The suspension of the circular banning school teachers in the Western Province from conducting private tuition classes for their students has raised concerns within the government. Senior government officials have revealed that the decision was made without the involvement of Prime Minister and Minister of Education Dr. Harini Amarasuriya. This move has prompted accusations that the government may have acted to avoid political fallout ahead of upcoming elections, particularly as many teachers involved in private tuition classes are believed to have strong support networks.
Ceylon Teachers’ Union Secretary Joseph Stalin clarified that the circular in question was not a new initiative, as similar measures had already been implemented in provinces such as Central, North Central, Sabaragamuwa, and South. The circular aimed to curb the influence of private tuition classes, particularly where teachers were accused of pressuring students to attend their private classes. Stalin argued that such practices were harmful to the education system, labeling the so-called “tuition mafia” as a major threat to the integrity of the country’s educational standards.
Stalin further highlighted that the “tuition mafia” was behind significant disruptions in the education system, including the delay in the Advanced Level exams. He noted that the widespread fear among parents—instilled by the private tuition industry—was that students could not pass their exams without attending extra classes, thus exacerbating the problem. Stalin called for a comprehensive, nationwide approach to regulate private tuition, as piecemeal solutions would not suffice.
Asoka Chandrasekara, Executive Director of the Lanka Teachers’ Union, expressed support for regulation of tuition classes across the country. He emphasized that a responsible teacher should never use their position in school to direct students to their private tuition classes, stating that such practices undermine the educational system and exploit vulnerable students and parents.
The suspension of the tuition ban circular has now sparked a wider debate on the role of private tuition in Sri Lanka’s education system and whether current measures to regulate it are effective.
