Schools turn into coaching classes
Several schools in city have introduced a ‘Science Day School’ concept whereby teachers take tuitions after school hours and students pay huge amount for it
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, June 23, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=2&contentid=201206232012062302361376815f2c064)
Every school is supposed to pay equal attention to every student and ensure that all students grasp what is being taught in class. In case any student is unable to understand in class, extra classes after school hours are provided. But several schools in the city have turned this concept on its head and used it to their advantage.
The special classes meant only for weak students have been replaced post-school as coaching classes for all students, albeit for a huge price.
With the state government banning school teachers from taking tuitions, the schools have introduced a ‘Science Day School’ concept whereby teachers give additional coaching to students in school and the schools charge a hefty sum from them. It serves a dual purpose: the student doesn’t have to go out for tuitions and the school gets to make more money for teaching students the same thing it is duty-bound to teach during school hours.
Where it all started
This trend started in Saurashtra, especially in schools in Rajkot and Surendranagar, around two years ago. The idea has caught up in the city in the past one year. Today, around 40 schools in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar run ‘Science Day Schools’.
The system works for class 11 and 12 students. Some schools have even introduced it in class 10. Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) have granted the schools permission to run from 7 am to 12 noon. But they continue to run the school for an extra two to three hours. The fee charged is Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 per semester, not to mention the cost of study material, uniform etc that would cost an additional Rs 5,000 to 7,000. If the student opts for food, he/she will have to shell out another Rs 5,000.
As per government norms, a self-financed school can charge as tuition fee Rs 175 per month/ per student for class 11 and Rs 200 per month/ per student for class 12, plus Rs 250 per term (semester). For first time admissions to class 8 and above, schools can charge Rs 100 as admission fee. However, these schools have been charging a hefty sum as tuition and term fees.
When the state government decided to bring in the semester system in higher secondary classes, it was to ensure that it becomes stress-free for students and parents. Bringing in objective type questions was an attempt in this direction to ease the pressure on students and take them away from their tuition-centric approach.
What such schools say
Jaydev Sonagara, managing trustee of Divyapath Science Day School in Memnagar, said, “This concept is of a different kind where we provide extra facilities and coaching. The success ratio among students is also very high. This saves time and energy for the child and parents remain stress-free.”
When told that GSHSEB has not given permission for any “day school”, Sonagara said, “We are giving extra coaching to students and that cannot be denied to us.”
Regarding charging the students, the trustee said, “Normally, a parent spends around Rs 1.8 lakh to 2 lakh for tuitions in class 11 and 12, while we charge Rs 1.25 lakh for the two years that a student studies here.”
Another school that has this special arrangement is Jay Somnath High School in Maninagar. It charges Rs 20,000 per semester, per student. Jayantibhai Patel, principal of the school, said, “Since students go to different tuition classes, their approach might be different from the school, which might leave them confused. We provide coaching in the school, which benefits both students and parents. Nobody can deny us from providing extra classes to students.”
Parents, too, find it convenient as they don’t have to hunt for a tuition class for their child, besides spending time and money on travel. A parent whose child studies at IDP School in Motera, which runs such a Science Day School concept, said, “I find it convenient for my child to have tuitions in school, rather than spend more time and money sending him to some tuition class.”
Such schools who violate the norms have not escaped the state government. R I Patel, DEO of Ahmedabad district, told Mirror, “We have information that some schools are running such ‘day’ schools where they are taking huge sums of money from parents. The education board has not granted permission to run such schools. We will carry out a drive and take action against those found violating the rules.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Saturday, June 23, 2012 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?page=article§id=2&contentid=201206232012062302361376815f2c064)
Every school is supposed to pay equal attention to every student and ensure that all students grasp what is being taught in class. In case any student is unable to understand in class, extra classes after school hours are provided. But several schools in the city have turned this concept on its head and used it to their advantage.
The special classes meant only for weak students have been replaced post-school as coaching classes for all students, albeit for a huge price.
With the state government banning school teachers from taking tuitions, the schools have introduced a ‘Science Day School’ concept whereby teachers give additional coaching to students in school and the schools charge a hefty sum from them. It serves a dual purpose: the student doesn’t have to go out for tuitions and the school gets to make more money for teaching students the same thing it is duty-bound to teach during school hours.
Where it all started
This trend started in Saurashtra, especially in schools in Rajkot and Surendranagar, around two years ago. The idea has caught up in the city in the past one year. Today, around 40 schools in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar run ‘Science Day Schools’.
The system works for class 11 and 12 students. Some schools have even introduced it in class 10. Gujarat Secondary and Higher Secondary Education Board (GSHSEB) have granted the schools permission to run from 7 am to 12 noon. But they continue to run the school for an extra two to three hours. The fee charged is Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 per semester, not to mention the cost of study material, uniform etc that would cost an additional Rs 5,000 to 7,000. If the student opts for food, he/she will have to shell out another Rs 5,000.
As per government norms, a self-financed school can charge as tuition fee Rs 175 per month/ per student for class 11 and Rs 200 per month/ per student for class 12, plus Rs 250 per term (semester). For first time admissions to class 8 and above, schools can charge Rs 100 as admission fee. However, these schools have been charging a hefty sum as tuition and term fees.
When the state government decided to bring in the semester system in higher secondary classes, it was to ensure that it becomes stress-free for students and parents. Bringing in objective type questions was an attempt in this direction to ease the pressure on students and take them away from their tuition-centric approach.
What such schools say
Jaydev Sonagara, managing trustee of Divyapath Science Day School in Memnagar, said, “This concept is of a different kind where we provide extra facilities and coaching. The success ratio among students is also very high. This saves time and energy for the child and parents remain stress-free.”
When told that GSHSEB has not given permission for any “day school”, Sonagara said, “We are giving extra coaching to students and that cannot be denied to us.”
Regarding charging the students, the trustee said, “Normally, a parent spends around Rs 1.8 lakh to 2 lakh for tuitions in class 11 and 12, while we charge Rs 1.25 lakh for the two years that a student studies here.”
Another school that has this special arrangement is Jay Somnath High School in Maninagar. It charges Rs 20,000 per semester, per student. Jayantibhai Patel, principal of the school, said, “Since students go to different tuition classes, their approach might be different from the school, which might leave them confused. We provide coaching in the school, which benefits both students and parents. Nobody can deny us from providing extra classes to students.”
Parents, too, find it convenient as they don’t have to hunt for a tuition class for their child, besides spending time and money on travel. A parent whose child studies at IDP School in Motera, which runs such a Science Day School concept, said, “I find it convenient for my child to have tuitions in school, rather than spend more time and money sending him to some tuition class.”
Such schools who violate the norms have not escaped the state government. R I Patel, DEO of Ahmedabad district, told Mirror, “We have information that some schools are running such ‘day’ schools where they are taking huge sums of money from parents. The education board has not granted permission to run such schools. We will carry out a drive and take action against those found violating the rules.”
