Kadress Pillay : “Right now, private tuition is a jungle”

vendredi 25 mai 2012

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Kadress Pillay : “Right now, private tuition is a jungle”

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| 18/11/2011

Kadress Pillay, former minister of education, gives his viewpoints on the new measures introduced by the government in the education sector, before moving to the inevitable topic of private tuition...

■ As a former Minister of Education, what do you think about what the budget has outlined with regard to education?

I totally agree with what the minister said. These are measures which we have to appreciate. However, for me, we are not attending to the fundamental weaknesses of our system.

■ What are the fundamental weaknesses?

We have got education that is a rat race. We have a system which does not give equality of opportunity to everybody. It’s difficult for kids from an underclass background to run in the race. We have a system that seeks to isolate and concentrate on the future elites of the country. What happens to the rest is not of great concern. That is my main worry.

■ The intention behind the summer school is to help those who need further help. How does that bother you?

What does bother me is that we seem to be concentrating on palliative measures rather than trying to correct something that is fundamentally fl awed. It’s an objection of principle. You get a child from a ZEP school and bring a child from say Rose-Hill RCA what’s going to happen? It’s going to bring out more complexes in the mind of the child.

■...but these measures are not meant for the RCA kid. It’s for schools with a failure rate of over 50%, so it’s almost by definition for the ZEP schools.

Okay. I got this wrong. I thought it would bring together kids from different educational backgrounds. If that’s the case it’s mostly the ZEP schools. Now we need to consider the quality of the teachers. I was watching CNN the other day and Fareed Zakaria was interviewing Bill Gates and was talking about the billions he was donating for education. He was asked what the best quality of a teacher would be and Gates replied ‘leadership’. You have to have that. You have to lead kids. Do we have the kind of teachers who are interested in leading instead of concentrating on a certain logic?

■ The logic of private tuition?

Certainly.

■ But if they were paid enough?

Is money such an incentive?

■ Isn’t that why many of them are in the private tuition business in the first place?

Yes. But if you are going to give them a fixed amount and you are going to control what they are doing. I’m not too sure that would work.

■ Vasant Bunwaree has been having a tug of war with the teachers’ unions and he has said that he wants to abolish private tuition as from standard IV. Isn’t that what you tried to do too?

I did. I knew that we couldn’t change a system overnight. However, as a matter of principle, if the government is against private tuition, you cannot tolerate giving your own school facilities for it.

■ But what happened then was that it shifted to neighbourhood garages…

Not at all. I prepared a paper outlining parameters like the conditions for the registering of teachers. Bunwaree is doing exactly what I wanted to do: phase out private tuition. Because I know and you know that it doesn’t bring much to the average kid.

■ So you are one of those saying that the only motivation behind it is money in the pockets of teachers?

Yes. I have to be frank about this. There are good teachers who want to commit their time and motivation to help kids in a general way, but those who give private tuition are motivated by money only. I didn’t say that we need to phase out private tuition completely but that we need to have clear parameters.

■ Why aren’t you keen to phase it out?

Parents must have a choice…

■…do the kids have a choice?

Unfortunately they do not. Parents think that the kids will learn something extra if they pay for it. There are parents who work and don’t have time to care for the kids so would much rather have the kids under the care of a teacher in private tuition than at home. Those are the main reasons. Give parents a choice but under conditions that are approved by the government. Such as the teachers who are registered, the number of students, there must be interaction between the child and the schools, reports made on the progress of the child in private tuition and weaknesses coming out at private tuition. That could lead to a sort of dialectic between the schools and private tuition.

■ How do you regulate what a teacher does in his own free time?

We have some sort of regulation for doctors in private practice don’t we? Why can’t we have some sort of practice framework for private tuition?

■ But suppose you have this framework and the teacher does not respect the parameters you have imposed on him, will you be able to bar him from doing what he wants in his free time?

As a democrat I would say no. But we want to steer a middle course. We want to give them some leeway and a chance to make extra money but we want to know what is happening to our kids. It is the responsibility of the government to have a policy.

■ But a policy can only work if sanctions can be applied.

I think some of the teachers – something like 20% of teachers- are giving private tuition – you should be able to come to some sort of understanding. I don’t know if this can be done as an administrative or legal matter. But there can be some sort of arrangement, teachers are mostly decent people. When I joined education I was told that education would grow on you and it did. And teachers are civilised.

■ Do you find the language used by the unions civilised?

To be blunt: no. Union guys tend to put themselves on the defensive all the time portraying themselves as victims. They have to be sensitive and willing to sit down and sort things out. So long as we don’t, it’s going to be very difficult to move forward.

■ What do you think of the enhancement programme?

The spirit of it is good but my information is that it is not working due to a combination of factors. The main one being the lack of motivation of teachers – I’m a great believer in humanities, arts and extra curricular activities. The enhancement programme has a bit of that, but the teachers see it as a kind of punishment.

■ And a way of preventing them from giving tuition?

Precisely. It’s the wrong attitude. But that has been the attitude of teachers’ representatives for the past 50 years. It has not changed since the days of Kher Jagatsing when there was a constant struggle. This will not change. I think it’s a culturally induced attitude. It’s always the same language, same attitude. And now Vinod Seegum is speaking the same language and adopting the same attitude and has the same reactions. Somewhere they have to change.

■ But aren’t our kids paying for this?

They are.

■ But why aren’t parents giving the minister the support that he needs?

Because those who have a say in the matter, benefit from the system. They don’t want to change it.

■ They benefit in what way?

Most of them have been to colleges such as Queen Elizabeth College and they want their kids to go there. They want their grandchildren to go there. The system is perpetuating itself. This has to change. You have to give a chance to others.

■ What do you think of the idea of a hot meal?

It depends on the conditions in which it is provided. I don’t think we should say no to that idea. It’s a good beginning I hope it is extended to other kids as well. When it comes to food, I don’t think we should discriminate between rich kids and poor kids.

■ You mean the taxpayer should pay to give rich kids food that they perhaps put in the bin?

We have to have some kind of arrangement. I have always proposed a school provident fund which is voluntary. I’m sure parents who have the means will contribute. And let it be voluntary. If you don’t want to pay, you don’t. Mauritians are generous. If they know that by paying, they are indirectly contributing to some poor kid’s welfare, I think they would. You have to try it on a pilot basis in one or two schools and see how it works. It might take time but you have to start somewhere. Let parents come in and let’s appeal to their generosity.

■ To sum up, your reaction to the measures announced in the budget regarding education is not entirely positive, is it?

It depends on how you look at these measures. If you look at them as ways and means to upgrade the quality of our present education, they are very good. As far as the fundamentals of the system are concerned, I am still in disagreement. The CPE has to go.

■ But do you think that if the CPE goes, private tuition will go away too?

No, but we will be able to impose conditions e.g limiting the number of students. If you are going to take ten kids and give them personal attention that you can’t give in class, then I see the logic.

■ But what do you do with the other kids?

If you want to do it, then you have to find ways and means of giving all the kids individual attention. 40 students in a class is not private tuition. What teacher can manage 40 students? What the teacher does is just a repetition of what was done in school earlier. We need to limit the harm of private tuition through a clear system of reporting and a follow up of what goes on in private tuition. You put some sense in it. Right now it is a jungle.

■ A lot of people complain about the quality of the education our kids receive. Do you share their worry or you are satisfied with the situation?

At the moment, the focus is on filling the brain. I have told to countless parents: give your kids a sense of honour and character and then an education. Our system does not provide for that.

■ Does that mean that our system produces kids who are devoid of intelligence? Are they just rote-learners?

Let me ask you a question. You’ve seen laureates year after year. How many of them have become great leaders? Our problem in Mauritius is institutional leadership.

■ But some of our people are constantly being snatched away by other countries. Does that still mean that they are no good?

They are good academically. They are good in brain capacity but when it comes to personality and character, those who are good are not many. Even when they are given opportunities in other countries, they are still playing second fiddle there. Even me with my big mouth, they wouldn’t allow me to be on top. Those who go there are intent on getting the money and a big car, a house in Surrey and all, but they will never be on top. I think the problem is character. CPE education helps us make a living but not a life. Education allowed me to make a living, but my father made a man out of me.

■ What should be done to the system to make the leaders you want to see?

Remove the CPE rat race. Let them breathe. Open up the curriculum. Why do we have a closed curriculum? Because in a race you can’t have too many subjects. Teach our kids to sing and dance and play music and teach them English and French, teach them maths, science, but let them bloom. They are not blooming. Only those from privileged families are.

■ How do they manage to bloom?

Educated parents manage to make their children bloom.

■ So what are you complaining about?

I am not complaining. It’s the same system but I protected my children from it. Private tuition limited to the subjects in which they were trailing. But not all parents are like that. One day a good friend of mine called me and said, “My daughter wants to be a national laureate.” I asked him, “How old is your daughter?” He said, “Two years old.” So I told him, look – go and buy her a doll and we’ll see about the rest later!

Touria PRAYAG

Commentaires

Par:-prof

At school teachers waste their time in only preparing reports to send to the ministry, that's why they can't fully concentrate in teaching. ONE EXAM, MANY DIFFERENT TYPES OF REPORT. Go and ask the ministry and the quality assurance team. they will confirm it to you.

Par:-osman

If someone is against private tuition, he has all rights to not send his children for same and also complain if the teacher is not working at school! By the way, no one imposes private tuition to anyone with a knife at throat!

Par:-hard worker

My god! Why in this country when lawyers defend drug traffickers & murderers in exchange for financial gains are not frowned but teachers giving education in exchange for same is frowned? Who is that worker who toils hard for a month and is satisfied by a 'thank you' rather than by salary at the end of the month? So far as my understanding goes, the stomach does not understand the language of 'thank you' and neither is it a sin to give someone education! I seek some explanation from the anti teachers?

Par:-Professional

To penalize devoted teachers & students, politicians are attacking private tuition which is conducted by mutual agreement between students/parents & teachers. In doing so, they are using the media to alienate public from teachers (considered to be of noble profession); they are tarnishing the image of teachers in the public.

Par:-Taxpayer

After it fought to abolish ranking, today the government is shifting its compensation from competent children (who could have been boursier in the previous system) to the incompetent ones. This is why ranking was abolished and ZEP was introduced! The ZEP program is financed by public money; the decision makers should come and tell (a) how much public money is spent for ZEP? and (b) what ZEP has brought to the country? Also, public money is paid to buy books and pay for exams of 'needy students'. Many of those books are never returned and many students never appear for the exams. Those in favour of such decisions must come and tell (a) how much public money is thus wasted (b) why his ministry has been ineffective to retrieve the money wasted and (c) why they never talk about such issues when they appear in the media?

Par:-Prof

To those feeling jealous of teachers: "If you find so many advantages then you have all rights to resign from your actual post and come to join the teaching profession rather than doing mudslinging from side."

Par:-Parent

So long as recruitment will not be done on merit basis, private tuition will continue. For example, I know of a teacher who was quite close to politician and was later recruited to teach up to HSC level by PSC. That teacher had previously scored a 'pass' in English at SC level and 'fail' in GP. Technically, one does not even expect even an interview with such qualification yet the guy was recruited. If such people are to teach my kid as imposed by the system governed by politicians, I will either have my child change teacher/college or go for private tuition.

Par:-observer

What a nonsense when someone says teachers relax during during working hours at school! For this, the administrators are to be blamed and not teaching profession; a teacher is monitored by head of department, the latter by principal/rector, the latter by inspector and the sequence rises up to ministry level. If a teaching is relaxing during working hour, it can only be by the benediction of those above!!!!! So why for blame the teacher and spare those giving the green lights from above or turning a blind eye?

Par:-toi kadress

voila 1 lot dimoune ki p faire grand grand declaration

Par:-mac

private tuition is a disgrace..it undermines children s confidence and undermines motivation and thinking out of the box abilities. it should be stopped asap and children should lead lives meant for children..not every day spending god knows how many hour in tuition..its just plain stupid and counter productive

Par:-Prof

@Toubib Income from private tuition is already taxed unlike the black money which many people, including politicians steal! For more info, contact relevant institution

Par:-Ornella

Our system is clearly going in favour of the lazy ones at the expense of hard workers! Previously there was the 'bourse' system where the good achievers were in some ways remunerated for their hard work. This was abolished and the hard workers were not given what they merit. The hard workers again emerged in the ranking of the CPE. The politicians declared the ranking as "rat race" and banned it! Now to oil the bad achievers, the politicians have been blaming financial difficulties. Non of these politicians had the gut to talk about money waste in merry making which is in sort a culture for some. The politicians deviated taxpayers money for free transport for all students and free food for some on discriminatory basis. The bad achievers are compensated while the hard workers are not given any heed! Next, the politicians attacked the laureate system. With biased ideas having in mind, they went to find out what wrong could be said upon ex laureates and saying nothing about their achievements. They came out with their nonsense conclusion to impose their political agenda into action. By the way, bad achievers are more numerous than hard workers and politicians go there where there where there are more votes!

Par:-Pathologist

Pillay must simply shut up! Reaching the age of 65, our system prevents people from working in the public sector because they are unfit. I wonder why politicians are exception to the rule! Pillay is overage!

Par:-Rajen

I cannot understand the logic (or rather antilogic) of political leaders imposing people having no competence in the pedagogical field as ministers of education! This is what contributes to the cacophony in the sector.

Par:-pedagogue

What cannot be done in classes can be done in private tuition because during private tuition, stupid rules do not prevail. For example, in schools whenever there is any inquiry about students misbehaving, the administrators not in good terms with the teacher concerned, fine tune their microscope to throw all blames onto teachers and oil the student quite well! This is why our system is failing. If the politicians start poking their nose onto private tuition through schools, the tuition will end up in mess!

Par:-professional

The mudslingers onto teachers (of noble profession) are quite numerous. And now Pillay is giving a helping hand.

Par:-Hard worker

I know of personnel that have been accepted by our system as administrators telling other teachers what to do and what not. Such administrators were themselves bad teachers because of which ALL their students were failing! So of such administrators have never attended university but our system finds sense in maintaining such people above teachers having completed university & achieving better than their superiors!

Par:-kalil

Why does Pillay not tell how many of our laureates benefited from private tuition? We know the ministers are happy to sit for photos with laureates which have all benefited from private tuition! During such ceremonies, the politicians are careful not to talk about private tuition, that is why they do not ask laureates' opinion on the issue.

Par:-teacher

Year will come and go, people from outside the teaching profession will continue to be arrogantly imposing their orders onto teachers despite without even not knowing the abcds of education.

Par:-People

Sorry but I must question Pillay's competence in the field. For how has he been a teacher? What pedagogical courses has he completed before reaching this age? These issues must not be mixed with ministership which a person achieves based on local cheap politics for which any person technically has all rights!

Par:-Public

The politician is talking a heap of nonsense!

Par:-avatar

Integrity, while I completely agree with you that the problem stems from a failure of leadership, I disagree that it is due to an incapacity to judge the effectiveness of educational reform. We have to be honest here: the present government re-introduced the CPE because its abolition was seen as detrimental to a segment of the population, the majority community. There was a systematic campaign at the time by several high profile players in this community, the same ones who fought tooth and nail on the 50% reserved places in catholic schools, to make believe that the abolition of the CPE was a ploy to prevent the advancement of the Hindu community and it did not help that the minister of Education at that time was non-Hindu. In this country, everything that happens is analyzed through an ethnic prism. In spite of all studies that showed that the CPE was an abomination that was failing our youth, including a great number of Hindus, a few people in their selfish paranoia were able to convince politicians looking for expediency and votes to reverse course, instead of taking a holistic approach to educational reform.

Par:-Mart

I do agree to a certain point with Mr. Pillay. Teachers should be leaders and educators. Whether they are being well remunerated then the answer is yes. Since teachers have a secured job and enjoy the prolonged vacation, everything is considered. There should absolutely be NO PRIVATE TUTORING. What can a student learn in 1hour a week, when he is learning it 5 times a week at school. The same teachers who provide tutoring just relax at school. The thing is teacher monitoring at school should be properly done to make sure they are doing their best to teach students at school and they should be graded accordingly, the teachers, at least 4 times a year. This will automatically develop a sense of always being prepared because they will know anybody can just in a check on them. Tutoring should be provided by the school itself for students performing below grades and then the teachers doing the tutoring should be paid at an hourly rate. And of course everything will be taxable because it will go in the salary. In cases teachers are using school classrooms for personal tutoring, they should be paying the rental fees to the government for providing tutoring. The teacher can not use the building, and the facilities after school hours for free when it is being paid by tax payers money. The officers at the MRA should also be raiding teachers providing tuition. They can open a line asking volunteers to let them know who are the teachers providing tuition, I am sure all parents will call for free because most of them hate this system of Tuition. Teachers are there just to make money on students. Its a business out there! And Yes Summer school should be there only for students who fail there major test as a booster and revision to move to the next level and some countries take actions even earlier by starting Saturday school instead well before when they know students may fail the test. This may be done with continuous assessment and monitoring. Overall the education system has worsen in Mauritius but to correct it, the right measures are to be taken and the Ministry should always work in favor of the students, they are the priority and eh customers that teachers should be serving.

Par:-Lall Kodai

Private tuition is a big business in Mts. Without private tuition, the Ministry is Education will not function. Greedy teachers work harder while giving private tuition, and care less during normal working hours. Students from lower income families cannot afford private tuition, and end up being unsuccessful in their studies. Further, these greedy teachers also find ways to escape from the tax man. There are many ways to stop private tuition and let teachers focus on students success at all levels. Mr Pillay was not a good Minister of Education; he was there just to grab his salary, just like many others. In Canada, teachers spend more time with their students who have difficulties in their studies; these students are given extra help. It forms part of the teaching process. All students are given the chance to succeed, not just 20%. 30 years ago I raised the issue at a parents teachers meeting in QB. To my surprise, parents and teachers, including the head master started laughing. How a teacher can give private tuition to a group of 50 students? Again, Mts is a country where if there is no private tuition, there is no education! But, there is a solution. Teachers, parents, and the community including union members must work together.

Par:-Toubib

I do not agree with Mr Pillay that teachers are honourable these days. They used to be in olden days not now. I even know of a couple of teachers - husband and wife - who are swindlers. However, I agree with him that private tuition should be minimised. Teachers should be paid more basic salary and have an additional motivational reward based on performance. Private tuition should be allowed for students scoring below a certain grade (below the avarage grade). Income from private tuition should be fully taxable and public property should not be provided for giving private tuitions. This should be accompanied by a complete overhaul of our education system in the medium to long term.

Par:-Integrity

The crux of the problem is not teacherrs, not parents, not the kids, it is the leadership of the country. Some years ago CPE was abolished and the hapless leadership re-introduced CPE. We are governed by people who themselves were failures. So failures will adopt measures that are going to breed, propagate and perpetuate failures. I remember Mr Pillay's educational reform which was holistic and dynamic but it was thrown by the present government in the dustbin of forgetfulness because of the leadership's incapacity to judge it effectively.