Why have FIITJEE centres in Delhi, Noida, Bhopal, Patna, and other cities suddenly shut down?

Several FIITJEE coaching centres across North India have shut down unexpectedly, severely impacting students in Delhi-NCR, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and other regions. The affected centres include locations in Laxmi Nagar, Noida (Delhi-NCR), Meerut, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, Varanasi, Patna, and Bhopal. The closures were precipitated by a large number of teachers resigning after months of unpaid salaries, leaving students without access to the crucial training they need for competitive exams such as IIT-JEE and NEET.

The mass resignation of teachers due to the non-payment of salaries has led to the immediate shutdown of multiple branches. FIITJEE initially tried to alleviate the situation by moving teachers from Noida to Meerut, but the arrangement lasted only a few days before the centre had to shut down entirely. Many teachers have confirmed that they had not been paid for several months, with one teacher from the Patna branch stating they left in November after not receiving their salary since July. This has compounded the crisis for both the students and the remaining staff, who are left uncertain about their future.

The closures have created a chaotic situation for parents, especially those who had already paid substantial sums in advance for their children’s coaching. One parent from Meerut, who had paid Rs 6 lakh in fees, expressed their frustration, stating that FIITJEE assured them the centres were profitable and would remain operational. The sudden shutdown has left many parents questioning their financial investments, with some claiming that not even 40% of the syllabus was completed before the closure. A protest was staged by over 100 parents in Noida, demanding refunds or guarantees for the completion of their children's courses.

In addition to financial issues, the closures have been linked to regulatory challenges faced by FIITJEE. Local authorities in some areas have found that the affected centres violated licensing and fire safety rules. In Ghaziabad, an investigation revealed that the FIITJEE centre was not registered as required by local laws, prompting legal action. As a result, the closures have raised concerns about the institute’s compliance with education regulations and its ability to operate in the future.

Parents have taken legal action, with multiple FIRs filed in Noida and Ghaziabad, accusing the institute of fraud and mismanagement. These complaints highlight that many students have been left without alternative arrangements despite assurances from FIITJEE that classes would continue. In some cases, teachers themselves have contacted students, urging them to join other coaching centres, but many parents are unwilling to make the switch, insisting that their children’s fees were paid to FIITJEE and they expect either a refund or a completion of the curriculum.

FIITJEE, founded in 1992 by IIT Delhi graduate DK Goel, is one of the largest and most prominent coaching institutions in India, with a network of 72 centres across 41 cities. The institute provides preparation for entrance exams like IIT-JEE and NEET, catering to thousands of students annually. However, the recent closures and ongoing financial issues reflect the growing challenges faced by coaching institutes, with mounting competition and regulatory pressures in the EdTech industry. The mass teacher resignations, coupled with the financial strain, point to a larger systemic issue within the institute that has yet to be addressed.

The impact of these closures is being felt most keenly by students, many of whom are now facing uncertainty about their future exam preparations. With board exams and entrance tests approaching, students are scrambling to find alternative coaching solutions. The closures have sparked protests and complaints, but so far, FIITJEE has not provided an official response, leaving the situation unresolved for many families. As the crisis deepens, parents are calling for urgent action from both the institute and the government to address the issue and safeguard the education of their children.