A Correspondent
DIBRUGARH: A section of junior colleges, supposed to be institutions of learning, have turned into mere gateways for coaching institutes to prey on unsuspecting students and their parents. This unholy alliance has given rise to a system of exploitation, where students are coerced into joining coaching institutes, paying exorbitant fees, and surrendering to a culture of mediocrity.
The modus operandi is simple. Junior colleges, eager to boost their reputation, tie up with coaching institutes, touting them as essential for academic success. Parents, anxious to secure their child’s future, are convinced that joining these coaching institutes is the only way to ensure good grades and a competitive edge. The result is a captive market, where students are strong-armed into paying hefty fees for coaching services that may or may not deliver.
But that’s not all. Allegations abound that some junior colleges are complicit in this racket, collecting coaching institute fees along with their own, under the guise of a ‘package deal’. This blatant profiteering has reduced education to a commodity, where the sole objective is to maximize profits, rather than nurture young minds.
The irony is that a section of junior colleges, supposed to provide quality education, are themselves inadequate. Their teaching standards are often subpar, forcing students to seek external help to keep up. Coaching institutes, sensing an opportunity, step in to fill in the void, perpetuating a cycle of dependency and exploitation.
This system has far-reaching consequences. Students are burdened with an unsustainable financial load, parents are driven to despair, and the very fabric of education is undermined. The focus shifts from learning to merely passing exams, as students are conditioned to rely on coaching institutes rather than developing their own critical thinking skills.
It’s time to break this vicious cycle. Regulatory bodies must wake up to the reality of this exploitation and take decisive action. Junior colleges must be held accountable for providing quality education, rather than serving as mere conduits for coaching institutes. Parents must be empowered to make informed decisions, rather than being strong-armed into expensive coaching programmes.
The pursuit of academic excellence is a noble goal, but not at the cost of exploiting vulnerable students and their parents. It’s time to reclaim education from the clutches of profiteers and restore its true purpose: nurturing young minds and fostering a love of learning.
Also Watch: