Keralites are deeply committed to their children’s careers, sparing no time, expense, or effort to ensure the best opportunities for them. The two most coveted professions are medicine and engineering, and from an early age, parents start grooming their children for these paths. Over the years, the preparation process for gaining admission to these esteemed courses has undergone a significant transformation.

1. Locational advantage: In the past, admission to professional courses such as Engineering and Medicine in Kerala relied solely on the marks obtained in PUC/PDC and later in the plus two exams. Those who achieved high scores in these board exams had the opportunity to pursue these coveted professions. Notably, a significant number of top-ranking students hailed from the Trivandrum region, leading to a concentration of seats in these professional courses for them. The reason behind this trend was attributed to the diligent focus on education by Kerala government employees residing in Trivandrum. They prioritized the education of their children from a young age, leading to the establishment of numerous tuition centers specializing in science subjects in and around Trivandrum. To secure their chances of getting into professional courses, some families from other parts of Kerala even considered relocating to Trivandrum or enrolling their children in boarding schools there. Back then, entry into professional courses was localized primarily in Trivandrum due to the large number of successful candidates coming from the region.

2. Individual as a Brand: In the early 1960s, Prof P C Thomas established a residential tuition center in Trichur, which quickly gained prominence for his unique approach to education – what he termed “holistic education,” focusing on the development of body, mind, and soul. The program was rigorous, pushing the candidates to their limits. However, the outstanding results it produced spoke for themselves, attracting an increasing number of parents who entrusted their children to P C’s care. With its growing reputation, P C’s coaching center transformed from being a regional institution to a recognized brand, associated not only with a specific location but also with quality coaching. Alongside the acclaim, there were also critics who questioned the stringent methods employed, often subjecting students to extreme pressure to achieve high results. In fact, a feature film ‘Makente Achen’ which was released in 2009, exposed the strict discipline and regimentation within the coaching center. Parents bend on the outcome rather than the means, pushing the demand for enrollment at P C’s tuition center to surpass its capacity to accommodate students.

3. Building up an Institution: In 1983, the Kerala government introduced the entrance exams for Engineering and Medicine. The following year, in 1984, four teachers came together to establish the Brilliant Study Centre in Pala. The center quickly gained recognition for its exceptional results, drawing more and more students to join its coaching programs. Initially, they offered part-time courses, while crash courses and full-time repeaters’ courses were designed for resident students. Various schools in and around Pala transported their students to the center for weekend coaching sessions. Brilliant emphasized a well-structured system, including regular test papers, personalized follow-ups, and one-on-one monitoring to enhance student performance. As word of their success spread across the state, students from various regions flocked to the Pala Center. Expanding their reach, they formed partnerships with several plus two schools, offering weekend coaching classes at these respective institutions. Later on, Brilliant Study Centre expanded its reach by establishing Classroom Centers in various cities across Kerala, including Trivandrum, Ernakulam, Pala, Changanassery, Thrissur, Kollam, and Kozhikode. 

4. Replicable system to scale up the operation: A few years ago, they introduced an innovative scheme, offering a two-year integrated full-time program in collaboration with 18 schools spread across the state, from Trivandrum to Thamarasserry. This unique initiative aimed to provide comprehensive preparation for both the plus two board exams and the entrance exams, addressing the challenges students often faced while preparing for both simultaneously. The partnership not only alleviated the burden on school authorities but also fostered a mutually beneficial relationship between the schools and Brilliant Study Centre. The schools provided infrastructure and accommodation, while Brilliant’s experienced faculty conducted the classes. To select students for their integrated program, Brilliant conducted statewide screening tests for tenth-standard students. Those who achieved high scores were given the opportunity to choose from the schools participating in the programme. This strategic approach enabled Brilliant to expand its operations beyond Pala, covering the entirety of Kerala. The significant increase in student intake through this initiative, combined with their outstanding results in entrance exams, solidified their position as the undisputed top choice for coaching in the state.

Double twist:

No.1 : My nephew, a doctor at a medical college in North Kerala, enrolled his son in the integrated two-year program at a prestigious school located in central Kerala. According to the school’s regulations, the students are allowed to go home only on specific holidays, and that too, only accompanied by a parent. On these rare occasions when my nephew’s son visits home, he takes a full day to unwind from the boarding school rigor, before he fully immerses himself in the comforting and familiar atmosphere of his own home.

No.2: My niece, an associate professor at Trivandrum Medical College, who teaches the first-year MBBS batch comprising approximately 200 students, recently shared her experience with me. According to her, only about 10% of the students actively participate in the classes, while the majority either doze off or pass their time idly. When she personally inquired with the students about this behavior, their response was both surprising and unexpected for my niece and me. They explained, “After being excessively stretched and stressed for the past two years while preparing for the entrance exams, now we just want to take it easy and relax.”

This made me wonder:

what should be the next step in the entrance coaching journey?

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