Allegations against a section of government school teachers in Kalyanpur under Khowai district for allegedly running private coaching and tuition centres have triggered widespread concern among local guardians, aware citizens and unemployed teachers. The issue has once again brought into focus the growing debate over the functioning of private coaching alongside government schools.
According to local residents, some teachers from Kalyanpur Higher Secondary School, Ratia Higher Secondary School and a few nearby educational institutions are allegedly involved in conducting private tuition and coaching classes in addition to their regular school duties. It is alleged that despite repeated complaints to the concerned authorities over a long period, no effective action has been taken.
A section of local residents claims that the practice has created an unhealthy educational environment, where many students are becoming increasingly dependent on private coaching instead of classroom teaching.
Guardians have alleged that if quality education and adequate classroom teaching were ensured in government schools, most students would not require additional coaching. However, under the prevailing circumstances, many families are being compelled to spend extra money on private tuition, placing an especially heavy financial burden on economically weaker households.
The issue has also drawn criticism from unemployed teachers in the area. They argue that despite possessing the qualifications to teach, they are unable to secure employment, while some salaried government teachers are allegedly earning additional income through private coaching. They claim this is creating inequality in the education sector and reducing employment opportunities for qualified unemployed teachers.
Representatives of unemployed teachers said they have repeatedly raised the matter with the local MLA, both verbally and in writing, but no visible progress has been made so far. They believe the alleged practice continues due to administrative negligence and inadequate monitoring.
Many educationists believe that if the allegations against the government teachers are proven true, the matter could seriously affect public confidence in the government education system. They stressed that ensuring effective classroom teaching and encouraging students to rely primarily on school education should remain the foremost responsibility of teachers.
According to a reliable source, if the authorities fail to conduct a fair investigation and take appropriate action promptly, unemployed teachers in the area will launch a large-scale protest. There are also indications that the issue could be raised across the state through an organized movement.
However, no official response has yet been received from either the accused teachers or the education administration regarding the allegations. As a result, the authenticity of the claims could not be independently verified.
Local people have demanded an impartial inquiry to maintain transparency in the education system and preserve public confidence in government schools. They have also urged the authorities to examine whether existing rules governing private coaching by government teachers are being properly enforced.
It now remains to be seen how seriously the concerned authorities treat these allegations and what action they take in response.