The unholy nexus between junior colleges and private coaching classes in Nagpur has confused the students and their parents. Emboldened by the domination of private coaching classes came to light when some parents reported that their child was not enrolled in the junior college for which the private tuition charged them lakhs of rupees. A formal complaint has also been lodged with the police.
Despite claims by the government authorities of controlling operations of private tuition classes and regulations imposed for junior college classes, they appeared only an eyewash for the people in general and students and parents in particular.
The rush for admission to prominent colleges and schools has diminished. The private coaching classes through tie-ups with junior colleges ensure admissions to the colleges. The students are not required to visit the colleges for admission. Entire procedure is carried out by the coaching classes. The students are required to visit their colleges only for final practical examinations. The examiners at these colleges are also ‘managed’ by the coaching classes, as the students had never carried out practicals in any laboratory. Moreover, they never see a laboratory or equipment used for any kind of practical. A retired teacher in Chemistry said that the students cannot differentiate between a burette and pipet (basic chemistry equipment practical) or are unaware of voltmeter and ammeter (required to measure current in physics lab).
According to another teacher, the coaching classes admit thousands of students by charging huge fees. The practical books and reports on the experiments are written by the teachers. The ‘External Examiner’ appointed by the Education Board gets his ‘pay packet’ from the coaching classes and only collects those reports and awards marks to the students.
The projects in Environmental Studies and practical in Physical Education, which are mandatory subjects, are manipulated by the teachers in colleges and coaching classes.
The coaching classes and junior colleges have fixed their rates for referring students. Some coaching classes have displayed list of junior colleges ‘recommended’ for the students. The student is required only to name the college, where he/she wishes to enroll. The formalities are carried out by the coaching class management.
Surprisingly most of the students prefer junior colleges in rural areas, where inspections through the authorities (Deputy Director, Education) is rarely carried out. It is supposed to be done by the Education Officers of Zilla Parishad. These authorities are also suspected to be part of the ‘system’.
Even after the government banned admission to students below 16 years of age, a ninth-standard student (about 15 years of age) is admitted by private coaching classes.
The reason for the mushrooming of private coaching classes and the negligent attitude of the junior colleges finds roots in the education system, which relies only on the marks scored in the Board examinations. Parents and students are also fall prey to this rat race for higher marks. The basic aim of education to groom a child into a responsible and respected citizen of the nation has been pushed to the last seat.