I refer to the article entitled Private tuition to be regulated (TMIS, 24 July). The only thing that will be accomplished by private tutors being regulated by the government is a decline in the quality of tutors and an increase in prices to students and parents.

Regulation means that there will be some standards set, tests given to tutors and certificates of some sort issued. Soon this will become a means of keeping new tutors out, and the de facto labour union that has been formed will raise prices. Tests for tutors will get harder, more complicated and more expensive and it will not mean that those passing the test will be good tutors, only that they can pass a test.

As matters stands now, tutors advertise their services individually and have clients. They develop a reputation and parents tend to seek out those with the best reputation. This is an imperfect but flexible system with maximum choice and competitive prices. Regulating tutors would be an imperfect, inflexible system, reducing choice and resulting in higher regulated prices.

The tax matter is a separate category for tax enforcement and not for an education department. Heaven forbid that a single penny should escape the tax collectors.

Paul Streitz

Test Tutor

DARIEN, USA