kolkata

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; Kolkata: The School Education Department has issued a strict directive aimed at curbing the practice of private tuition by permanent government school teachers. While the Right to Education Act already prohibits government teachers from engaging in private tutoring, allegations have persisted that some teachers continued to offer paid private lessons in violation of the law. In an effort to put an end to this practice, the state government has now signaled a tougher approach and warned of stringent administrative action against those found violating the rules.

The new guidelines issued by the School Education Department, no teacher employed in a government or government-aided school will be permitted to engage in private tuition. The directive clearly states that if any teacher provides private coaching to students, whether from their own school or from any other educational institution, the concerned District Inspector of Schools and the School Education Department will initiate strict administrative proceedings against the individual concerned.

The prohibition is rooted in Section 28 of the Right to Education Act, 2009, which explicitly bars government school teachers from undertaking private tuition. Despite the existence of this legal provision, complaints have repeatedly surfaced over the years alleging that many teachers continued to conduct private coaching classes. Critics have argued that previous efforts failed to effectively curb the trend, allowing the practice to become widespread in several areas.

The latest move by the state government reportedly comes after receiving a communication from the National Human Rights Commission regarding the issue. Following this, the School Education Department on Thursday issued instructions to school inspectors across all districts, making it clear that any complaint related to private tuition by government teachers would be thoroughly investigated and appropriate action would be taken wherever necessary.

The issue has remained controversial because of allegations that some teachers pressured students to enroll in their private coaching classes. There have also been complaints that certain students were allegedly threatened with poor academic performance, lower marks, or other disadvantages if they chose not to attend such tuition sessions. Supporters of the new directive believe that the fear of disciplinary action may help eliminate such practices and restore fairness within the education system.

Educationist Kinkar Adhikari, General Secretary of Shikshanuragi Oikyamancha, emphasized that improving the overall quality and infrastructure of schools should remain a top priority. According to him, if schools are able to provide comprehensive and effective education, there would be far less need for students to depend on private tutors. He argued that policymakers should also examine why parents continue to seek the services of experienced private tutors and address those underlying concerns through improvements within the school system itself.

The Secondary Teachers and Employees Association has called for a scientific implementation of the curriculum and improvements in the student-teacher ratio before focusing solely on restrictions. The organization believes that structural reforms in the education sector are equally important to achieving better learning outcomes.

The government's decision has been welcomed by many independent private tutors who do not hold government teaching positions. The West Bengal Private Tutors’ Welfare Association stated that it is optimistic about the new notification and hopes that it will be implemented effectively. The association revealed that after the formation of the new government in the state, it had already submitted memorandums to legislators highlighting concerns related to the issue.

The association also warned that if the prohibition remains only on paper and is not enforced in practice, it may launch a statewide movement demanding strict implementation of the rules. As the new guidelines come into effect, attention will now turn to how rigorously the authorities monitor compliance and whether the long-standing culture of private tuition by government teachers can finally be brought under control.