Coaching classes in India

Since the last decade we have seen the concept of coaching centres catching up in India, with presently more than 80 per cent of youth enrolled in some or the other coaching centre.

According to a report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in 2012, as many as 83 per cent of India’s high school children juggle time around school, extra-curricular activities, and tuitions at coaching centres. Moreover, with a growth rate of more than 35 per cent in the past 6 years, coaching classes have become a part and parcel of any child’s daily routine. Now-a-days, not only students who are preparing for competitive exams take coaching, but school kids start taking tuitions from an early age to build strong foundations for future growth. Parents too support and encourage for the same as they are keen that their kids get admission in the best college and institute.

Coaching classes: Trend or Necessity?
If this question had come up a decade back, the answer would have been that coaching institutes are just a trend or a fad amongst students. Nevertheless, now coaching centres have become a necessity with more and more students joining in to get admission in good colleges. This is due to the scorecards which have minimum cut-offs at 90 per cents. Every student cannot get such marks, thus there is a need for extra coaching in all subjects to run in the race for livelihood. One of the biggest advantages that students get from coaching classes is guidance from the best brains in the field and use of technology, which helps in understanding all the concepts in a better way. Students receive either individual attention or have classes where there are lesser students as compared to classroom teaching. Moreover, coaching classes provide training for specific entrance examinations, which eventually reduces the load on the students and gives them guidance at one place. There is always the aspiration of parents to see their children get admission into IIT’s, top MBA institutes, Medical & Engineering colleges etc.

According to Gaurav Yadav, Marketting Head, Bansal Classes, “As in Mahabharata, Arjun had to take coaching from Dhronacharya, similarly students need extra coaching to succeed in IIT, JEE, GMAT, Medical exams etc. Moreover, those who do not get admission in these institutes can easily secure good jobs after doing BTech or other courses as we develop such strong basics of our students that getting jobs becomes a cakewalk for them.”

Coaching Institutes cropping up pan India
As mentioned, coaching classes as an industry started more than a decade back with few people engaged in the education business. Now, in 2017 there are innumerable coaching centres across India. Most of these provide coaching for competitive exams like IIT-JEE, AIEEE, DCE, BITS, Medical Entrance, Civil Services, and so on. More so, there are thousands of coaching institutes providing tuitions for school kids for subjects like Mathematics, science, English etc. Aakash Institute, Bansal Classes, Arihant Academy, Kreative Tutorials, Career Point are few of the many coaching institutes in India.

Yadav of Bansal shares, “Kota in Rajasthan has been called the hub of coaching industry since last 35 years as the entire city is flooded with the best of institutes from around the country. Students from pan India come to Kota for taking coaching classes.”

Glance towards the ‘Grey’ side
As a coin has two sides, similarly the coaching institutes have a grey side as well. With the rise of coaching system, the quality of teaching & learning in schools has deteriorated. Most of the students taking tuitions don’t pay attention in the class and bunk it. It is also a big blow for the motivation of school teachers. Most good teachers have now left their school jobs and entered the lucrative business of coaching, where they get better pay and autonomy too. Another reason can be that the coaching centres sometimes set false expectations for parents & students, which can sometimes lead to disastrous situations like suicide etc.

Exorbitant costs of running Coaching Centres
Coaching Institutes can cause a dent in any pocket. Mostly all reputed IIT coaching centres charge more than a lakh per year. However, it would be unjustified to say that coaching classes take a large amount of fees from students and make money. This is because any good coaching centre needs excellent teachers, who charge exorbitantly. As informed by Yadav of Bansal Classes, “Running an institute requires enormous amount of money. Our expert faculties charge a lot. Moreover, we have to invest in our infrastructure to make it comfortable for students.” He also adds, “Another hurdle that reputed brands have to face is the stability issue of faculties.”

Foreseeing the Future
With more and more parents as well as school authorities understanding that coaching centres are here to stay for a long time, the acceptance has increased. In times to come, the coaching centres would also be digitalised as eLearning is the need of time.

Additionally, schools recognising the importance of coaching centres have started tying up with them for special classes for students. Yadav informs, “Bansal Classes would be tying up with Doon School in Dehradun for giving initial trainings to their students for preparing for IIT etc. For this, we have our alumini who understand our values and culture.”