Tuition Time

"Chhele ta du to letter peyechhe (My son has got letter marks, 80%, in two subjects)," the agarbatti-wala told me in a cramped compartment of the usual 3.01 Dn Bongaon local today. Yesterday, results of Madhyamik Pariksha (secondary exam) were out and this incense sticks-seller was taking pride for obvious reasons. But he was wary also. For his son's Plus Two private tuition, he has already talked to four teachers of the school the boy is studying. And, the amount they are charging is beyond the man's financial reach. Now, he is thinking whether to take loan from their co-operative society (Rs 250 interest on a loan of Rs 10,000) or stop his son's education.

Problems aplenty. Esteemed teachers of government schools concentrate on offering private tuition than taking classes much like the doctors going for private practice during hospital hours! Education system, like health, should be on priority list of any government if the state wants to be on the progress path. Can we expect our HRD minister will do something striking like the chief minister in overhauling the system? Some years ago when the state government decided to ban private tuition by schoolteachers, there was an never-seen-before protests from most of them under the umbrella organisation, Left-backed ABTA. And, the party — synonymous with the Left Front government — called a press conference to clarify that such a rule would not be implemented and the party leaders would talk to the minister concerned. What followed next was nothing but a firm rebuke of the minister and withdrawal of the proposed rule.

Alternative source of income for thousands of teachers was thus secured at the expense of parents' pockets. More importantly, the teachers would not take classes seriously as they know the same student — who is also bound to be inattentive in the class — would come up to hims that very evening and take notes for better results. So, who has gained in the process? No one except the party, and teachers owing allegiance to them! For the government, teachers are a huge force not only to conduct polls but also to inject values (read, party ideology) in the tender brains.

Last but not the least: the agarbatti-walla still hopes that the new government would help his son and others like him in higher studies. Let's wait whether Mamata — who recently promised to dole out funds for meritorious students of economically backward classes — can fulfil his dream.