The government’s decision to restrict private tuition by teachers of government and non-government schools to students of their own institutions, received mixed reactions from teachers and guardians.
On Thursday, the education minister finalised the ‘Guidelines to stop coaching business of teachers’ report. Accordingly, government and non-government teachers cannot give tuition to students of their own institutions but can to a maximum of 10 students from other institutions. It also said that schools, colleges and madrassahs can arrange additional classes for weak students if guardians applied for them. Schools, colleges and madrassahs can charge Tk 300 per subject for the additional classes in metropolitan areas.
Whilst some teachers congratulated the government decision, others said that without increasing the salary of teachers, the government cannot prevent teachers from giving private tuition.
Guardians however, said that the charge for extra classes for weak students is high and demanded a lowering of fees. Many guardians feared that provisions for additional classes for weak students will be misused and teachers will prefer to take additional classes rather than the regular classes.
Most people questioned by New Age said that it will be difficult to implement the government decision.
Shamsul Alam, a guardian whose child attends Viqarunnisa Noon School said that the fixed government Tk 300 charge for additional classes in metropolitan areas is too high. He demanded that the charge should be lowered as teachers received a salary from their institutions.
The guardian of a child who attends Monipur High School in Dhaka, Shamsun Nahar, said that the provision for additional classes for weak students might be misused and teachers will be more interested in taking additional classes rather than regular classes.
Quazi Faruque Ahmed, chief coordinator of the National Front of Teachers and Employee, said that private tuition by school, college and madrassah teachers have become a social problem and was necessary to restrict it.  
‘By formulating guidelines, government has taken the right decision,’ he said.
Azizul Islam, president of Bangladesh Teacher’s Association, said that it was a good decision as private tuition by school, college and madrasshs teachers is hampering education.
Farhad Hossain, principal of Monipur High School and College praised the decision, but said that there should be monitoring to implement it.
Salim Bhuiyan, the chairman of the Teachers Employees United Alliance, said that it was not possible to restrict teachers from giving private tuition to students when non-government teachers only receive Tk 100 as house rent.
‘The Government should increase the salary and benefits of teachers first and then take such a decision. If our salary is increased, we ourselves will stop giving private tuitions,’ he said.  
Nazrul Islam, president of Bangladesh Teacher’s Association, said that without increasing teacher’s salaries, the government cannot restrict private tuition.
‘Many teachers lead a very miserable life with the little salary they earn. Without increasing it, it is not fair to stop teachers from giving tuition,’ he said.
Abdur Rashid, president of Bangladesh University College Teacher’s Association, said that there will be complications and there should be strong monitoring.