Muscat – His Excellency Ahmed bin Saeed Al Balushi, representing the Wilayat of Seeb, addressed the Shura Council session, described the trend as a societal alarm that has gone beyond serving struggling students, and is now contributing to inequality and undermining the public education framework.

He stressed that the issue has evolved from being a support mechanism for underperforming students to becoming a tool for securing unfair academic advantages, often favouring those with greater financial means. This has created a social divide and commodified education, turning learning into a market transaction, he pointed out.

He linked the widespread availability of private tutoring to various systemic issues, including violations of Oman’s labour and residency laws, and warned that the teacher-student relationship is increasingly becoming transactional and consumer-driven, rather than educational and supportive.
He further cautioned that this phenomenon not only burdens families financially, but also risks eroding student initiative and distorting the value of academic achievement.

Calling for immediate action, Al Balushi urged the creation of a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework to govern private tutoring, in a way that protects educational integrity and promotes fairness. He proposed a review of the current student evaluation system, emphasizing the need to base university admissions not solely on grades but also on skills and capabilities.

He also recommended the inclusion of a ‘code of honour’ in teachers’ employment contracts, which would prohibit them from offering private lessons and require an oath of commitment to public education. He also called for the expansion of public schools, elimination of evening classes, and greater media involvement in raising awareness about the negative impacts of unregulated private tutoring.