One out of four students take tuitions. The size of the private coaching sector has risen to Rs 2.39 lakh crore in 2015. As the coaching industry is getting corporatised nowadays, consolidation will be a sign of maturity, says Aakash Chaudhry
Who doesn’t want to be an IITian, IIMian or crack the AIPMT for a secure futureIJ Spurring this trend is every second Indian household that wants their child to be an engineer, doctor or an MBA graduate on the grounds of money, security and status. These educational streams are considered the driving forces of the recruitment industry, fuelling the hopes and aspirations of numerous youngsters around the country in their quest towards a bright future. And helping them achieve this dream year after year are coaching centres across the city that help students excel in competitive exams to grab a seat in a reputed college.
The competitive exams are attempted by thousands of aspirants each year and thus require extra effort. The education provided at schools has multifold objectives. During those six hours, schools emphasise vigorously on academics, social awareness-acceptance, sports orientation, arts and literature, cultural awareness, history, personality development etc. With the limited time that schools have, there is always a gap left in preparing the students for competitive exams. This is where coaching institutes enter to take charge of filling this academic gap.
Thousands of students are spending a small fortune every year at coaching classes, hoping to get through a premier institution with ease and confidence. Call it a parent’s ambition to witness their child securing admission in a top institute or the student’s own demand for extra help to outshine all competition, parents are now ready to shell out any amount in the mere name of specialised coaching.
Unfortunately, a majority of unwanted and unprofessional elements are making the most of this situation. Navigating their surreptitious and questionable ways into the 35 crore coaching fraternity, these entities become conspicuous by advertising false promises of success in entrance exams. They enjoy the benefits of extracting money in advance. Their entrepreneurial minds look out for ways to earn profit either by buying shares, investing in other businesses or starting a whole new venture at another’s expense.
Such jaw-dropping benefits that go unhindered are leading to spurious coaching institutes squeezing the common man’s coffers dry. The rampant malpractices have resulted in a bad name for all coaching institutes. This situation calls for an immediate need for a regulatory body that can monitor the operations and existence of such coaching centres.
Regulations are always brought in to put a check on incorrect practices happening in the sector/industry. The ultimate goal of regulation is to ensure a smooth, fair and honest operation within the market. In a way, bringing regulation will definitely help the consumers in expecting and eventually receiving quality services. But any government decision taken for any coaching sector without involving coaching companies will result in a biased decision. This will result in coaching institutes either forcibly moving away from offering services or end up in them offering low standard services to the aspirants to comply with the set regulations.
There are some coaching classes flouting the rules and functioning without a registration certificate by teaching a batch of 150 to 200 children in a class and forcing them to take admission in their own schools or colleges, so that their morning attendance can be managed. This practice is absolutely unacceptable. A regulation of not increasing class size above 70 to 80 students should be accorded.
Delving further reveals the level to which some coaching institutes are willing to stoop down to, in order to lure school going children into leaving school and attend coaching. This is once again a widely prevalent practice for which a strict regulation prohibiting coaching during school hours has to be implemented.
In India, the demand for quality education is constantly on the rise. Thus, the coaching as a sub-segment is pegged to grow. One out of four students takes private tuition, according to the latest National Sample Survey Organisation data. A 2013 survey by Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India, ‘Business of Private Coaching Centres in India’, analysed that the size of the private coaching sector, which was Rs 1.5 lakh crore in 2013, was expected to grow to Rs 2.39 lakh crore by 2015. Bringing this growing segment under the watchful eyes of a regulator would undoubtedly invite its own set of pros and cons. As the coaching industry is now getting corporatised, consolidation will be a sign of maturity. like any other sector, it is passing through a critical phase that’s good for students. However, a long term and honest implementation of regulations on class size to 70 to 80 students per class, ban on coaching classes for school going children in morning etc is called for to prove beneficial for all.
(The writer is director, Aakash Educational Services)