Don't go for integrated courses, warns education department

Maharashtra government has already announced a ban on integrated coaching classes from academic year 2018-19, parents are not hesitant to send their children to junior colleges having association with such classes. Coaching class association has said that inspite of the ban by govt., such courses are still running and flourishing there in different corners of the city.

Narendra Bhambwani, ex-vice-president of the Maharashtra Coaching Class Owners Association, said that these classes are still running and making money as students do opt for them.

He also said, “Parents must see the huge risk behind these integrated coaching classes and one must not go for them, despite of any lucrative offers. Many of these classes have started their own colleges wh-
ere they accept admissions but in true sense they are just giving them coaching and making money".

Parents are of the view that integrated courses saves time of the students, as they are able to prepare for entrance examinations along with their studies at regular colleges. One of the Parent said, "If the students use their junior college time to prepare for a national level entrance examination which is tough and requires time to prepare, I don't see any harm in it. ”

Though, the Maharashtra education department is still making parents and students aware of the dangerous repurcussions of such classes. The first year junior college (FYJC) admission portal - mumbai.11thadmission.net and pune.11thadmission.net has mentioned a special note for parents and students to create awareness about the issue. This is what they have said, "Parents & Students are requested not to take admission in so called integrated Jr. College in Mumbai region. If they take admission in such colleges the department will not responsible for any problem occurring in future."

This time biometric attendance has been made compulsory, especially for science and commerce streams as students bunk college lectures to go for coaching.

Colleges tie up with classes and enter into an aggrement with them where students don’t need to attend college lectures and are still given full attendance and internal marks in integrated coaching.