While students from across the country flock the capital after their SLC exams for entrance preparation of higher studies, many students say they are dissatisfied with the quality of bridge course offered by the institutions here.

Contrary to their advertisements, some reputed bridge course centers do not offer the promised benefits to the students despite the high fees they charge.

Pramod Thakur, 18, came to Kathmandu recently from Goraita in Sarlahi district to take a bridge course that would prepare him for the entrance exams for advance science at plus two levels.

However, the Pathshala Bridge Course Institute, where he is enrolled, has not provided sufficient books as promised. He had paid Rs 7000 to the institute for the bridge course and books.

Sishir Ale Magar of Bhaktapur echoed Thakur´s opinion. “I did not find it as fruitful as the institutions had promised,” he said. “Teachers do not give enough time.”

Likewise, another guardian, a resident of Samakhushi who sent his niece to Alfa Beta Institute for entrance preparation for A levels, felt cheated after the institute could not keep its promise about quality.

“I paid Rs 5000 for the one-week A level entrance preparation class. However, the institute later said that a public holiday that fell in between would be counted as part of the week,” said the guardian requesting anonymity.

However, Ilu Thapa, a counselor at the Baneshwar-based Alfa Beta Institute, claimed that the center is willing to return the fees if students aren´t satisfied.

Ek Raj Thapa of Intel Institute Bagbazaar claimed that the institute had hired the teachers of St. Xavier College, Buddhanilkantha School and Birendra Army School to guide the students for entrance preparations.

A total of 5,47,165 students appeared in this year´s SLC exam that was held in March. An unofficial estimate shows that more than 50,000 students flock to the Valley right after the SLC exam every year looking for better higher educational institutions, despite high costs involved.

Meanwhile, experts say that the government authority is to blame for the ongoing “forgery” in the name of bridge course in the country.

Educationist Bishnu Karki claimed that the bridge course centers in the country are not credible at all.

“They are tuition centers not the bridge course centers,” said Karki.

For instance, if a student has passed plus two in economics and wants to jump to sociology in bachelor level, s/he receives a carryover marks to study the new subject, Karki added. However, the students can´t receive such marks to enroll at plus two level.

“Who gave them the permission to run bridge courses?” questioned Karki.

He prefers that students better learn technical skills and take language or computer classes in the gap period.

source: republica,25 april 2013