Coaching Centres hand over list of Govt teachers involved in private coaching to Govt

Suhail Rather

Bandipora, May 19: The unemployed educated youth of Bandipora who are running private tuition classes have handed over a list of government teachers to the Bandipora administration who are involved in private tuitions despite the ban on their tuition.

          The owners of more than a dozen coaching centres in Bandipora have compiled a list of teachers and lecturers who are indulging in private coaching despite the ban and have sought action against them.

          The owners said they have time and again urged the district administration to ensure no government teacher indulges in coaching but they have restricted themselves to paper work by issuing circulars only. “No action has been taken so far. We have now provided a list who are openly teaching in private coaching centres and encroaching upon the bread and butter of the unemployed educated youth of the district,” said Dr Shafi wani, owner of a private coaching centre.

          He said they have identified 18 teachers who are openly teaching at coaching centres and also promoting those through their social media channels and Whats app groups. The list has been provided to CEO Office, a copy of which is present with Kashmir Convener.

          The other coaching centre owners said these teachers are using soft coercive measures against students thus forcing them to study in their coaching centres. “We are unemployed. Don’t we have the right to earn our livelihood? Such teachers are snatching our livelihood,” said another Coaching centre owner Peerzada Yasir.

They also blamed the district administration for not ensuring a ban on illegal practice by such government teachers. “Administration should have assisted us in providing a conducive atmosphere so that we earn respectably as we are not demanding any government job but the education department is showing a cold shoulder to us,” he added.

          Zubair Altaf, another private tutor, said they have now compiled the list and assisted the administration to identify the main accused persons. “Let the government use its agencies to cross check our list and take action,” they said. “Their (Govt teacher’s) social media handles and previous Whats app statuses are enough evidence to prove our statement”.

          They said they can assist the education department in providing leads, location and timings to catch such teachers red handed.  “The ball is in the court of administration now. Let them prove that they are serious in their claims”.

          Last year, the School Education Department (SED) invoked Rule 10 of the J&K Government Employees (Conduct) Rules, 1971 and issued circular instruction to the teaching faculty, prohibiting them from taking private tuitions. The government also referred to the Chapter (IV) Section 28 of the RTE Act, 2009, which prohibits private tuition by teachers saying, "No teacher should engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity."

          The Coaching centre owners have demanded closure of such coaching centres who are hiring government teachers and called for strict action against the operators of these coaching centres.

          Notably, the UT government issued orders to strictly ban the government teachers posted in schools and colleges in coaching centres. But ironically, no such action has been implemented at the ground level in Bandipora.

Deputy Commissioner Bandipora Dr Owais Ahmad said he has sought a report from Chief Education officer Bandipora and assured justice to the owners of private coaching centres.

Meanwhile Chief Education Officer Bandipora has constituted a 4-member committee  headed by Deputy CEO Muhammad Rafiq parray that shall conduct an in-depth inquiry into the allegations levelled against the government  teachers and lecturers indulging in private coaching. The committee has been asked to submit a report within five days.