The Hindu : National : Plan to ban tuitions to check teacher absenteeism

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Tuesday, Jul 04, 2006

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Plan to ban tuitions to check teacher absenteeism

Special Correspondent

Provision to be incorporated in the model Right to Education Bill

NEW DELHI: Taking a grim view of teacher absenteeism and the over-emphasis on tuitions, the Union Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry has incorporated a provision banning schoolteachers from taking private tuitions in the model Right to Education Bill that has been drafted to operationalise the Fundamental Right to Education.

The draft currently under consideration clearly prohibits private tuitions by teachers. According to the draft: "No teacher shall engage in any teaching activity for economic gain other than that assigned by his employer or supervisor." Since this Bill is primarily aimed at operationalising the Fundamental Right to Education for all children till the age of 14, the provision applies to teachers of all recognised schools up to Class VIII.

The provision, according to Ministry officials, is aimed at ensuring that teachers give their undivided attention to their primarily role as schoolteachers. In the case of government schools — which have recorded teacher absenteeism to the tune of 25 per cent — this ban will help keep teachers in schools during school hours.

This is a provision that has survived several drafts of the Right to Education Bill.

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