APPENDIX D- VIEWS EXPRESSED BY UNIVERSITIES ON ITEM XXII OF LAST YEAR'S AGENDA REGARDING THE HARM DONE BY PRIVATE COACHING ACADEMIES AND THE MEASURES SUGGESTED TO COMBAT THE EVIL
At their 15th Meeting held at Allahabad in January, 1949, the Central Advisory Board of Education were requested to consider the problem of 'harm done by private coaching academies and the measures suggested to combat the evil'. The item was also considered by the Directors of Public Instruction at their informal meeting held on the 7th January, 1949, and it was decided that the matter should be first referred to the Universities for their comments. The Board agreed to the recommendation of the Directors of Public Instruction. The views of the Universities in this connection were called for.
The Universities agree that the private coaching institutions are harmful. They, however, feel that unless sufficient facilities are provided for higher educational institutions it will not be advisable to close these institutions by legislation. The existing institutions should be brought under close supervision of the respective Educational Department.
The appended statement gives a summary of their replies. It is placed before the Board for their consideration.
Statement giving the views expressed by Universities on Item XXII of the last year's agenda regarding the harm done by private coaching academies and the measures suggested to combat the evil.
1. Agra.-Government should first take measures to increase the number of regular educational institutions and after this has been done, the private coaching institutions may be banned by legislation, unless they agree to be supervised by some Government agency.
2. Baroda.-Till some plan is devised by which the needs of students are attended to properly, in all the educational institutions, it will be difficult to suppress these private classes by any legislation. Following remedies have been suggested:-
(1) Introduction of a tutorial system in the colleges so that individual needs of the students can be ascertained and satisfied.
(2) The teaching in colleges should be made more interesting and effective. More stress should be laid on encouraging originality and research work.
(3) More teaching and residential Universities should be established.
(4) Some system of controlling private coaching classes and the publication of notes for examination purposes should be devised.
3. Calcutta.-It is stated that the matter does not concern the University as there are no private coaching institutions.
4. Jammu and Kashmir.-There are hardly any private coaching Aca- demies in the State. On principle, such academies, if left unchecked, do more harm than good.
73
5. Lucknow.-The University is not affected directly, as, under the Act, candidates who appear for the examinations of the University must have completed regular courses of instruction imparted at the University. To combat the evil, the number of regular educational institutions in the country must be increased. Till then the private coaching institutions should be strictly under the supervision and control of the State.
6. Madras.-No remarks to offer.
7. Mysore.-Private coaching academies are not allowed to send up candidates for the University Examinations unless they are affiliated to the University. The purely private coaching institutions which cater to the needs of the students who have failed, undoubtedly injure the academic interests of students.
It is suggested that there should be an Organisation to control these private coaching academies.
8. Poona.-No remarks to offer.
9. Rajputana.-It is agreed that private coaching institutions as they exist at present have done more harm than good, chiefly because they are run on commercial basis and not to educate students in the true sense of the term.
The best way to check the harm done by these institutions is to insist on their being registered with the Education Department of the Province provided they have adequate staff, equipment, etc. The applications for examination from the students in these institutions should be forwarded by the Education Department to the Universities concerned only when the Department is satisfied that the students have put in the necessary minimum time in these institutions.
Delhi.-The University agree that coaching establishments may do a great deal of harm and suggest that University teaching should reach such a standard that outside coaching becomes superfluous for examinations. It is also suggested that candidates attending such establishments may not be allowed to enter for the examinations.
Allahabad.-Private coaching institutions are not recognised.