“Coaching is unlocking people’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is more
often helping them to learn rather than teaching them.” – John Whitmore
In today’s challenging world, education plays an important role for the futures of students.
Coaching classes have become a popular educational resource due to the increasing
complexity of academic subjects and examinations. These classes are helpful to students
who seek to increase their knowledge and academic performance as they provide targeted
instruction, additional resource and a structured environment. In this essay we will discuss
the advantages and disadvantages of coaching classes and how they impact a student’s
educational journey.
Understanding of Coaching Classes
What are Coaching Classes? Coaching classes can be defined as a term for private
educational institutes that offer classes for almost all subjects. They cater for students of all
ages from primary school-goers with weak academic performance to college students
preparing for competitive exams. The main target of these classes is to reinforce classroom
learning by providing personal attention to students who has difficulty in regular school
settings.
The Increasing Popularity of Coaching Classes
Nowadays, coaching classes have become increasingly popular in the educational contexts.
One of the main drivers of this trend is the intense competition in academic settings that
often pushes students to seek additional help outside the normal classroom environment.
Moreover, coaching classes provide more focused and personalized attention, thereby
contributing to the rising popularity of these classes. Due to the increasing reliance on
coaching classes, important questions about the effectiveness and implications of such
educational practices are raised.
Benefits of Coaching Classes
There are many advantages in coaching classes. One of the most significant benefits is
definitely personalized attention. In a traditional classroom with large student numbers, it is
challenging for teachers to address the individual needs of each student. On the other hand,
coaching classes usually have fewer students per instructor that allows a more personalized teaching approach. Such practices are beneficial for weaker students as they can receive
individual attention, support and guidance to enhance their academic performance.
Furthermore, coaching classes is beneficial as they create motivation and a more disciplined
study environment. Many students find that the structured schedule of coaching classes
helps them to manage well with their studies. The routine of attending classes with friends
who share the same goals encourage a competitive spirit which can improve the dedication
of students to their academic pursuits. As a result, coaching classes can inculcate discipline
and a strong work ethic which are valuable traits in education.
Moreover, coaching classes often provide specialized instruction that is in line with
competitive exams and standardized tests. For example, many coaching institutes offer
rigorous preparation for competitive exams to students. These classes are designed to cover
specific curriculum required for these tests by utilizing proven strategies to help students to
succeed. Subsequently, students who attend coaching classes may find themselves better
prepared to tackle challenging examination formats and to enhance their academic
performance.
Finally, coaching classes are normally designed with a specific curriculum that targets key
areas in subjects. This type of approach allows students to save energy and time and to
focus on important topics that nay appear in examinations. Additionally, many coaching
institutes provide updated materials and resources to students, thereby enabling students
to prepare more efficiently for examinations.
Challenges Associated with Coaching Classes
Despite the numerous benefits, coaching classes come also with their set of challenges. First
of all, the most important drawbacks of coaching classes is their financial burden. Effective
coaching classes are expensive and unfortunately, not all families can afford the cost. As a
result, it creates a disparity in access to resources especially for students from poor families
who may not be able to afford supplementary tuition. Therefore, this can provoke existing
inequalities in the education system.
Moreover, the prevalence of coaching classes can create a challenging and stressful
environment for students. The anxiety linked with extensive preparation and the fear of not
meeting their own or their parents’ expectations can lead to burnout and stress. The
younger students are more likely to be under intense pressure as they may not yet have
developed coping mechanisms to handle intense academic preparation.
Besides, there is a great risk that students may become dependent on coaching classes. As a
result, students may neglect self-study and critical thinking skills. This over-reliance can
hinder the development of independent learning habits that are crucial for long-term
academic success.
Furthermore, the exam-oriented teaching and the emphasis of learning by heart is usually
under critics in coaching classes. As these institutes focus on achieving high scores in specific
examinations, the depth of critical thinking and understanding may take a less prominent
role. Subsequently, students may obtain the best results in examinations but lack a
comprehensive understanding of the subject matter that can be harmful in higher education
where analytical skills are crucial.
The Impact of Coaching Classes on the Educational System
The increase of coaching classes has also impacted the educational system and the student’s
educational journey as a whole. Normal schools may feel compelled to change their
curriculums and teaching methods to compete with coaching classes. Some instructors
argue that coaching classes can lead to a narrowing of the syllabus, where schools foster
more on teaching to the examination rather than focussing on the understanding of the
subjects. Consecutively, this can decrease the overall quality of education as educators may
give more importance on exam results over meaningful learning experience.
Additionally, the overall dependence on coaching classes can shift the responsibility of
education from traditional schools to these institutes. The fact that students and parents
view coaching classes as fundamental for academic success, the main role of schools in
facilitating learning and imparting knowledge may be reduced. This change can erode the
fundamental principles of education as a shared responsibility between teachers and
students.
Conclusion
In short, coaching classes has both its advantages and disadvantages. They provide
individualized attention, motivational study environment, and specialized instruction, which
can significantly enhance a student’s educational journey by providing a supportive and
structured environment. Nevertheless, the financial burden, anxiety, dependency, and
pressure to perform can create significant challenges.
Ultimately, as the role of coaching classes continues to increase, it is crucial for educators
and parents to seek a balanced approach that supports students in their academic
endeavours and at the same time, addressing the existing disparities within the education
system. The target is to create an environment where all students can succeed by
harnessing the benefits of coaching classes without compromising the integrity of their
overall education. Pat Conroy did say “Good Coaching is good teaching and nothing else”
By: Azanafee Faranaaz Sufrauj
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