A teacher’s view: Tutoring means focus

The methods of teaching used vary because a teacher in class has a lot of students to teach and to cover the syllabus within the stipulated period of time meaning most of the time they will be covering topics that not all the students will understand at the same time.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013
A pupil takes notes during a seminar. Private tutoring remains a subject of debate. Courtesy.

The methods of teaching used vary because a teacher in class has a lot of students to teach and to cover the syllabus within the stipulated period of time meaning most of the time they will be covering topics that not all the students will understand at the same time. The teacher is able to give special attention to a particular student during tutoring because they know the student’s ability to understand. Here, the teacher can also focus on making the student to understand instead of simply cramming the subject in order to pass the exam.The student is able to cover the syllabus before the others, meaning that even if they are slow in understanding, as long as they have covered the syllabus they will be able to study with the others. Students undergoing private tutoring are also not likely to come across topics in class for the first time.Many students engage in misconduct and wrong behaviour because of the peer pressure. By student going for this tutoring, especially during the holidays, they will shake off negative peer pressure and influence. This enables an environment of inculcating positive morals and virtues.During private tutoring, students will be able to meet and talk to others from different schools and colleges; they will also be able to get revision questions and answers and also exchange views and opinions about how to solve an equation or mathematical solution.The negative sidesPrivate coaching is expensive for many a parent and, therefore, remains just a wish for the majority. Students want their teacher to do for them their holiday or home work at  home, meaning they will become lazier and the teacher teaching them in school might be misled into thinking that the student understood the topic or subject only to turn out that they are not well versed with the subject at all.By becoming lazy, students then take class activities for granted. It becomes a case of saying, "Why should I concentrate when I can always have a private teacher doing the same later?”Human beings are supposed to be social and if the children who are supposed to mingle, talk and play with others during holidays are now always on books their level of socialising will go down tremendously and can give rise to immoral behaviour in future, for instance, homosexuality and lesbianism.Parents should know that children need time to relax in body and mind because there is more to life than books.