Question : PRIVATE COACHING INSTITUTES

(a) whether there is a growing influence of private coaching institutes for Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and engineering colleges etc. in the country and charging exorbitant fees from students;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;

(c) whether the Government is considering to give weightage to marks secured in X and XII standard exams in the engineering entrance examination including IIT-JEE to prevent crass commercialization;

(d) if so, whether the Government has any proposal to hold single test for admissions to engineering and technical courses including IITs;

(e) if so, the details thereof and its benefits to the students on its implementation; and

(f) the time by which the said proposal is likely to be implemented?

MINISTER OF THE STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (DR. D. PURANDESWARI)

(a) & (b): This Ministry does not maintain data on coaching centres in the country and therefore it will not be possible to know the growing influence of coaching centres and to what extent it affects the school education system. However, steps have been taken from time to time to reform engineering entrance exams like IIT-JEE with a view to reduce dependency of engineering aspirants on coaching centres. Under the present IIT-Joint Entrance Examination System only those students who secure at least 60% marks in the Standard XII Examination are eligible for admission to the IITs so that the marks obtained in the qualifying Board Examinations are given due weightage.

(c) to (f): However, a Committee headed by Dr. T. Ramasami, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology has been constituted “to assess the examination and admission system in engineering programmes”.