Sample this: Jai Kumar who runs Ohm Home Tuition Centre in Erandwane has a team of more than 250 teachers catering to 2,000 students -- from primary school kids to college-goers. While it costs Rs 3000-4000 a year for primary classes, it is Rs 5000 a subject for classes 8-10. "Everyday I get around 10 to 15 calls from students and an equal number from teachers wanting to join me," says Kumar.

Outsourcing teachers is the latest fad as there are many who prefer this form of employment to a regular one with fixed hours in schools. Shrikant Ganpati, president of Maharashtra English Teachers' Association, who has been running Shri Vidya Vikas Seva Pratishthan in Narayan Peth, has as many as 400 teachers working for him.

Ganapati is planning to open an academy in June. "Our fee is around Rs 1500-2,500 per subject per month exclusive of the service charge which is 12 per cent," he says. Ganpati says he keeps 15 per cent as maintenance charges and pays the rest 85 per cent to the teachers. Like in the case, there are many teachers who move from one coaching centre to the next during the day, as per demand. Says Kamlesh Gokhale, owner of Penta Academy, "Our staffers cannot teach elsewhere. There are many who work as freelancers too and they can teach elsewhere. There are also those who teach in schools and who tie up with coaching centre and they charge a lot more than the rest."

Chandan Sohanlal Dabi, one-time teacher at one of the old centres, turned proprietor when he started Chaitanya Maths Academy seven years ago. He charges Rs 6,000 per year for regular students Rs 150 per hour for home tuition, which is more lucrative as this category nets around Rs 50,000 per year.