Tamil Nadu govt urged to set up competitive exams coaching centre in Coimbatore

COIMBATORE: Aspirants preparing for UPSC, TNPSC, railways, banking and SSC examinations have urged the Tamil Nadu govt to establish a free coaching centre in Coimbatore.

The free coaching centre, established by the govt at Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) in March 2023, was later shifted to the Government Arts College and eventually shut down. "No further steps were taken to resume classes. We don’t know the reason for the closure," said an aspirant.

Currently, aspirants make use of the RS Puram Central Library and the Knowledge and Study Centre in Aadis Street in Ward 83 of the Coimbatore Corporation's central zone. Around 300–350 aspirants, many from rural backgrounds, use these facilities daily to prepare for competitive exams. However, the city lacks a dedicated free coaching centre that provides structured guidance and access to study materials, according to them.

"Many students preparing in libraries are from rural areas. If we had access to free coaching, many of us could clear exams in one or two attempts. Without proper guidance on what to study, current trends and updated data, preparation takes longer," said D Prakash of Sulur.

"Those from Tamil medium backgrounds struggle to find materials and notes in Tamil. A coaching centre would help bridge this gap. It would foster a community of aspirants, facilitating peer learning. We need a permanent centre offering structured, year-round preparation, expert guidance, study materials, mock tests and discussion sessions. This would significantly improve the pass percentage from Coimbatore," said K Malathi of Saibaba Colony.

When contacted, district collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar said, "We are working on a plan to revive the govt coaching centre. We are currently looking for a suitable location. We aim to bring in a dedicated team and resource persons for coaching and guidance. A detailed plan will be announced and implemented within a month."

Corporation commissioner M Sivaguru Prabakaran said tenders had been invited to establish two Mudhalvar Padaippagams in the west and north zones. “There is a growing demand for such study centres. Also, we are identifying additional spaces within the city limits to set up more study centres for competitive exam aspirants. Providing coaching facilities in these centres is under consideration," he added.