Teachers demand at meeting with education minister
Heads of top city schools and colleges yesterday demanded the government take action to stop private tuition and coaching, holding these responsible for various unethical practices in educational institutions.
If needed, the authorities should arrange extra classes in the campus itself, they insisted.
Agreeing with their demand, Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid said the practice of coaching cannot be stopped immediately. It is possible only when the teachers complete lessons in the classrooms.
The teachers made the appeal at a meeting at the education ministry following a series of events including sexual harassment of female students by male teachers and students.
Guardians and students staged protests recently after the alleged molestation of a student of Viqarunnisa Noon School and College by her teacher.
It is imperative for the government to enact a law to stop private coaching, observed Khaleda Habeeb, principal of Udayan School and College.
“I totally hate the practice of private coaching. It is regrettable that the guardians and students run after the coaching centres for securing more numbers,” mentioned Benjamin Costa, principal of Notre Dame College.
If some students are weak, the authorities should arrange remedial classes for them, he noted.
Terming the incidents of sexual harassments in academic institutions unfortunate, the education minister said stringent action will be taken against the culprits to uphold the dignity of girl students.
Nahid suggested the authorities conduct an annual evaluation of teachers and urged the teachers to gradually cut their involvement with private coaching.
-With The Daily Star input
