FIITJEE Shuts Multiple Coaching Centers Across North India As Teachers Quit Over Unpaid Salaries

Several FIITJEE coaching centers in Delhi-NCR and North India have abruptly closed due to a severe financial crisis. The closures have left students stranded at a critical time as they prepare for board exams and competitive entrance tests like JEE Mains. This unexpected development has sparked widespread protests from hundreds of parents demanding refunds for the fees they paid.

According to an NDTV report, the closures occurred after several teachers at the institute resigned en masse due to months of unpaid salaries. Affected centers include those in Noida, Ghaziabad, Bhopal, Varanasi, Delhi, and Patna, with the latest closure reported in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.

The timing of the closures has added to the distress, coming right after the conclusion of the academic session for students appearing in the Jan. 22-24 Session-1 of JEE Mains. The disruptions have left families scrambling to find alternative solutions during an already high-stress period.

The crisis has been accelerated by mass resignations of teachers, reportedly due to months of unpaid salaries. In some cases, the institute's administration attempted to temporarily address the issue by sourcing teachers from other branches, but such measures proved unsustainable, as per NDTV report. The Meerut center, the latest to close, had this interim arrangement, which lasted only a few days.

Parents have expressed outrage over the sudden closures, alleging that no prior notice was given and refunds have not been issued. Many have filed police complaints and staged protests outside the now-shuttered branches.

FIITJEE And Its Financial Woes

Founded in 1992 by IIT Delhi alumnus DK Goel, FIITJEE has been a prominent name in coaching for competitive exams like JEE and NEET. The institute operates 72 centers across 41 cities and employs over 300 staff members. It also offers foundation-level classes for students in grades 8, 9, and 10.

However, the coaching institute is now in turmoil due to administrative and civic actions against several branches for violating licensing and fire safety regulations, according to an NDTV report. In Ghaziabad, for instance, officials cited the Uttar Pradesh Coaching Regulation Act, 2002, as grounds for recent action against unregistered coaching institutes. District Inspector of Schools Dharmendra Sharma confirmed a fresh crackdown on such institutions.

The financial crisis at FIITJEE has reportedly been aggravated by the diversion of funds intended for its coaching centers into other business ventures, further eroding investor confidence. Teachers at the institute, whose annual salaries ranged from Rs 15 lakh to Rs 2 crore, were among the first to feel the impact, with many leaving after prolonged delays in payments.