From individual home tuition to large tuition centres, extra help is deeply integrated into the education system. Almost all parents, regardless of their academic performance or age, send their children to tuition centres. This trend is not limited to metropolitan areas but extends to almost every town. India even has several major Tutoring Center dedicated to these centers.
So why does this happen? Does this signal deeper problems with the Indian education system, or is it simply a social trend driven by avoiding criticism?
Tutoring involves teaching to individual students or small groups, usually focusing on a specific subject or competitive examination. The school provides general education in all subjects, while the tutoring center provides specialized guidance. Most coaching centers mainly cater to three segments: students preparing for engineering exams such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, students preparing to attend medical colleges, and students preparing to attend management institutes such as the Indian Institute of Management. There are also tuition centers for students preparing for government job exams.
A common factor in all these fields is the education provided by the school. So, why do students need tutoring? One reason is that coaching centers employ specialized trainers who focus on helping students excel academically or pass entrance exams. This is in stark contrast to schools, where teachers often have to deal with large classes of 50 to 60 students and limited time for each subject. At a tutoring center, students typically focus on a single subject for an extended period of time, providing dedicated personal attention.
The growth of tutoring centers can be attributed to several factors: the current memory-based education system, parental anxiety about future prospects, a highly competitive ecosystem, and a restrictive job market. Together, these factors have led to the growing demand for coaching as an important part of the education system.
Government guidelines for coaching institutions and parents’ views
In January this year, the central government issued a set of guidelines for coaching centres. As per the guidelines, tuition centers can only admit students who are above 16 years of age or who have passed the Class 10 board examination. The centers are also prohibited from making false representations about ranks or marks in competitive examinations. Guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education also require tuition centers to register with the government. Existing centers must re-register within three months of the implementation of the guidelines.
While many parents cite lack of time and unsatisfactory classroom education as reasons for enrolling their children in tutoring institutions, there are also parents who want to prepare their children to “adapt to the competitive world of the future as early as possible”, and tutoring centers tap into this need. “To get admission into IITs and NITs, students need to have technical and mathematical abilities. Not all parents can provide the required guidance at home. Also, the syllabus for classes XI and XII is very rich. While preparing for the board exams including project and practical Exams), it is difficult for most students to prepare for these competitive exams in two years. Foundation courses provide them with a solid foundation and are very important otherwise, students may have to give up one year of preparation,” said V-Level students. said parent Vijay Laxmi. She mentioned that her daughter is currently being taught by a private tutor and plans to enroll her in a basic course next year, The Times of India reported.
Parents also claim that classroom instruction alone is not enough to build a strong foundation. “Students need to master time management while appearing for these competitive exams. This requires a solid foundation and is not possible without constant practice. Most working parents do not have enough time to guide their children at home. I am worried that the new guidelines may make My kids were caught off guard. here Read our report.
Here are five reasons why coaching centers are booming in India:
- High academic pressure: The competitive nature of exams like NEET, JEE and various entrance exams puts a lot of pressure on students. The Tutoring Center provides specialized instruction to help students meet these high expectations and improve their chances of success.
- Parents’ expectations: Parents often have high expectations for their children and believe that tutoring centers will provide the advantages needed for academic and career success. This belief leads them to enroll their children in tutoring programs to improve their performance.
- School resources are insufficient: Many schools in India face issues such as large class sizes and limited individual attention. Tutoring centers fill this gap by providing personalized instruction and focusing on specific subjects that schools may not be able to provide due to their own constraints.
- The job market is highly competitive: With increasing emphasis on securing top positions in prestigious colleges and competitive job market, students are turning to coaching centers to gain a competitive edge. The tutoring center helps students prepare for rigorous entrance exams and improve their academic standards.
- Social Trends and Peer Pressure: Counseling centers have become a social norm and status symbol. As more students enroll in these programs, people realize the need to follow suit to avoid falling behind, leading to a widespread trend of seeking tutoring.