Teachers in all DAV schools in Odisha have been debarred from giving private tuitions. The decision has been taken in line with the Right to Education (RTE) Act and the Justice Mohapatra Committee report.A notification in this regard has been issued to all DAV schools in the State. The DAV school teachers would have to submit undertakings by February 15 that they are not holding private tuitions either at tutorials or at homes. If any report of such activities is brought to the notice of the school authorities, they would be liable for stringent action even to the extent of termination of services, Regional Director of DAV Institutions for Odisha Zone-I Dr KC Satapathy said.

Section 28 of the RTE Act prohibits teachers in schools from teaching students through private tutorials.There have been allegations that the teachers have been intimidating and harassing students to join their tuition classes contravening provisions of the RTE Act. The parents have been reporting such coercion to the respective schools as well as the regional office here, but no action was taken against them.

The notification issued recently is likely to put an end to the tuition menace in the State. Notably, Sections 16 and 17 of the RTE Act provide for prohibition of holding back and expulsion and of physical punishment or mental harassment to a child.The parents have been alleging that while they have been shelling out hefty sums as tuition fees in the schools, the quality of education has been declining.