Abstract:
The Sri Lankan government has been introducing free education since 1931 and
continuously providing free education to students from school to university, but
the number of students seeking private classes is increasing. Most of the studies
conclude that private classes do not have a significant influence on the attainment
of higher education, and some scholars argue that private classes are a burden to
students. On the other hand, some ideas are being put forward that private
education leads students to better results. Beyond that, conditions are increasing
for students to move to private classes. Based on these factors, students seek
private classes. This study aims to identify the influential social factors of the
student’s curiosity to seek private tuition classes. For this purpose, quantitative
and qualitative methods were used, under the Kalmunai Education Zone,
Maruthamunai was selected as a sample. In the purposive sampling technique,
data was collected from students who followed higher studies in Arts, Science,
and Mathematics in two National Schools in the Maruthamunai. Questioner
method and unstructured interviews were used as data collecting techniques.
Data were analyzed through content analysis and MS Excel software. The results
showed that social factors, the influence of families, and the influence of the
school are impacted in the student's curiosity to seek private tuition classes.
Therefore, based on the impact of such factors on the interest in private classes,
there should be a focus on conducting policy classes related to private classes in
the future.
