Reforms, an alternative to coaching classes

MUMBAI, Aug 2: Few educationists dispute that the coaching class syndrome is a deep-rooted malaise afflicting the education system. But w...

MUMBAI, Aug 2: Few educationists dispute that the coaching class syndrome is a deep-rooted malaise afflicting the education system. But whether this parallel system of education should be banned before urgent reforms are introduced is a matter of debate.

Examining the affliction, educationists also explored remedies at a debate organised by the Bombay YMCA8217;s central branch and the India Centre for Human Rights and Law on Friday.

Principal of St Xavier8217;s College, Fr Joe Dias said the obsession with coaching classes is a fallout of a faulty education system, which overemphasis examination. Apart from causing classroom attendance levels to plummet, these classes give given affluent students an edge over those who cannot afford their prohibitive fees, he pointed out. They squeeze the energy out of children and devour their free time. They consequently thwart the very purpose of education, which is all-round development. There is no time for extra- curricular activities, Father Dias observed. Reducing theteacher-student ratio and better teaching facilities would weaken the influence of these classes, he felt.

Offering a contrary view, Pravinbhai of Pravin Coaching Classes said the coaching class craze is sustained by people who would rather pay than waste time to achieve results. Also, if teachers teach effectively, there would be little use for these classes, he said. Supporting him was Kishore Regnekar of Vivekananda Classes, who blamed falling teaching standards. He said the reservation policy at times leads to recruitment of candidates whose credentials are suspect. On occasion, students are left without a teacher for the entire academic year. In contrast, he said, the teachers hired by coaching classes are well-versed in their respective subjects. Also, students who fail in the board examinations fail to get the resources it takes to improve their performance, he added.

Bhagwanji Raiyani, president of the Forum for Fairness in Education which has filed a petition in the Bombay High Court seeking aban on coaching classes, referred to the Unnikrishnan case in 1993, wherein the Supreme Court ruled that education should not be commercialised and it cannot be made a business.

However, Bhavin Turakhiya, a student who has filed an intervention petition against the forum8217;s petition, feels these classes should continue till schools and colleges offer quality education.

A teacher from Hinduja College, who called on students to demand quality education from their teachers rather than make a beeline for coaching classes, received a round of applause. But Regnekar8217;s justification for the classes8217; fees was roundly denounced. Regnekar maintained, 8220;If people are willing to spend on lawyers, doctors and other professionals, why not on teachers?8221;