IIT-Delhi students to coach engineering aspirants to crack Joint Entrance Exam

A group of 30 volunteers have launched the teaching project titled ‘Aarohan’, where they will be coaching students of classes XI and XII who cannot afford institutes that cost a fortune to crack the Joint Entrance Examination.

A bunch of freshers at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT)-Delhi will provide free coaching to engineering aspirants who cannot afford institutes that cost a fortune to crack the Joint Entrance Examination.

Students at IIT Delhi campus in New Delhi. (Saumya Khandelwal/ Hindustan Times)

A group of 30 volunteers have launched the teaching project titled ‘Aarohan’, where they will be coaching students of classes XI and XII who are preparing for the exam. The programme has been on for some years, but it is only this time the number of students enrolled has gone up from 10 to 127. Classes begin on August 26.

Besides using social media for the outreach, this year the team visited over 15 government schools to reach aspirants and involved teachers and former students to spread the word.

“The Aarohan project was originally launched in 2014. However, since we could not promote it much, the number of students enrolled was just around 10-12. This year we visited a number of government schools and distributed pamphlets. Also, we asked students who we had taught earlier to spread the word,” said Shreyash Raj, a second-year student of mechanical engineering and executive, NSS.

The classes will be held between 4 pm and 7 pm five days a week. Asked how they find time with a rigorous studying schedule, volunteers said they have a roster. Those interested in teaching have to go through an interview conducted by seniors.

So far two students who had problem clearing even class XII were able to crack the National Institute of Technology while some got through DU.

“Most students we get are from the underprivileged background. They do not even have their basic concepts clear. We start with NCERT level and then go by their feedback,” said Ujjwal Tater, a third-year chemical engineering student and secretary, Aarohan.

IIT-D director V Ramgopal Rao said with the institute’s recognition, the project could reach more students. “We want as many aspirants to join this project. Only a few students from low-income groups can make it to good engineering colleges because they cannot afford expensive coaching. It can have a far-reaching impact on the lives of many.”