Breaking the tradition the winter vacation of schools has been cancelled evoking criticism from various quarters – the latest from coaching centre owners who accuse government of hitting their business. Ikhlaq Qadri reports.
The government decision to continue class work in winters in higher secondary and high schools in Kashmir has hit coaching centres badly, as enrolment in these institutions has gone down drastically.
Most of the students would join coaching centres for tuitions during winters in Kashmir, when schools are shut for a two and half month winter vacation.
People associated with these coaching centres say the enrolment have been on the lower side this year. Last year around 42000 students joined coaching centres in Srinagar, while this year, they say the enrolments have been below 18000. The total number of coaching centres operating in valley are around 122.
Owner of coaching institute Bilal’s Tutorials, Bilal Ahmad said that last year 139 students had enrolled for class 9th and 10th tuitions while this year it is only 43.
Many students who had planned to avail coaching in winters have to cancel the plans as they have to attend school. “I was planning to join a coaching centre to complete the syllabus and then work hard to master the concepts. However, with schools being open, I could not do that,” said Ambreena, a class 11 student.
Education experts say the private coaching centres have played a pivotal role in uplifting the educational standards in the valley which otherwise is considered to be in the list of four most educationally backward states of India.
“Coaching is important supplement to the formal education. One cannot do without it,” said a teacher wishing not to be named.
Chairman of Private Coaching Centres G N Var accused the government of making a mess of education sector. “Education has never been the priority of any government. This step (winter schooling) is against the nature as it is going against the age old evolved system,” Var said.
There is widespread confusion among the teachers and the students over the aim of keeping the schools open in the winter.
“Is the move going to recuperate the loss of summer unrest or the plan is to start the syllabus of 2011. The confusion is adding to the miseries of students,” Var said.
“If it is of 2010 then they should have notified the topics to be taught and if it is to start the syllabus of 2011, then proper academic calendar is to be produced. What they are going to do with the students when they will complete the syllabus in mid summer as the exam session starts from October onwards.”
Many people say that coaching centres charge huge sums of money and have turned into business centres. However, Var says, “We are doing the quality business. In India this sector has crossed the 50,000 crore mark. Students have options to choose among the best.”
With the decrease in student enrolments the revenues of coaching centres have been badly hit.
The coaching centres expect to generate Rs 27 crore this year while the figure last year was Rs 63 crore.
The people associated with coaching centres say that government schools don’t impart quality education. “What is the performance of the government. Where they have excelled? I prefer the Darasgahs over the government institutions,” Var asked,
He also called for a ban on private tuitions of teachers working in the government.
“If doctors are prohibited from doing private practice, why not a government teacher who is drawing huge salary,” he added.
Terming winter schooling a big conspiracy against the poor students of valley and also the game plan to drain money to other parts of state, Var said, “The bureaucrats’ who planned these orders and issuing whips, ask them where their own children are studying? This is a conspiracy to deny opportunity to the poor lot to compete in various prestigious exams.” The students complained that attendance in schools is very thin and most of the students who are influential don’t turn up.
“We are around 72 students in class 12th, but only 25 are turning up in a day,” said a student of Tyndale Biscoe. Another student of class 11 at New Convent Gogji Bagh, Burhan Riyaz said, “Only 40 percent of students come to school, rest I think have gone to Jammu for Coaching.”
The parents are also unsure about the benefits of keeping the schools open in winters. However, some say it would not help in any way.
“Winter schooling is going to do no good to our children as they will suffer and lack in the competitive world without the adequate coaching at personal level,” said Neelofer Altaf, a mother of two who works as a scientist.
