According to the Coaching Trade Policy 2012 of the teachers of the educational institution, the head of the institution can arrange for additional classes for the interested students only before or after the scheduled time in the educational institution on the application of the parents. In this case maximum fee of Tk 300 per month can be charged in metropolitan city, Tk 200 in district town and Tk 150 at upazila and local level. It further said that no teacher can coach a student of his own educational institution.
However, subject to the prior permission of the Head of the Educational Institution, a limited number of students (not more than 10) from any other educational institution can be given private tuition on a daily basis. In this case, the head of the institution should be informed in writing along with the list of students (roll class). Helal Uddin, an English teacher at Munshiganj College, has been running the coaching business for a long time, ignoring this policy and the current Covid-19 pandemic. He has been coaching or privatizing the students of some reputed educational institutions of Munshiganj City. His students are from President Professor Yaz Uddin Ahmed School and College, Government Harganga College, Rampal College, AVJM School, Munshiganj College and Mahila College.
It is learned that he takes 100 Tk from each student to teach English. He takes classes on Saturdays, Mondays and Wednesdays at 7am, 8pm and 2pm and 3pm. Similarly, batches are available on Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 am, 8 pm and 2 pm and 3 pm. 30 to 40 students came to study in each batch. As such, this teacher trades in coaching for 2 to 3 lakh Tk per month. He is doing this coaching business by investing in teaching in Munshiganj College.
On February 8, on the ground floor of Dr Sirajul Islam’s house in Collagepara area of Munshiganj, it was seen that about 50 boys and girls of 10th class were waiting in a room for coaching and there is no teacher. Adolescent boys and girls are also seen gossiping and laughing with each other. Students were coming one by one and most of them had no masks on their faces.
No one comment anything when the correspondent asked the name of the teacher. Sensing the presence of journalists, the students bow their heads. Later, a middle-aged boy came out of the next room. Asked about his identity, he said he was Helal Uddin's younger brother. But he did not give any correct answer to the question where is Md Helal.
Meanwhile, English teacher of Munshiganj College Helal Uddin came. He could not give any answer when asked about the policy of stopping the coaching trade of teachers in educational institutions in 2012 and teaching students in this way during ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.
In this regard, Munshiganj District Education Officer Benazir Ahmed said, "If the teacher of any educational institution does something in violation of the policy, we will take action through the committee of the concerned institution." And if the matter is not resolved through the committee, it will be sent to the ministry for taking action.