By: Olukayode Emmanuel

Olukayode Emmanuel — Mon, 07 Feb 2022 14:32:27 +0000

Private tutoring is one of remedial approaches to correcting a child’s learning deficiencies which usually takes place outside the school premises. The classroom is a place where different kinds of pupils having different level of exposures, upbringing, mental acuity and intellectual capabilities converge to be taught which however justify that a classroom is made up of two categories of student; fast learner and slow learner. The importance of private tutoring cannot be undermined as a veritable tool in responding to some personal, financial and economic challenges of an individual and a nation as a whole. In a country like Nigeria where close to 90 million Nigerians live in poverty (NBS, 2020), private tutoring has served as a source of income to many unemployed youths who would rather be paid stipend as a private tutor than to steal. An average Nigerian teacher receives 20dollars (ten thousand naira only) as a salary which is too small for personal survival let alone family upkeep and of such needs additional means of income. Private tutoring also serves as a mental-leveller between fast learner and slow learner. The mental acuity of a child differs from the other. Some could learn in a noisy classroom while some cannot. Some pupils could understand a concept just at a glance while some could take months to understand. Some could learn without any additional effort of a teacher while some could learn by extra efforts of a teacher and to such, private tutoring could be a solution. A slow learner is however subjected to private tutoring if the parents wouldn’t want to waste school fees and at the same record child’s academic progress. In addition to this, private tutoring makes a child mentally busy and academically dutiful at home. It is believed that “an idle hand is the devil’s workshop’’. The prevalent socio-economic crimes in Nigeria among the youths could be traced to laxity of hands at home. Rather than being busy watching immoral movies of corrupting practices, a child could be busied with private tutoring so as to keep his/her mind safe and also instill studying culture in the home. Remember, charity begins at home.
The potential implications of the new regulations of shadow education in China could be viewed from two-dimensional angle. One, it could lead to increase in illiteracy ratio as no nation can outgrow its level of education. The illiteracy level of china is close to 6% as at 2020 which if adequate measures are not put in place may increase gradually. There is no bad without a good side. A pupil who understand a concept when spent much time with may lose interest in school where there’s little or no attention for his deficiencies. Hence, private tutoring is the answer. Two, it may lower some teachers financial capacity since it is an additional stream of income and this will definitely lead to poverty ratio increment if shadow education is stopped.
In my own point of view, it is necessary that educational authorities regulate shadow education. Using Nigeria as an example, most private tutors are not professional/ licensed teachers which has made Nigerian teaching profession to be bastardized in terms of poor methods of teaching, involvement of teachers in examination malpractices and pervasive sexual abuse of pupils/students by private tutors. In the case of china, it is germane to regulate shadow education so that the image of its teaching profession can be preserved, respected and valued. Also, it is incumbent upon educational authorities to regulate shadow education so that teachers would put in their best in ensuring every concept in a subject is well taught and understood by pupils without any need for private tutorials. By doing this, the quality of the nation’s education would be highly, positively and jealously maintained. Lastly, as an educational expert, if shadow education is not regulated, the future of China is questionable because a little excess breeds extremism. To be remembered, there’s no good without a bad side (vice versa) if not well regulated.

By: Salami Ikpeghe Ego

Salami Ikpeghe Ego — Mon, 27 Dec 2021 16:19:13 +0000

Private tutoring has become a huge problem in Nigeria. Almost every teacher use it as an avenue to make extra money. Although it is not completely their fault, I share the blame between the Nigerian government (with no solid education policies on ground), the parents and school leadership who see it as “ok” for children to be privately tutored by the same or another teacher in order to “pass” their examinations. We fail to understand that the children are placed under a lot of pressure to pass their examinations. And some parents are not making it any easier for these children. These parents go as far as threatening to withdraw some privileges if these examinations are not passed gloriously because lot of money has been paid to the school and private teachers to make sure success is achieved. This clearly supports the teachers to demand for after school private tutoring even when they are in a position to teach the children as duty demands. They prefer to push their responsibilities to after school where they can get paid for doing what they should have done in the morning at school.
Secondly, the school leadership puts the teachers under situational pressure because no student should fail any internal or external examinations. No school wants to appear unsuccessful as this will tag the school as “low” achievers! Every school strives to succeed even at the expense of the children’s emotional well-being not fully cared for. All that matters to them is to brag about their trophies and medals being displayed either as objects or in human form. Some boast “Our school has high successful results in our examinations!” How pitiful!!!!
I am a teacher and a parent. I will be unfair to my daughter who just got back from school at 4pm, tired and exhausted from all the activities she had to go through at school. Who probably had a bad day with friends and teacher, only for her to come home and meet another teacher waiting for another round of school! What a life of horror?!!
I honestly think that after school private tutoring should be banned in Nigeria.

Comments on: China clamps down on private tutoring

By: Olukayode Emmanuel

By: Salami Ikpeghe Ego