BANGALORE: The CET exam dates have been announced by the Karnataka Examination Authority and that spells anxiety for students and parents and opportunity to earn an extra buck(s) for those dime-adozen coaching centres that claim of imbibing “seat-oriented- coaching”.
Sample this: A reputed coaching centre in Basavanagudi charges Rs 11,236 for one month crash course for all the four subjects-Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and Biology (PCMB). The same fee is reduced to Rs 8,427 if the students opt for coaching classes for three subjects.
The classes are conducted from March 28 to April 26.
“This is inclusive of all taxes and also includes study materials,” a staff member said as if justifying the exorbitant fee.
The same centre offers private tuition for second PU charges Rs 30,000, which is inclusive of CET coaching. A student who is studying in first PU and has already enrolled at the centre says that along with regular tuition, the centre will also take coaching classes for CET exams. Enrolment for regular tuition entitles these students to a ‘concession’ for CET coaching classes. “Our exam will get over by March first week and classes will start from March 16,” a student said.
Another coaching centre nestled on Cunningham road that has branches across the city charges Rs 8,985 for four subjects for one month crash course. At a coaching centre in Jayanagar, a staff said that they charge Rs 2,000 per subject for one month course.
“The classes are held from 8 am to 2 pm everyday,” the staff said.
If you dismiss CET as milch cow of only the coaching centres then you are wrong. Book shops too make a brisk business what with the market hit by a deluge of books on how to crack CET.
“A set of four books which includes all the four subjects costs Rs 1,200,” a staff from Sapna Book house said. “As soon as the CET date is announced, there is a huge demand for these books,” he said.
ashwini@epmltd.com