It seems the state government’s effort to stop the culture of private tuitions and instead making school-learning efficient doesn’t seem to be paying off.

A recent study conducted by State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has revealed that an overwhelming majority of students across Bengal — both rural and urban — take private tuitions. Another interesting finding of the study was that the private tuitions don’t help in improving the academic performance of the students, particularly those who are weak in studies — contrary to the general perception prevalent among parents and teachers.

While, seven out of 10 students at the primary level, both in rural and urban Bengal, depend on private tuitions to excel, at the higher secondary-level the number of such students is 93 per cent. (See Box)

The study titled, Implications of Private Tuition in West Bengal, was carried out from 2008 to 2009. During the survey, the SCERT collected data from 346 schools in 17 districts across the state and interviewed 10,000 respondents, including 4,000 students. Other respondents in the study included teachers, headmasters, parents and private tutors. The findings were released on October 8.

The researchers interviewed two categories of low achievers — one who took private tuitions and other who didn’t. After analysing their performances, the researchers found that there was no stark difference in their scores.

“Suppose in a school, 100 students take private tuitions and another 100 don’t. Of the first group, who take tuitions, 56 students are low achievers. Among the 100 students, who do not take tuitions, 65 are low achievers,” said Rathindranath De, Director SCERT.

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