ICAI tightens screws on errant coaching classes

In a bid to curb exploitation of CA students at the hands of coaching classes, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India has announced that students appearing for any CA exam and writing answers other than those provided in the ICAI syllabus will be marked wrong.

The announcement was made recently after the students grievance cell of the Western India Regional Centre (WIRC) received complaints from students regarding the large amount of fees being collected by coaching classes.

Speaking about the decision, CA S.G. Mundada, chairman SGC, WIRC, said that it had been observed that many coaching classes claiming to provide the best coaching in preparation for various CA exams like CPT, IPCC and finals had been fleecing students by not providing relevant training as mentioned in the ICAI syllabus.

“Recently we have started to get a lot of complaints from the students who attend coaching classes that they are unable to score well as the assessment by the institute is very strict. Some even say that despite regular practice by coaching classes they were unable to pass the exams,” said Mr Mundada.

After the students’ grouse was referred to the Board of Examination (BoE) of the ICAI, it was realised that students were unable to do well in the examination as the answers they wrote were not in line with the syllabus.

“The answers are entirely different from those provided in the answer keys provided by the institute. We have no option, but to mark them wrong,” said an examiner admitting that students who solely referred to institute notes and attended WIRC lectures were in a better position to do well in the exams than their counterparts who attend coaching classes.

Coaching classes charge anywhere between Rs 35,000 to Rs 60,000, which include extra notes and coaching on two to three days a week.

“Students do not need to pay so much nor do they need to attend coaching classes. If they study the notes provided by the institute they can easily pass. We have taken a decision that those answers that are from out of the syllabus will be marked wrong,” said Mr Mundada. (Asian Age)