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Your child says the maths teacher told the class that "students in my evening batch will find the exam easy". You want to say something, but worry your child will pay for it. The rules are clearer than you might think, and you can raise this calmly.
Is it legal for a school teacher to give private tuition?
For Classes 1 to 8, the central law is direct. Section 28 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 reads: "No teacher shall engage himself or herself in private tuition or private teaching activity."
The Act covers children aged six to fourteen and defines elementary education as Class 1 to Class 8 (RTE Act, sections 2 and 3). Its section 17 says no child shall be subjected to physical punishment or mental harassment.
Section 24 lists what a teacher must do in school: assess the learning ability of each child, supplement additional instruction as required, and hold regular meetings with parents (RTE Act, section 24). Extra help for a struggling child is part of the job, not a paid add-on.
What do CBSE rules say about teachers and tuition?
The RTE Act stops at Class 8. For a CBSE school, including Classes 9 to 12, look at the board's Affiliation Bye-Laws 2018, Chapter 5 (Staff). Clause 5.3 says each school's service rules must be approved by its School Management Committee and the trust or society running it, and must have "specific and well documented provisions" on a list of topics. Clause 5.3.15 on that list is "Private and other Tuitions"; the list also covers duties and code of conduct for employees, and penalties.
So CBSE puts the detail in your school's own rulebook. That gives you a precise, polite question: "May I see what our service rules say about private tuitions?" Your state education department may also have its own rules on tuition by teachers, so check its website too.
How do I know if it is pressure or a genuine suggestion?
"Your child needs more algebra practice" is feedback. These signs are not:
Hints in class that tuition students will "know what comes in the test".
Class tests that closely match worksheets given only in the tuition batch.
Topics rushed in school, then taught in full in the paid class.
Comments, seating or questioning that change after you say no.
Internal assessment or practical marks that drop with no written feedback.
A message with fees and timings, sent to you by the teacher who marks your child.
One sign can be a coincidence. Two or three over a few weeks is a pattern worth writing down.
How can I raise it without hurting my child?
Keep a quiet record for two to three weeks. Note dates, what was said, and each test mark, with photos of answer sheets. Listen to your child; don't interrogate.
Tell your child the plan in one line. "We'll handle this between adults. You keep doing your work as usual."
Meet the teacher first, calmly. Ask for specifics, not motives. See the sample script below.
If nothing changes, write to the principal. Keep it factual: dates, marks and one request, such as a second teacher checking the next internal assessment. Our guide on when to take a complaint to the principal covers timing and tone.
Escalate only with records. For Classes 1 to 8, section 32 of the RTE Act lets any person complain in writing to the local authority about a child's rights under the Act; the authority must decide within three months, and appeals go to the State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. In a CBSE school, write to the School Management Committee, since it approves the service rules.
Here is how the first meeting might sound for an imaginary Class 7 student, Riya:
"Thank you for meeting me. Riya's marks in the last two unit tests went from 18 to 11 out of 25, and I'd like to understand where she lost marks. Could you show me what she should practise? We've decided not to add tuition this term, so please tell me what she can do in class and at home. Could we check in again after the next test?"
It asks for feedback the teacher owes you, states your decision once and accuses no one.
If your child starts dreading school, talk to the school counsellor. Tele MANAS, the government's mental health helpline, is on 14416 or 1800-89-14416.
What if my child really does need extra help?
Saying no to one teacher's batch is not saying no to help. Start by asking the school for extra help, which section 24 supports. If you want outside support, pick someone who doesn't mark your child's papers; this checklist for choosing a tuition teacher covers what to ask. For practice at home, Fermi's AI tutor works out what your child already knows and builds a plan for the session, so extra work goes on the actual gap.
Write down the first incident today. The record, not the argument, is what gets results.
