IELTS institutes grow in the city as craze for studying abroad increases

Avneet Kaur

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Jalandhar, September 18

“I wanted to be a doctor but could not get admission to any government medical college despite scoring good marks in my Class XII exams as well as in the NEET. To get a seat in a private college, you need to pay a handsome amount as a fee. As I did not want my family to shell out Rs 5 lakh per annum to a private medical college for my studies, so, I have decided to change my field and go to abroad. It will cost me around Rs 11 lakh in total and the amount is two times less than the whole fees for the MBBS course. Also, I feel there is no value of education and talent in India”, said 22-year-old Megha Sharma, who recently migrated to Canada to continue her higher studies.

Like Megha there are many students in the city who feel that even scoring 90 per cent marks and more than that in Class XII exams is not going to help them in getting seats in their favourite college in India.

According to a majority of students, the weekly system in foreign universities attracts them the most. Students say they get three to four days for study with some working hours in developed countries and the weekend where students can earn and work.

“Due to the weekly system, students in abroad do not sit free at their homes even after graduation. In developed countries, youngsters start earning right from the age of 16,” said Daljeet Kaur, who wants to settle abroad.

There was a time when students would go abroad for job prospects or to pursue a postgraduate degree but these days, a majority of Class X and XII passouts are attracted towards moving out of the country. The craze to study in foreign universities or colleges among the students has led to the growth of many consultation agencies for overseas education and IELTS coaching centres.

The manager of one of the reputed IELTS institutes and overseas consultation agencies here said, “The response of students is three to four times more this year as compared to the previous year. There are around 10 to 20 students who daily come for consultation and to get details about the subjects, colleges and universities where they can apply.”

He added, “Around 300 students are already attending IELTS classes here in which a majority of students are Class XII passouts and graduates.”

The fee to appearing for the IELTS exam is nearly Rs 12,000 and the fee for the coaching of the exam varies from one institute to another. According to sources, the fee at almost all IELTS centres usually ranges between Rs 5,000 and Rs 7,500 per month. There are students who have appeared six to seven times for the ILETS exams by spending Rs 12,000 every time. They normally think whether it takes them a year or two, they will secure good bands and will go abroad only.

The owner of an IELTS centre here said, “Less job opportunities and career options are the reasons behind the craze for abroad among youngsters. There are over 200 students from Jalandhar, Nawanshahr, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur, Phillaur and nearby villages are presently attending coaching classes at my centre.”

Business of IELTS centres mushrooms 

• All prominent chowks, streets and thoroughfares in the city are dotted with hoardings, banners and posters of different IELTS institutes and consultant agencies. 
• There are over 50 immigration consultation agencies dealing with study visa of various countries and over 30 IELTS centres are in the city. The owner of one of the IELTS centres said these were the approximate figures as the number could be more. 
• Even villages like Talhan near Jalandhar depict the entire scenario. A huge board of a travel agent welcomes you on the outskirts of the village, boasting of its historic feat of facilitating “hundreds of Punjabi youths to get settled in Europe, Canada and America.” 
• There are hoardings of study visa consultants, foreign language trainers, tourist visa consultants and IELTS trainers installed on every wall of the houses, electric poles and even on tubewell rooms.