A private tutor offers coaching to high school students in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, Oct. 25: Ratikant Sahu, a student pursuing MSc in mathematics at the Utkal University, gives tuition to school students. Sahu has been doing this to support his own studies and augment his family’s meagre earning.

“My father is a Class IV government employee with a small salary which is not enough to take care of our five-member family. The tuition fees help me support my family,” said Sahu.

Private tuition has become an easy and respectable means of earning for educated youth in the capital pursuing higher studies or preparing for competitive examinations.

Ravi Narayan Patra, a student of the BJB college, said: “The amount, which I get every month from my father, is too paltry to meet my hostel dues and study expenses. I give private tuition to school students and make around Rs 5,000 a month. By this way, now I can send money home after meeting my own expenses,” said Patra, a resident of Balasore.

“Giving tuition is a good way of earning,” said one Sanjeev Tudu for whom private tuition is a means of earning pocket money.

According to the young tutors, subjects such as, mathematics and science fetch maximum money with rates touching Rs 1,000 for students of Class IX and X. School students often opt for extra coaching in mathematics, science and English. However, some prefer to take coaching in other subjects as well.

Tuition classes are held for one hour thrice a week. Apart from being a part-time option, tuition helps college youths keep in touch with the school curriculum mandatory for competitive examinations.

“This is the best way to keep yourself updated and sharp. School syllabi keep changing, giving one an opportunity to learn new things,” said Sahu. The parents, too, feel that college students, who are in regular touch with their subjects, understand demands of their children much better.

“My children studies in a reputed public school. The competition level is very high there. Therefore, I opted for private tuition. Young tutors are more practical and always in touch with changes in the syllabi,” said Kunmun Mohanty, mother of Aishwariya Mohanty.

Most of the parents agree that private tuition is a must for Class X students. However, in certain cases parents engage tutors for their children from Class IV and V. Since they cannot afford time to look after their children’s study, they go for private tutors. The field is, therefore, wide open for the young tutors of the capital.