Private lessons: Can we do without them?

IT is certainly no big secret that many Maltese students at all levels - sometimes even those studying in tertiary institutions - have to seek extra help in the form of private tuition at some time during their academic career.

This fact is borne out by the research (Falzon and Busuttil, 1988; Fenech and Spiteri, 1999, Brincat 2000) carried out on the issue. Besides, the results of this research suggest that the number of students resorting to private tuition increases as the Junior Lyceum/Common Entrance examinations and the SEC examination draw closer. Moreover, students attend more private lessons in mathematics than in any other subject.

On the face of it, there is nothing wrong with parents sending their children for private tuition. It may be perceived as an indication that parents are showing interest in their children's education and are willing to fork out their hard-earned cash to ensure that their children achieve success in high-stakes examinations. After all it's their money and they are entitled to spend it as they please.

However, this is only one side of the coin. Falzon and Busuttil report that the respective majorities of pupils, parents and teachers involved in their study consider private tuition as playing an important role in the education of pupils, while Fenech and Spiteri found that the majority of students in their study stated that they would not go to private tuition if they were given a choice.

This is indeed disconcerting. For why should private tuition play such an important role in the education of young people when the state is providing them with "free" education?

Are parents and students simply emulating what other parents and students have done in the past?

Or is private tuition providing something that is missing in our schools, be it more individual attention, more opportunity for revision and more time to learn?

What is even more worrying is, first of all, the fact that some parents cannot afford to send their children to private lessons, or that they may have to make all sorts of sacrifices to find the extra cash to pay for them.

Second, an obsession with private tuition might be a cause of a great deal of stress for children and their parents.

Third, private lessons might substantially reduce the time that could otherwise be dedicated to other activities such as spending time with the rest of the family, sports, drama, music or just socialising with peers.

Fourth, there is always the risk that content and methodology at private tuition may conflict with the content and methodology covered at school.

Finally, an obsession with examinations and private lessons might deprive children of their desire and joy of learning.

At the end of the day, all this might not signify anything as students, parents, teachers and heads of school simply focus on the grades obtained by the students. But does this end always justify the means?

From the editorial of the April edition of Mathsline, published by the Education Division. The article does not necessarily reflect the views of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Employment.