The Master Class

Just as they say, 'There is a woman behind every man's success', it could be said that 'there is a good coaching class behind every student's success'. From private tuitions held at home to formal classes that have centres across the country, coaching classes are now reputed academic brands. The Associated chamber of commerce and Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) recent survey on "Business of private coaching centers in India" reveals that the current size of private coaching industry in India is about $23.7 billion and likely to touch $40 billion by 2015.

In a study in 2010-11, CRISIL pegged the market size of this parallel education system to Rs 40,187 crores. This is expected to grow to Rs 75,629 crores by the turn of the financial year 2014-15. According to the 'Asian Development Bank Report, 'Shadow Education: Private Supplementary Tutoring and Its Implications for Policy Makers in Asia, the sector is estimated to be growing at over 15 per cent each year. As per the 2012 report by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), about 83 per cent of India's high school children attend coaching classes. Seeing the potential of the coaching business in the Indian market, foreigners too are investing heavily in this arena. In 2011, South Korean coaching giant Etoos invested Rs 30 Crores to set up centres in Kota, focusing on video lecturing and e-learning.

"Our emergence is a redressal to the rise in number of competitive exams a student has to give in order to achieve his/ her career goals," says Mohit Sardana, director and head of territory, Mumbai centre, FIITJEE Mumbai Centre. He further adds that the objective of any coaching institution is to empower the student to compete in academics. According to Sudhanshu Sinhal, managing director, Sinhal Classes, "A change of perception toward coaching has fueled the growth." Sinhal explains that early on, tuitions were meant only for weak students who couldn't cope with their school exams. "There was certain sense of stigma attached to it," he says. However, it has now gone on to become a necessity, for anyone and everyone who needs that extra training to make the grade.

Another reason for coaching classes to develop into a parallel academic system, is that parents' want to provide their children with quality education. And it is not just academics, parents want them to make time for extra-curricular activites as well. "Earlier students would go to different private tutors after school. But getting trained in all subjects under one roof at a stretch of time, is the new mantra that parents recognised in the 90s, " says Aakash Chaudhry, director, Aakash Educational Services Pvt. Ltd (AESPL).

New Trends
A number of new trends have also evolved over a period of time in the coaching space. Technology and modern mantras of management are being used to make it a holistic learning process. Students coaching with AESPL, attend tablet labs to brush up on a difficult topic. Chaudhry says, "This is a good way to tap into shy students. Not all are comfortable to interact with the faculty in classroom, but find it easier to do on a personalised forum." They also conduct stress management and motivation lectures to keep away from monotony of classroom lectures.

FIITJEE conducts weekly test system, which are followed up by 'remedial day sessions'. As the name indicates these are conducted to remedy any shortcoming in the student's ability to comprehend a topic. It is a cumulative form of testing. The tests examine a student's ability to understand concepts in three different weekly tests. Those who are not upto the mark, have to attend remedial sessions at the end of third weekly test. Sessions are conducted personally by the faculty members. "We focus more on developing a student's ability to think and apply knowledge. Schools teach the 'what' behind a concept, whereas we ask the 'why' of it," explains Sardana. He further adds that FIITJEE also emphasises on self-study.

Most experts suggest that student's success in any exam is a result of the partnership between the coaching given and the former's efforts and willingness to score. At Sinhals, students are given a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats (SWOT) analysis report at regular intervals. "We started this method, because young people have the ability to accept data information. I got this idea during my time in the US, where most schools follow this method to give feedback to its students," explains Sinhal. Parents get to see the SWOT report at the parent-teacher meetings conducted regularly.

Road ahead
The trend in any market changes every seven years and the coaching sector seems to be heading toward a demand from an younger audience. Class VIII students are enthusisatically preparing for Olympiads. Students focus not only on acing board exams, but also brush up their skills to crack compeititive tests. "The advantage of this popularity is that concepts like derivatives which one learns in class XII, is being learnt at a younger age," says Sardana. He believes that coaching class learning is the most transperant system, as there is a guarantee of instant and honest feedback. Parents too get to closely monitor their child's progress.

Keeping the popularity in mind, Sinhals is conducting a SciMath Olympiad scholarship test in March and April. Winners will earn scholarships to sign up with Sinhals for their IIT and medical entrance test coaching. "Students will get best of both worlds. Besides adding to their knowledge in younger classes, they also have the advantage to increase their IQ," signs off Sinhal.