There are many illogical and difficult traditions that have become deep-rooted weeds in our society. I fear private tuition is one such practice that is widely found in the Indian community. As an expert put it, it may be because “in our system, unfortunately, marks speak’’.
There are several reasons to bring an end to this system which is supposed to complement school education. Apart from the confusion resulting from being taught different methods and loss of time for personal study, several students are forced to go to tuition centres by their parents. Though tuitions do help many students, it conveys the message that private lessons are better than what is taught in classrooms.
Tuitions also cause indiscipline among students who think they can learn at the tuition centre whatever has been missed in the classrooms. There are also instances of teachers sharing tips and bits of useful information at tuition centres so as to attract students. However, teachers feel insecure about their influence over students due to the overlapping influence of private tuitions.
But the biggest victim in this whole episode is education itself. Education is not business and should never be. Knowledge is to be shared and not hoarded up like money.
Education is a selfless pursuit where a teacher aims at the holistic development of a student. On the contrary, tuitions have reinforced the concept of marketing education to make money. It has taken the gleam off teaching as a noble profession. I hope that parents will listen to their children and take better decisions. Let us all realise that education is not about marks and grades alone but equipping people with the skills for a better social life.
Reegana Doulath
(e-mail address provided)
Traffic bottleneck on Wakrah-Doha road
Dear Sir,
This letter is to bring to the notice of authorities the problems faced by motorists who travel from Wakrah to Doha during the morning hours. The traffic moves at a snail’s pace as one approaches the Barwa Village. The jam builds up because the road narrows down from three to two lanes near the old Barwa Village signal and the Hamad Airport interchange, where it joins the G-Ring Road. This problem has started after the opening of G-Ring Road and the subsequent closure of the Barwa Village traffic signal.
We know that the authorities are tirelessly working to improve the traffic situation but I humbly request them to look into this bottleneck and find a solution to the morning traffic woes of commuters.
Irfan Quadri
Wakrah
Plea to build Wukair road
Dear Sir,
Though the initial steps to build Street No 364 in Zone 91, Al Wukair were taken about a couple of years ago, nothing has been done until now. This is causing problems for the residents of the area. As they are forced to drive their vehicles on the rough and rocky dirt road they often end up having flat tyres.
Last year, a construction company did the road markings but still there is no further progress.
I request the authorities to build this road on a priority basis.
(Name and address supplied)