Coaching institutes find tech is the key

Updated on: Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Classic market economics has been at work on the city’s coaching classes. The persistent demand for tuitions ensures that they never fall out of favour, letting them charge a considerable sum. At the same time, the demand has created such an overabundance of institutes that it never allows them to raise their fees overly.

Owners of coaching institutes rue that while school fees have doubled in the last five years, their charges have increased by just 15% to 20%. “It is a free-for-all. A few years ago, there could have been a monopoly, now there is no chance. There are too many coaching institutes and, if one quotes a high price, parents look elsewhere. It is better to be low-priced than to lose out on students,” says Jagdish Walawalkar, director of Ideal Coaching Classes and the president of Maharashtra Coaching Classes Owners’ Association that has 300 members.

As a result of the competition, many institutes have taken to technology and to providing their students comforts to stand apart. “Several of us have already started using satellite coaching and have been training students virtually,” says Walawalkar. Next on the agenda are internet-based coaching—where students chat with tutors—and, once 3G and 4G services hit the country, mobile coaching. E-books is another option some are looking at.

“Infrastructure is proving to be an important aspect of coaching. Parents look for facilities that we offer over others. Projectors, computers, air-conditioned classrooms have become a must. These days, the study material provided by coaching institutes are printed and not photocopies,” says Walawalkar.

Jayant Jain, president of NGO Forum for Fairness in Education, admits the cost of coaching classes for school students has not increased much, but adds that it does not mean there are no problems. “We have received complaints about the sums charged from students in higher classes. Those studying engineering and medical pay more money for coaching than as college fees,” he claims. “We had filed a petition against coaching classes a few years ago and the Bombay high court had asked the state government to frame rules to control these institutes. However, nothing has happened till date.”

A major competition for coaching institutes is the private tutor. A parent from Santa Cruz says, “Coaching institutes cost a lot. In comparison, the tutor that I send my child to charges reasonably. Three years ago, I used to pay Rs 16,000 annually for my son’s math and science tuitions. Now he is in class X and I pay only Rs 27,000, which is not very high for me. The charges for class X three years ago was already more than Rs 20,000.”

Coaching institutes find tech is the key

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