KOCHI: Despite taking various measures, including a complete shift to the online medium of education, the entrance coaching industry in the city is struggling to survive the impact caused by the pandemic.
The uncertainty regarding the examination dates – mostly medical and engineering entrance tests — and the delay in the announcement of Class XII results lead to lesser enrolment of students at the centres. Besides the huge running costs, including building rent, the hesitation of parents to pay fee without due is another challenge that adds to their struggle.
While, many of the small and medium-scale coaching centres have already shut and the remaining centres face closure, most of the leading centres are taking various measures to cut expenditure and survive the pandemic. Most of the centres, which have made additional investment amid the financial loss to ensure seamless online platforms to provide coaching, are now struggling to pay back the loans.
Arun Vishwanath, branch head of Akash Institute, Edapally, said that many students have been disheartened and diverted from the studies due to the multiple postponements of the entrance test. But the centres have to provide them support till they write the exams, which gives additional workload to teachers.
“They are many students who productively used the lockdown time for studies but now they are fed up with the uncertainty over exam dates and question patterns. Usually, the months of May to August are busy time for most centres as it is time for admissions to new batches. But now less number of students is enrolling. All expenses except electricity and water bills are still the same for centres and it is difficult to survive without steady income. The situation is very bad at many small coaching centres,” Vishwanath said.
The uncertainty about when the centres can reopen and resume offline classes is apprehending management to initiate cost-cutting measures like stop leasing out buildings for classroom and reduce the number of staffs including teachers. Moreover, these centres have to spend thousands of rupees in marketing activities, including advertisements, to keep the brand reputation so that they could compete with those portals and applications exclusively dedicated to online education.
“The building owners have given waiver last year during the lockdown but this time they are also struggling to survive. We are retaining the office by paying half the rent as it will difficult to lease out a new building in the post pandemic time. Cancellation of admissions and refund of the fees collected is another issue. Though we have given fee concessions and relaxation in deadlines, many parents are not ready to pay the dues. They said we should not collect high fees for online classes. It is very difficult to reduce fees again. If pandemic situation continues, we will have to shut down.” said an official of a centre in Palarivattom.
