Chennai: The director of matriculation schools has banned private schools from conducting integrated coaching classes for Neet during school hours on the school premises.
“Any private school shall not engage private agencies on commercial terms or have any kind of tie up to conduct special coaching classes during school hours in the school premises,” S.Kannappan, the director of matriculation schools said in a circular to all chief educational officers on Wednesday.
He further stated that there should be no compulsion of any kind on students to join any coaching classes by the school. “Collecting any fee other than tuition fee under the guise of conducting special coaching classes is strictly prohibited. Imparting education for higher secondary classes will only be based on courses or groups for which approval has been accorded by the respective boards of examinations,” he said.
“Any violation of the above instructions will warrant stringent penal action by the department including withdrawal of recognition,” he warned the schools. After facing initial setback in the medical entrance test, many schools including the super schools in Namakkal and Erode districts have integrated the commercial coaching for entrance exams with the regular teaching process during school hours.
“This has not only resulted in promoting commercial activities on the premises of the schools but also in tampering with the course of instructions as prescribed by the board of examinations,” the circular said.
Some of the private schools have integrated coaching for competitive exams from class 6. The instructors from commercial coaching institutes who do not possess the teaching qualifications are permitted to take classes during school hours.
“There is also an element of compulsion on students to attend such courses on payment of huge sums over and above the regular tuition fee. The act of these institutions not only adds to the stress levels of students but also promotes unhealthy competition among the private schools with motives of profiteering,” he observed in the circular.
The circular also noted that teaching should not promote one particular career option without realising the aptitude of students. While welcoming the order, educationist Prince Gajendrababu said the order need to be implemented in letter and spirit. “The school is a place where the child learns the syllabus and develops the aptitude. It is not a coaching centre,”he said.
