Iraq’s Education Ministry tightens crackdown on private tutoring by teachers

BAGHDAD — The Ministry of Education announced Monday that disciplinary measures will be taken against teachers and instructors who offer private tutoring to their own students, saying the move is aimed at ensuring transparency in examinations and reducing the financial burden on families.

“The ministry previously issued a directive to limit the spread of private tutoring in schools, especially by teachers working at those institutions,” ministry spokesman Kareem Al-Sayyid told the state-run newspaper Al-Sabah. “This directive has been renewed during the current exam period, which is the peak season for private tutoring.”

He added, “Every teacher or instructor who offers private lessons to their own students will be held accountable. This is to guarantee that students earn their grades based on merit.”

In many Iraqi schools, subject teachers in fields like English, physics, chemistry, and math often provide paid private lessons to their own students, especially to those aiming for high marks. Authorities have raised concerns that this creates a conflict of interests where some teachers may deliberately limit the quality of classroom instruction to boost demand for extra paid sessions. Officials say this practice creates an unfair dynamic, places financial pressure on families, and undermines classroom education.

The ministry has directed education directorates across the country to prevent teachers from working at unauthorized tutoring centers. “Teachers are not allowed to teach at support institutes or private centers that are not licensed by the Ministry of Education. Even if licensed, they are not permitted to teach their own students there,” Al-Sayyid said.

The measures aim to ensure fairness in the education system and reduce the burden on families. Al-Sayyid said violations would be handled through the educational and subject supervision departments, with legal action taken where necessary.

He added that the ministry operates several educational TV channels offering academic content during the exam period, which he said are more effective than private tutoring. “There are also online platforms that support students during their review and preparation for final exams for both graduating and non-graduating classes in the 2024–2025 academic year,” he said.