New Guidelines for Private Coaching Centres

In response to concerns regarding unregulated private coaching centres, the Ministry of Education has released comprehensive guidelines for the registration and regulation of coaching centres across the country.

• The move aims to address issues related to excessive fees, stress on students, and the lack of mental health support.

Key Guidelines for Private Coaching Centres:

Definition of Coaching

• The guidelines define coaching as tuition, instruction, or guidance in any branch of learning to more than 50 students.
• It excludes activities such as counselling, sports, dance, theatre, and other creative pursuits.

Registration and Eligibility

• Mandatory Registration: Coaching institutes offering training for professional courses must be registered.
• Age Restriction: Students below 16 years of age cannot be enrolled in coaching centres.
  • Enrolment is allowed only after the completion of secondary school examination.
• Fee Regulation: Institutes are prohibited from charging exorbitant fees, ensuring fairness and reasonableness.
  • Refunds are mandatory for students leaving courses mid-way.

Psychological and Mental Health Support

• Integral Support: Coaching centres must provide psychological and mental health support to students.
• Intervention Mechanism: Immediate intervention mechanisms for students in distress should be established.
• Counseling Services: Involvement of counselors and experienced psychologists for resolving mental stress and depression.

Safety and Infrastructure

• Fire and Building Safety: Centres must conform to fire safety and building safety norms.
• Space and Infrastructure: Adequate space, ventilation, lighting, and separate toilets are mandatory.

Code of Conduct and Penalties

• Code of Conduct: Institutes must adhere to a code of conduct, including tutors having a minimum graduation qualification.
• Penalties: Violations may result in penalties, starting from ₹25,000 for the first offense, ₹1 lakh for the second, and revocation of registration for subsequent offenses.

Academic Practices

• Working Hours: Coaching classes cannot be conducted during students’ school or institutional hours.
• Curriculum: The curriculum should be spaced out, with a maximum of 5 hours per day, and weekly offs for both students and tutors.
• Assessment: No assessment tests on the day after the weekly off.
• Website Requirement: Coaching centres are mandated to have a website with updated details about tutor qualifications, courses, curriculum, duration of completion, hostel facilities, and fees.

Career Guidance and Awareness

• Career Options: Centres must provide information about various career options to reduce stress among students.
• Mock Tests: Conducting mock tests to assess students’ capabilities and set realistic expectations.

Complaint Mechanism

• Redressal: A complaint mechanism is established, allowing students, parents, or tutors to file complaints for resolution within 30 days.

What was the need for guidelines?

• Growing number of unregulated private coaching centers.
• Charging excess fees and causing undue stress on students.
• Instances of student suicides linked to stress.

Other key facts:

• Education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
• Several states like Bihar, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Manipur already have frameworks to regulate private coaching.

Ref: Source