A Ballooning 'Business'

The economic crisis sparked by Maoist violence has not affected tutorials

By THAKUR AMGAI

The escalation of Maoist violence that has battered economic activities in almost every conceivable sector has failed to affect institutions offering tutorials. Investment in this sphere of education has proved to be rewarding.

"Even though the parents of some of the students are facing financial problems because of the state of emergency, the current situation has not affected our business," says Suresh Bhatta, who has been running an education center in the capital for last three years. "Compared to previous years, the number of students is not decreasing, but rather increasing," he adds.

The deteriorating academic environment in public schools and colleges, increasing awareness about the importance of quality education, the need for competent manpower in a market that is growing competitive, and growing professionalism in the education sector are some of the reasons behind the development of the business of tutorials.

More and more institutes offering tutorials are opening each year in the capital and other urban centers. Those already in operation are expanding. From tender children to those in higher education, a growing number of students depend on tutorials to pass their examinations. While tuition has become a compulsion for some, it is a fashion for others. Many students who do not actually need extra classes are taking them just because their friends are.

Over the years, the quality of education and the physical environment in government colleges have deteriorated. The course is not completed in time for the examinations. Most students find classroom lectures unhelpful and even unintelligible. The number of students exceeds the carrying capacity of the classroom, leaving teachers in a helpless situation as well. The authorities, who have been struggling to balance the academic calendar since the political movement of the late 1970s, have found themselves confronting additional challenges.

Frequent strikes organized by student groups affiliated to the main political parties within the college disturb the teaching-learning environment. Despite their pledge to raise the standard of education, political leaders continue to view college campuses as a recruitment center for cadres. In such a situation, tuition has become necessary for many students.

"I take tuitions because the curriculum is never completed in time inside the classroom," says Renu Shrestha, an I.Sc. student  at Tri-Chandra College. She finds tutorials more beneficial than what she gets inside the classroom. "The class size [at tutorials] is very small and the lectures are more comprehensive," she says.

Tutorials have also proved to be boon to teachers during these difficult economic times. "We could not have sustained ourselves in a place like Kathmandu had it not been for tutorials," says one teacher. "The remuneration provided by the college is so meager that it hardly meets household expenditure."

Regular shutdowns called by political parties and the growing instability and uncertainty resulting from the Maoist violence have badly affected both public and private education institutions. As the standard of education goes downhill, however, parents and, in most cases, students are becoming increasingly conscious of the importance of a proper education for a secure future, thereby boosting the business of educational entrepreneurs.