NEET JEE Coaching: The Perils Of Enrolling Students In Dummy Schools

As an educationist and a parent, I observe the obsession with competitive examinations in India with a certain amount of discomfort as it overlooks the importance of holistic learning. The popularity of dummy schools is a troubling trend, and the name itself suggests a certain vacuity in the way learning and teaching are approached.

In these 'schools', students don't have to attend regular classes, so they can focus more on their JEE Main, JEE Advanced, and NEET exam preparation. Just how beneficial are they in the long run is a question that parents and students must ask themselves.

Here are some of the reasons why I feel this trend is unhealthy:

Absence of comprehensive learning

An exhaustive learning and teaching system exposes students to sports activities, the arts, education practicals in labs, collaborative projects with peers, a diverse range of books in a well-stocked library and extracurricular activities. Dummy schools are not equipped to deliver these experiences to their students, and most of the time they have a skeletal staff that cannot engage with all the students or give quality education.

The time has also come to ask ourselves if we want our children to become just doctors or engineers rather than individuals who have multiple interests, are creative and have the life skills, psychological tools and emotional intelligence to not just ace any profession but life.

BCCL/Representational Image

Disregard for mental health

In 2022, news reports cited the NCRB (The National Crime Records Bureau) data to state that almost 2500 people commit suicide every year due to failure in exams, and in the years between 2014 to 2020, India has lost 12,582 lives to exam stress. An inordinate amount of importance is placed on cracking competitive exams, and dummy schools demonstrate how far parents and students are willing to go to chase an elusive ideal of success that suppresses personality development and is limited to the ability to answer multiple-choice questions. If a student's mental health needs are not being met, how will she/he fare in a dummy school that will further enhance social isolation?

Unscrupulous practices

Many ill-equipped and unscrupulous coaching institutes have made headlines for the wrong reasons, and in 2022, a Rs 19.56 crore coaching scam was uncovered, and directors of Chandigarh and Gwalior-based coaching centres were also detained. Dummy schools that work in tandem with coaching institutes may not always be guided by the best interests of students. Like most responsible educators, I also believe that CBSE should have stringent guidelines so that dummy schools and coaching institutions do not turn into money-making rackets.

BCCL/Representational Image

Mechanical learning

As I mentioned before, there is no substitute for holistic learning. One-dimensional mechanical learning and cramming for long hours, coupled with isolation, stress and lack of recreational activities, can lead to mental and physical burnout and fragmented concentration. Dummy schools are also not ideal places to prepare yourself to face interviews or group discussions confidently. They basically create silos that hold students back and keep them on a relentless treadmill of exam-related anxiety. Communication skills can be learnt only in environments that encourage interpersonal exchange.

Emphasis on shortcuts

The popularity of dummy schools and coaching institutions shows that a very large number of students are being denied the opportunity to explore richly diverse career options. What is even worse is that these stilted learning environments inhibit imagination, creativity and restrict students to just high-scoring shortcuts without enriching their minds. They do not encourage the spirit of inquiry, multiple viewpoints or a deeper exploration of any subject. This stunts a student's capacity to think out of the box and solve a problem in more ways than one.

BCCL/Representational Image

Diminished productivity levels

Studying for long hours in an enclosed room without requisite breaks or any bonding time with peers increases boredom and mental exhaustion, leading to disinterest and decreased productivity. The learning environment of a dummy school is unstimulating and snuffs out the passion for learning. When the concentration power of students is depleted, they become distracted and in certain cases, even find themselves withdrawing from learning. Two hours of focused learning, with well-paced recreation breaks can prevent a burnout and keep the mind rested and eager to learn*.

Stunted social development

The bleak environment of a dummy school deprives children of adequate peer bonding and the joy of making new friends, solving problems together, exchanging ideas, and supporting each other. Without enough socialisation, children may have trouble expressing themselves, and suffer from loneliness and this could have long-term implications on their social skills, mental health, and overall well-being. Healthy social activities are undeniably important for the emotional and psychological growth of students.

Finally, to circumvent this trend, we must begin by treating students like individuals with unique skills and talents. I also believe that the fear of failure is a dragon that must be slayed. We also must reassure our children that learning is a lifelong process and that their life skills are in place and their passion for learning intact, they will fail forward and succeed in unimaginable ways.

About the author: Rajesh Bhatia is the founder-managing director of Tree House Education and Accessories Ltd. All views/ opinions expressed in the article are of the author.