemployed people?

I believe that instead of wasting time in accusing teachers and blaming them, we should motivate them to work harder and train them in order to improve the educational system of our country. We must not forget that teachers are the architects of a country since they design the future citizens. They are the ones who produce professionals, leaders, businessmen etc. and it is mainly due to them that we are today whoever we are!

M. SARDAR