Coaching for entrance tests crucial in choice of junior college

MUMBAI: Coaching facilities for IIT entrance preparation have become a major factor in influencing Class X pass-outs' choice of junior college. Several colleges tie up with coaching institutes to offer intensive training to crack entrance tests. Though top-rung institutes continue to be in demand among Science aspirants, many have started opting for colleges closer home in the suburbs to avoid time wasted in travelling.Others who do not have good coaching institutes in their towns, are migrating to cities. Several others are opting for junior colleges that offer integrated courses for engineering and medical preparation with Class XII.
For many in interior Maharashtra, migrating to Mumbai is seemingly a better option than to far-out cities such as Kota or Hyderabad, known as coaching hubs.
Raman Baheti, father of an IIT aspirant from Aurangabad, said, "We got to know about the integrated courses offered in Mumbai colleges. Mumbai seemed to be a better option than Kota. His mother took a two-year break from her job to be with him in Mumbai." Rishabh Baheti joined PACE Junior Science College in Mumbai, which offers the integrated programme.
Amey Patil, another IIT aspirant, who is preparing for his JEE (Advanced), said his mother, an engineering professor in a Dhule college, resigned from her job to accompany him to Mumbai. "We have rented a flat here and I hope to crack the entrance test," said Patil. He wishes to pursue computer science and engineering at IIT-Bombay. Many, like Patil, who focus on IITs, have migrated to cities for junior college. A few years ago, Kota was considered a coaching hub, with students from all over the country shifting their base there for two years. Of late, several other cities, including Hyderabad, have become preferred destinations.
While students are choosy about junior colleges, on their part, institutes that offer integrated programmes also ensure that students who sign up for exhaustive training are up to the mark. K C College, which has a dedicated division for integrated coaching, allows students above a specific cut-off, said principal Manju Nichani.
Avnita Bir, principal, R N Podar School, said of the six divisions in the school for Class XII, three are integrated batches for engineering coaching while one is meant for medical aspirants. "It is convenient for students as they save time in travelling. They need to optimise time when preparing for competitive exams," said Bir.
PACE Junior Science College, also conducts entrance tests to give students provisional admissions, which are confirmed only after the online admission process is over. Maharashtra Coaching Class Owners' Association, though, is against the idea of institutes promoting integrated programmes and have also approached the state government before.