The Residential Coaching Academy of Centre for Coaching & Career Planning at Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) is the talk of the university after twenty students coached at the centre qualified the Prelims of the Civil Services Main Examination (2012) conducted on May 20. The historic result has lifted the authorities’ spirits, particularly of Dr Anisur Rahman, Honorary director of the coaching institute. Since he took over as the head of the University Grant Commission (UGC) funded centre in 2010, the performance of the coaching academy has improved with more students making to Civil Services. Last year seven students coached at the centre cracked the Civil Services (Main) Examinations. Rahman, also a Professor at the Department of English, discusses with OKHLA TIMES the strategies that helped bring in historic result. Excerpts:
Twenty students coached at JMI qualified the Prelims of the Civil Services Main Examination (2012). This is something never heard of on the campus. What do you say?
We have increased the bar and take 100 students who clear the entrance exam and interview. After that students are put through rigorous coaching. The best available faculty members from JMI and outside are invited to guide the students in the right direction. On weekly basis we conduct self assessment test. The credit goes to the students who really worked hard. Four girls have qualified. Also, the centre that provides free coaching to Minorities, SC, ST and Women category candidates, is open from 9 AM to 1 PM late night every day.
How many students do you think from the 20 selected will qualify for the Civil Services (Main) Examinations?
We expect a good result. Once their Main is over we will prepare them for the interview (personality and mock interview). Our result has been the best among five other universities, including AMU, Jamia Hamdard, MANU, Ambedkar University, Lucknow, that are being funded by the UGC.
How was it made possible?
As I said earlier we planned things in a good way. Not only we found the best teachers but also high scoring subjects like Public Administration, History, Geography, Sociology and others. Once that was done we coached students in their respective subjects.
Does Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung, a former IAS officer, also take interest?
He is very supportive and monitors students’ improvement from time to time. He guides them personally. Initially JMI was not on the UGC list. It was only after Jung’s intervention that the government started funding us.
How much grant does the centre get?
The UGC has promised to offer us Rs 20 crore for three-year project, including building. If we continue with our good result then it will be extended further. A new building is coming up with classrooms, offices, library and hostel facility for 150 students both boys and girls. Right now we provide students a transit accommodation in Jamia Nagar. The centre is currently inviting applications for free coaching (with hostel facility) for Civil Services (Main) 2012, for Minorities, SC, ST and women candidates.
An intensive coaching of six weeks will begin from August 13. The main focus will be on General Studies, Essay Writing, History, Public Administration, Geography, Political Science, Urdu, Persian and Arabic.
What is your future plan?
With Najeeb Jung’s guidance we want to make it one of the best coaching centers of the country. The results have improved. Besides these twenty students, many have qualified state services, law services and banks. Tarique Sidique, deputy director and Dr Rajshree Padhi, assistant Professor help us run the centre smoothly.
