No integrated coaching in PU colleges

The pre-university (PU) colleges in the state are banned from conducting ‘integrated coaching’ for various competitive examinations on their campuses along with PU courses for the academic year 2019-20.

The admission guidelines, issued by the Department of Pre-university Education on Thursday, clearly mention that if any college found conducting integrated coaching classes for JEE/NEET/CET or any other competitive examinations using syllabus which is not prescribed by the department, then the affiliation of that college will be withdrawn.

Most private PU colleges in the state provide integrated coaching along with regular PU classes and they even collect extra fee for integrated coaching. The admission guidelines read, “Conducting integrated classes for competitive examinations using a resource person from outside or teaching a syllabus which is not prescribed by the department or preparing students to competitive exams using electronic media is illegal, and if any college found practicing such activities, then affiliation will be withdrawn.”

“There were several complaints last year before the department about some of the private PU colleges conducting integrated coaching or bridge course at the college premises by associating with other coaching institutions. Considering that, this year it is clearly instructed the colleges not to indulge in such activities, and if they violate then the affiliation will be at risk,” a senior official of the department said.

Interestingly, this warning is being issued by the department for the last three years during admissions. But the private college managements continue to offer integrated courses saying that there is no provision for government to restrict the same and rule book is silent about it.

“This is the direction we are getting from department for the last few years, but as the PU Department rules are silent and no mention about it, how can the department call it illegal? Let them amend the existing rules and then issue directions,” said a management representative of one of the leading coaching institutes for IIT-JEE/CET and NEET in the state.

In the academic year 2019-20, the PU colleges have been instructed to notify parents about their wards' attendance status four times in a year (August 10, October 14, November 17, 2019 and January 1, 2020)

To prevent students' allegations against the college or department at the end, the department has even asked college principals to get affidavit from parents about the same.