Private coaching classes too give the stream short shrift

Private coaching classes too give the stream short shrift

The board exams are over and now students are looking at career options. Private coaching classes have begun organising career seminars and counselling sessions to guide students. But, these classes focus on career seminars for commerce and science fields, but do not hold counselling sessions for those interested in pursuing a career in the arts stream. “I was invited for a career counselling seminar at my daughter’s coaching class. In the schedule, I was shock to see that they had ignored the arts steam,” said Urvashi Nair from Matunga. Her daughter attends one of the top coaching classes in the city. This is prevalent, in spite of, a plethora of career opportunities being available for arts students, said experts. In fact, many science and commerce students take up courses in the arts stream after HSC. Arundhati Chavan, president of the PTA United Forum, said:“It is shocking that coaching classes would neglect such an important stream. Parents do not have a problem if their child pursues arts as there are many opportunities opening up through this stream.’’ Jayant Jain, head of education NGO, Forum For Fairness, explained that coaching classes do not want to focus on arts as it is not lucrative. “These classes make tonnes of money from science and commerce streams by helping students prepare for several entrance tests, especially for engineering, medical and even management. But, arts does not offer that kind of opportunities, hence very few coaching classes get into it,’’ he said. Experts said that the demand for arts is on a rise with students willing to break free from the conventional engineering and medical professions.