Selecting the right coaching class!

The board exam results matter! We may hate the system and know that the students are under immense, often unnecessary pressure. But we need to accept it – we have no choice in the matter. The students spend half the day in school with 40 odd students, come home – eat lunch
and immediately go to their coaching class. But is it benefitting them in any way? Are we just making them shuttle from one class to another?

Selecting the right coaching class for your child:

• Proximity should be a top priority. The closer the coaching class is to your house, thelesser the travel time.
• Class size is a big factor. How many students are there in each batch? Will the child gain
  anything at all from attending the classes? Will his doubts be clarified?
• Expertise of faculty members: Are all the coaching class teachers experts in their
  field? More importantly are they able to teach in a way that the students understand?
  Is discussion encouraged? Or is it always – “the syllabus has to be finished first?”
• Are the coaches approachable after class hours? Do they interact with the students before, during or after the class?
• Very often personal tutors are more effective than coaching classes. The children are
  free to share their fears and thoughts with the personal tutor. They openly tell the tutor if they have some doubts. So, this is also a good option to consider, especially if your child is an introvert.
• Several coaching classes segregate the students according to their aptitude. This is a
  move in the right direction, because your child will be studying at a pace that is best suited for him/her.
• Higher fees do not automatically mean better quality. It may simply mean air conditioned classrooms and more tests!
• Too many tests or test series may end up creating fatigue in the child. The focus should
  be more on learning, understanding and grasping the subject matter rather than on testing.
• When the tests are conducted, the weak areas need to be analysed and worked upon. Only then the scores will improve.

While selecting the right coaching class for your child, remember there should not be a ‘one size
fits all’ approach. The parents know what is best suited for the child. In most cases, if the
communication is open, the child will tell you whether she/he understands things in the coaching
class. Listen to them and then select a class that best suits their needs.