The shortage of teachers is one of the biggest challenges facing schools today. Many classrooms are understaffed, leaving students feeling overlooked and unsupported. To fix this, some suggest allowing private tutors to teach in schools. While the idea has clear benefits, it also raises serious questions about fairness, professionalism, and the future of education.
On the positive side, private tutors could help fill the gaps caused by the shortage. When there are not enough teachers, students miss out on proper guidance and fall behind. Tutors are used to explaining concepts repeatedly, which is often what struggling students need. Schools already rely on Student Learning Support Officers (SLSOs), many of whom are university students training to become teachers. Giving them and private tutors a chance to teach could be a fair step, as it provides experience and helps schools cope with immediate demand. It also seems unfair to block tutors simply because they do not hold a formal teaching degree, especially when safety measures such as Working With Children Checks, police clearances, and interviews can ensure that only suitable candidates are selected.
However, teaching involves far more than subject knowledge. It requires skills in classroom management, child development, and emotional support. Tutors without professional training might struggle with these aspects. There is also the risk that schools could start depending on tutors too heavily, sidelining qualified teachers and lowering the value of the profession. This could cause long-term harm by creating a system where the expertise of trained educators is overlooked. The teacher shortage has already opened the door for large tutoring companies to profit from parents’ anxiety. If schools begin to rely on these services, education risks shifting from a public good to a commercial enterprise.
Culture and values also play a role in this debate. In many Asian traditions, the phrase mata, pita, guru, deivam—mother, father, teacher, God—reflects the deep respect given to teachers. Allowing unqualified tutors to take on this role may erode that respect. Some argue that “children will learn as they grow,” but this is only partly true. While children do learn naturally, they still need structured teaching to master reading, writing, mathematics, and critical thinking. Without proper guidance, learning gaps widen, and students fall further behind. Since children represent the future of the country, their education must be entrusted to professionals, not left to quick fixes.
A balanced approach could be the best solution. Private tutors and SLSOs can support teachers rather than replace them. This would allow schools to get extra help without losing professional standards. Safeguards such as Working With Children Checks, police clearances, and interviews should remain essential to ensure that only safe and capable individuals work in classrooms. With such balance, schools can gain much-needed assistance while keeping education focused on students’ wellbeing rather than profit.
In the end, while private tutors could provide short-term relief for the teacher shortage, relying on them too much risks undermining the profession and reducing respect for teachers. Education must remain a profession built on training, ethics, and trust. Tutors can support, but they cannot substitute for teachers. The long-term solution lies in strengthening the teaching profession itself so that every student receives the quality education they deserve.
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