The Progressive Teacher Vol 04 Issue 03

new trends
GURUKULS AND COACHING INSTITUTES
It is no wonder that you come across students and parents who know nothing about Nalanda
and Takshila but know everything about Kota in Rajasthan. Why? It is because Kota has become
the education capital of India attracting students from every corner for Engineering and Medical
Entrance Examinations coaching.
–Satya Ramesh
Today, one can find more than hundred coaching institutes in Kota
spawning big business even for locals. People rent out a portion of
their houses to these students who shack up in groups of two-three
in a room. City restaurants, too, are happy having assured customers
whose number runs into thousands on a regular basis. Looking at this
growing trend, a number of questions come to one’s mind.
‣ Is CBSE aware of the fact that students coming for coaching to Kota
get enrolled as regular students in schools which they never attend?
‣ Can coaching institutes ever be considered as equivalent to schools?
‣ Assuming that every year one lakh students have taken coaching for
JEE in Kota and ten thousand have secured admission, what is the
future of the remaining 90,000? Who takes their responsibility?
‣ Do education authorities have any control on the student intake by
these coaching institutes?
‣ Are these coaching institutes ready to take moral responsibility for the
increasing suicide rate among students studying in Kota?
The list is endless and one can never get answers to these questions. It
is because everyone involved in this business either directly or indirectly
came to compromise for their own vested interest. Leaving others aside,
let us think about parents, students and teachers.
‣ India’s best faculty work in these coaching institutes earning packages
which no school can match. Imagine how well can our schools function
if these individuals work as PGTs with the same spirit. Difficulty in
getting faculty for science subjects especially in classes XI and XII is
one reason why schools are prepared to tie up with these institutes for
their survival.
‣ Students are completely driven by peer pressure to become a part of
this race and they hardly realize what they fail to get by not going to
school for two years.
‣ As long as parents believe that coaching is a must to secure admission
into IITs or medical colleges, nothing can change and they become a
potential source of income for these institutes.
In the light of the above discussion, let us see how different these
institutes are from the gurukuls of the ancient times in the table given.
Satya Ramesh Presently working as
an Assistant Professor of Psychology
in Amity University, Gwalior, Satya
Ramesh has been a teacher of both
Psychology and Mathematics for
Senior Secondary and Secondary
classes respectively for the past
sixteen years. With a qualification in
Psychology, Education and Counseling,
he has a keen interest in these fields.
S.No Gurukuls Coaching Institutes
1. After initiation
(Upanayana) all individuals
before the age of 8 or latest
by 12, were sent to the
Gurukul.
2. Subjects such as Philosophy,
Grammar, Logic, and
Astronomy were all taught
by the same Guru.
3. The gurukuls were
supported by public
donation. A guru did not
receive any fees from the
disciple.
4. Gurukuls were situated in
peaceful, serene and natural
environment.
5. Disciples were given training
in various areas according
to their interest, ability and
aptitude.
6. Parents and disciples
considered Guru as a person
above God.
7. Gurukuls trained disciples in
all aspects which facilitated
them towards dharmic life.
8. Gurukuls were a classic
example of centres which
provided holistic education.
9. Healthy competition existed
among the disciples who
studied in Gurukuls.
In the 21st century, coaching
institutes begin with the
foundation for IIT/Medical
College when the student
enters class VI/VII i.e. by the
age of 12.
Different teachers teach
different subjects like Biology,
Physics, Chemistry and
Mathematics.
Coaching Institutes get funds
in the form of fee collected
from the students.
Coaching Institutes mostly
operate in closed buildings
situated in noisy surroundings
of the cities.
Students are given coaching by
placing them in batches which
are solely decided based on
their marks and grades.
Parents and students have
immense faith in the faculty
members who work in the
coaching institutes; much
more than their counter parts
who work in schools.
The role of coaching institutes
in the life of a student is
very limited i.e. only till the
competitive exams get over.
Coaching institutes are
considered as extended schools
and in some cases they have
even become a threat to the
survival of schools.
Undue pressure on students
to secure ranks at all levels
at the cost of their physical,
psychological and emotional
health is prevalent.
Let us comprehend how things have changed and would continue to
change further with the way coaching institutes are mushrooming
all over the country. What would be our role as educators in this
transformation? Can we continue to remain silent about it? Is this the
transformation which our great gurus and leaders expected from us?
Let’s ponder upon it.
10 The Progressive Teacher Jul/Aug 2017