New guidelines have been issued by the Central Government which states that private tuition centers can no longer admit students whose age is below 16 years and the purpose of these guidelines is to ensure the safety and well-being of students. The purpose of the published guide is to establish standards for the regulation of training centers to improve student training and support curriculum, competitive exams, and academics.
These private coaching centers are also prohibited from making false claims about marks or gaining marks in competitive examinations. The guidelines state that "problems related to private coaching centers, especially regarding rising student suicides, fires, lack of facilities and teaching methods, have come to the attention of the government from time to time".
The current nature of secondary school exams, including Board exams and entrance exams, the resulting coaching culture of today, and its harmful impact has been alarmingly increasing due to which the Ministry of Education has decided to bring reforms in the existing system of Board and entrance examinations to eliminate the need for undertaking coaching classes.
The ministry guidelines claim that "No coaching center shall engage tutors having qualifications less than graduation. Private tuition centres cannot make misleading promises or assure parents of value or good grades for recruiting students in coaching centers. Tuition centers cannot accept students under the age of 16. Registration of students must take place only after the end of secondary education.”
The Education Ministry has also enlightened the need for these guidelines to provide frameworks for the registration and regulation of coaching centers and to suggest minimum standard requirements to run a coaching center. It also states the need for safeguarding the interests of students who still wish to get enrolled in coaching centers. The ministry guidelines advise coaching centers’ to focus on co-curricular activities as well as the holistic development of students along with proper career guidance and psychological counseling for the mental well-being of the students.
To enforce the guidelines, the government has proposed a heavy penalty of Rs. 25,000 for the first violation, Rs. 1Lakh for a second violation or deregistration of coaching centers that charge excessive fees or engage in other irregularities that encourage student stress and suicide.
The new regulations aim to address some major concerns and ensure the safety and well-being of students in coaching centers. For more detailed information you can visit the official website of the Ministry of Education.
