Abstract

Private tuition is a support of extra academic instruction given to a learner by a private teacher outside the regular formal institutional hours and done in exchange for a fee. A large number of learners presently depends on private tuition in higher education. The present study aimed to assess the level of attitude and perception towards private tuition in higher education. Descriptive survey method was employed to accomplish the purpose of the study. The study consisted of 155 undergraduate students, by employing a random sampling technique from different general degree colleges of Nadia district, West Bengal, India. A survey method was administered to collect data from the sample. Two standardised attitude and perception scales towards private tuition, with Cronbach’s alpha values 0.82 and 0.86, respectively, were used to collect data from selected samples. The findings revealed that private tuition plays a significant role in the academic experiences of undergraduate students, being perceived primarily as supplementary academic support by 89.03% of respondents. Notably, attitude towards private tuition significantly differs by gender, with female undergraduates showing a higher attitude score than males. Undergraduate students largely take private tuition for its benefits in understanding difficult subjects, enhancing their self-confidence towards education, and providing academic support. The study directed for improved formal academic support system and as well as contributed to comprehensive understanding about attitude and perception of undergraduate students regarding private tuition.