• Fmr. Nat’l Organiser and current member of the All-Island Professional Lecturers’ Asso. and a leading private tutor Hemapriya Kaviratne observed that the pvt. tuition class sector is more modernised than the school edu. system due to rapid advancements 

The exam-based, competitive, and conservative education system does not allow students to think freely and be creative, which in turn contributes to increased stress among students. In such a context, education reforms are necessary for Sri Lanka.

This was noted by the former National Organiser and current member of the All-Island Professional Lecturers’ Association and a leading private tutor Hemapriya Kaviratne. In an interview with The Daily Morning, he added that reforms however need to be novel too, as those coming from the existing education system cannot bring about innovative reforms that lead to change.

Following are excerpts from the interview: 

There has been a discussion on regulating the private tuition sector for some time, and previous governments have taken steps from time to time. What do you think about regulating this sector?

The private tuition sector is a widely diverse sector, and therefore, it is necessary to first define it properly. When we say the word ‘tuition’ in Sri Lanka, the first thing that comes to mind is private tuition classes available for GCE Ordinary Level (O/L) and A/L classes. If the Government wants to regulate this sector, first of all, what constitutes private tuition classes should be determined.

As one of the key sectors within the education system, what are the main challenges faced by the private tuition sector, especially when it comes to the calls for regulation?

This is a free sector. I don’t think that any government can intervene in this sector easily. If there is a need to do that, it should be done through a wide, State-led process. It would be temporary and not easy either. 

I’m not saying that the Government cannot impose restrictions. I just think that restrictions cannot be imposed on teaching. For example, let us think that the Government decided to ban private tuition classes on Poya days. If I were to conduct a class on a Poya day in such a context, that would be an offence, which attracts a sentence. If I were to be punished, what am I going to jail for? It would be for the offence of teaching. I don’t think that things such as where teaching takes place or who teaches are important. What is important is what is taught. If I am teaching the syllabus and nothing unethical, how can restrictions be imposed on such action? Overall, a Government cannot, on a large scale, control this sector. 

Secondly, there is always this major allegation that in most cases, religious institutions are pressuring governments. I think that in our country, when it comes to the discussion on religious education, this topic emerges. I saw recently that a religious figure had said that it is those who are conducting private tuition classes that decide on governments and remove governments and that they are spending a massive amount of money for that. In such a context, I think that there is some influence of religions on the government. They pressurise the government. There are however concerns regarding which consensus can be reached. For example, in Sri Lanka’s education system, most private tuition classes are for Grade five, O/L, and A/L students. The reason is that they are all studying for competitive exams. In such a context, religious education can be given from Grades One to Four, and again from Grades Six to 10.

In the recent past, there have been several incidents where exam papers were exposed before the examination, and in many of these cases, private tuition teachers were involved. What do you think about this situation?

Any sector has its own good and bad. Personally, I will not distribute an exam paper even if I received a paper. That is my quality. Any sector, be it the Police, religion, or even the media, there are some who commit bad deeds. Even these leaked papers were first exposed by those in the public sector. This is definitely a matter that needs to be stopped. Teachers should have self-control. Maximum punishment should be given to both who leaked and received these exam papers. These are matters that affect an entire country. 

Could you explain the nature of the competitiveness in the private tuition sector?

Although results matter in this competition, we can’t say that the sector is based solely on results. That is my opinion. A teacher may enter the field and become famous in the very first year. Today, there are various ways to become famous, and the current generation is different. For example, some teachers teach with a cap on. There is no issue with that; the world is changing and such changes are also there. What is more important is whether we can teach the student in a manner that the student understands. Results are based on that.

In your opinion, what should be the minimum qualifications, standards and skills for one to become a private tuition teacher?

First of all, in order to teach, one has to be educated, and that is a necessary qualification. Without education, knowledge does not just appear, and there should be a way that one has acquired knowledge. Therefore, I believe that educational qualifications are essential. There is however an issue in that regard. For example, there are people who entered university but did not complete their degree due to various reasons despite having studied for two-three years. There is a notion in society as to whether such a person should conduct private tuition classes. But, what is necessary for an A/L student is to pass the exam, and there are teachers who can help despite not having the certificates but because they have the knowledge. 

Certificates are not the only way to measure one’s knowledge. For example, many who conduct O/L classes have not been qualified to enter university but may have passed A/L and missed university opportunities. In our sector, all these groups have one thing in common. That is the interest to teach. It is that interest and skills (to teach) that have brought them forward. They have some qualifications and in some cases have almost achieved the necessary qualifications. However, when it comes to public sector education, most of the time, teachers are hired based on the degree that they have. But, they may not have the interest required to teach, and may be doing it merely as a job. 

There is a huge competitiveness in this sector. Surviving in this sector is not easy, and some cannot survive no matter what qualifications they have. 

How do private tuition teachers decide on how much to charge their students?

With economic factors, we have to increase charges once a year. For example, we cannot print reading materials for the previous cost. We should also have a profit. It is not easy for a tuition teacher to do something other than teaching. Some who tried additional ventures while providing private tuition lost their job, the additional venture was unsuccessful, or both of them went wrong. A fair charge needs to be charged to make a living.

Charges are decided by each teacher based on their skills. But, even then, we cannot charge any amount that we like. There are other classes and more teachers, and therefore, the market conditions also have an impact. 

Most tuition classes are held in rented buildings. What is the nature of the relationship between rented classes and private tuition teachers?

Some teachers rent a whole building or a hall. Sometimes, they rent a part of a building. A portion of the income is paid to the building owner (of private tuition institutions). It is more or less the same as doctors providing their service in private hospitals. Teachers have to bear the cost of reading materials.

To a great degree, the success of a private tuition teacher depends on the results that they deliver. What is the nature of the pressure that these teachers deal with when it comes to showing results?

There is pressure in any profession. But, there are also other factors. Who comes to us are children. Almost every day of my life is spent with children who are in the most beautiful time of their life. Regardless of the fact that I am getting old, those learning from me are always of the same age. In this context, there is also that motivation for teachers to conduct tuition classes. In fact, it is difficult to not conduct classes. Any job is tiresome. But, this job is more beautiful than other jobs. That is why teachers teach even when they are old. There is no retiring in this sector.

We have heard about stress in children in the present education system, and several stress-related tragic incidents were also reported recently. As a person who spends time with children, what do you think about students’ mental health?

This is a huge, current social issue. In some cases, it is said that private tuition classes are also a factor in this discussion. What we have is a competitive exam system. Our society believes that failing exams means that the student’s future will be dark. I personally don’t believe that a person failing exams means that they will fail in life. But, there is a certain way that society thinks about students, and it is in that competitive system that we run.

Sometimes, even tuition teachers restrict children into exams by saying that children should immerse themselves in exams. This education system is unacceptable. We talk about other countries’ education systems. But, the issue is that the one talking about these issues does not experience it in their own education. 

Some teachers conduct certain programmes including in the classroom in order to reduce stress among children. But, the key issue is that we are stuck in this education system. Even those trying to reform this system are from this very system. On several occasions, education reforms were introduced but nothing has changed. But, it seems like even those trying to reform this system don’t know anything apart from this system. Those coming from this very system cannot change this.

Therefore, when it comes to mental issues including things such as depression, the main reason is competitiveness. Creative people don’t get created in this system. For a person to be creative, they need time to think. But, there are schools, classes, and religious classes to attend. When does one think?

How should the Government support the private tuition sector? 

This sector should grow with its own support. We conduct private tuition classes for money. There have been rapid developments in this sector. That is why the private tuition class sector is more developed than the school education system. Students receive more from this sector.