Kolkata, Oct 29 (IANS) As many as 720 students of St. Xavier’s School in West Bengal’s Burdwan district have been suspended for taking private tuition from the school’s teachers.
Confirming the decision, head master K. K. Devasy said: “Some of the students take tuitions from our teachers, and some do not. We have taken this decision in the interest of the students”.

The school authorities Wednesday gave a note in the diaries of the students saying they should not take tuitions from teachers of the school. The note warned that students disobeying the order will be punished.

When the school reopened Thursday, 720 students from classes V to X were told to go home and not to attend classes for a month.

“They were told the school authorities will hold discussions with us. When we went, we were informed that they were suspended for taking tuition from teachers of the school,” a guardian said on condition of anonymity.

The guardians staged a demonstration and forced the gatekeepers to let the students into the school compound.

Classes were not held in the school Thursday.

A teacher said when students take tuitions from teachers of the same school, it may lead to “unfair” judgement. “There is a chance they may get to know the examination questions. Also teachers are bound to favour those students who take private tuition from them.”

“But we don’t have any objections to those taking private tuition from teachers of other schools. That’s the prerogative of the students and their guardians.”

However, a guardian said that while the students were “victimised”, the teachers who gave private tuitions to them went scot free.