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Road to success
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With Malayalis doing well in the Civil Services examinations in recent times, coaching centres in the city are gearing up to produce more winners.
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INSPIRED BY the success of a few Malayalis in the Civil Services examinations in recent years, coaching centres in the city are witnessing a steady flow of hopefuls.
For long, Delhi was considered the ideal place for IAS coaching. The success of S. Aswathy, third rank holder in 2002, shattered this myth. Aswathy, after failing to get coaching for her optional subject in Delhi, had returned to Kerala. Her success is commendable because of her choice of Malayalam as the second optional subject.
Thiruvananthapuram, being the State capital, has its advantages. Many IAS officers reside in the city and these coaching centres frequently conduct interactive sessions with them. The city also has some of the best libraries in Kerala -- the Public Library, the University Library, the British Library, the Centre for Development Studies Library and the Legislative Assembly Library. The department libraries at the Kariyavattom campus are also frequented by the Civil Services aspirants.
The number of aspirants undergoing training at the eight or more coaching centres in the city and the suburbs has registered a sharp increase. Students from all parts of Kerala and even from Tamil Nadu have entered the rat race.
Established in 1960, the IAS Coaching Centre at the University College is a pioneer in the field. Its alumni include the former Additional Chief Secretary, J. Lalithambika, former Chief Secretary C. P. Nair, Principal Secretary to the Government, Power, Lissie Jacob, Secretary, Non Resident Keralites Association, Jiji Thompson, and Secretary, Cultural Affairs, Bharat Bhushan. The list also includes IPS officers such as Krishnan Nair and others. The classes at the centre are headed by senior professors of University College, says B. Chandrachoodan Nair, professor-in-charge of the centre.
In a year, classes are conducted for two batches of 50 students each. In a batch, 40 seats are for the general category and 10 seats reserved for the SC/ST students. Scholarships are also given to the best 10 students.
A team from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), during a visit to the college, had recommended the centre to tie-up with similar institutions in Delhi, says Nair. "Lack of confidence is the biggest problem that Malayali students face. "That's why they discontinue the coaching even though they may have secured admission only into the B.Ed course."
Another prominent institute is the Civil Service Academy. Two students from the academy got into the IAS and one into the IPS in 2003. Gigy Thomas, 16th rank holder in the 2001 examination, was a student here. The academy, which maintains a good track record, selects students through an entrance examination.
The then district Collector of Thiruvananthapuram, T. Balakrishnan, started the Centre for Career Development Studies (CCDS) in 1990. "The CCDS has an up-to-date library with around 6,000 books," says its secretary, Dr. Pennamma Jose. It also has a full-fledged computer laboratory with Internet facility. Many senior as well as retired IAS officers give lectures at CCDS. "The mock interview conducted by CCDS benefited Aswathy, third rank holder, a lot," says Dr. Jose. The CCDS currently has three batches at present and eight of its students await the results of the IAS (Mains), she adds.
The Institute for Civil Services Examination Training, located at PTP Nagar, conducts residential training programmes. "The centre has an excellent library that stocks all major journals and periodicals," says its principal, S. Kamini. She adds that since it is a residential course, students are able to spend more time doing reference. The institute functions under the Department of SC/ST. Of the total student strength, 10 per cent are chosen from the other communities.
Requests from aspirants and parents have prompted many scholars and retired college teachers to start classes for optional subjects. In her interview after securing the third rank, Aswathy dedicated her success to S. Narayanan, a retired professor of economics from the Government Women's College. Narayanan remembers an evening two years ago when Aswathy came to his home and sought guidance. "I wondered," he says, "when she told me that many experts in Delhi had discouraged her from opting for economics on the grounds that it was a tough subject."
Film director Adoor Gopalakrishnan's daughter, Aswathy Gopalakrishnan, who got into the IPS, and Veena S. Raj, who entered the IRS, were his students. Narayanan says that nothing can replace hard work. Most IAS officers have two common characteristics -- brevity and clarity -- and that is what aspirants should try to imbibe, he adds.
These days, public administration is considered a subject one can score easily in. Dr. Padma Ramakrishnan and Prof. P. Sathyaseelan guide those who opt for public administration. Since the subject has a limited syllabus, most students choose it as their second optional. Experts in the field say that because of this reason, competition is very intense and a single mistake lowers the rank substantially.
Anil, an aspirant from Kasaragod, chose to come to the city because of the presence of good libraries, especially the University Library. Thiruvananthapuram has proved to be more resourceful than Delhi for subjects such as economics, he says.
The Kerala University Library, the biggest library in the State, is all set to help the Civil Services aspirants. They can avail themselves of the degree membership even if not a student of the university. Suggestions and requests for new books are often received from the Civil Services students, says the librarian, N. Parameswaran. "If the books are available in the local market, we stock them immediately. Many books are published from Delhi, especially those for the Mains examinations. Those too are brought in the minimum possible time."
Parameswaran says that setting up of an exclusive `Civil Services Students' corner, like in libraries in Delhi, is on the cards.
Several tutorials also offer coaching for the Civil Services examinations.
But while the number of those joining the coaching centres has increased, there hasn't been an increase in the number of successful candidates.
Says T. Balakrishnan, Secretary, Department of Tourism and Culture, Government of Kerala: "The quality of education in the State has come down. Activities such as debates, quizzes and elocutions are not held on campuses as frequently as before. Except in a few colleges, the amount of time spent by students on the campus is very little. We perform badly in interviews owing to the poor standards of spoken English. Coaching centres can help in this regard because of the constant interaction with other candidates. Library facilities too help."
A lot of hard work goes into preparing for the exams, he says. "Preparations should start from Class X. A record of important dates and events should be maintained."
The profile of the students has also undergone a change. "They criticise and question more than they learn. This affects their performance in interviews where one's patience and presence of mind are tested. Students elsewhere, such as Jawaharlal Nehru University and Delhi University, qualify for the IAS because their syllabus is constantly revised. But it doesn't happen often here, he adds.
Dr. B. Ekbal, Vice-Chancellor, University of Kerala, admits that the quality of education leaves much to be desired. Introduction of semesters at the university level, he feels, could change things.
"Our students' performance in Civil Services examinations is an indication of lower education standards. Communication, IT and analytical skills, and knowledge about the global environment such as human rights, gender justice and cultural diversity are imperative. Academicians and media should take up this issue seriously," says Dr. Ekbal.
While doubts persisted earlier about the standard of Civil Services coaching in the State, things have undergone a change. Teachers say they do a lot of groundwork before taking classes. Interactive sessions are significant, says Narayanan.
Of the hundreds who spend every waking hour perusing books and newspapers, only a few become lucky.
Says Shiju, an IAS aspirant, "The intensive coaching changes one into a hard-working individual. Even if not selected, I wouldn't worry for the knowledge gained would stand me in good stead."
M. S. VIDYANANDAN
Photo: S. Gopakumar
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