Context:
The Ministry of Education has released new guidelines for coaching centers in the country.
What Are the New Guidelines For Coaching Institutes?
- Misleading Advertisement: Coaching institutes should not make any false promises to prospective students and avoid publishing any misleading advertisement.
- Mandatory Registration: Coaching centers must apply for registration with the local competent authority, as set by the government.
- Each branch of a coaching is treated as a distinct entity, requiring separate registration applications for each.
- Enrollment: Only students above the age of 16 can be admitted, and admission is permitted only after the successful completion of secondary school examinations.
- Tutor Qualification: The coachings can not engage tutors having qualifications less than graduation.
- Fees: Tuition fees for various courses should be reasonable and just, with detailed receipts provided.
- Fee Changes: Any fee increases during the course, including both course fees and hostel-related charges, are strictly prohibited.
- Withdrawals: In case of mid-course withdrawals, a pro-rata refund is required within 10 days.
- Complaint Mechanism: There should be a mechanism in place for filing complaints against coaching centers by students, parents, or tutors/employees of the coaching center.
- Additionally, coaching centers can file complaints against students or parents.
- Attendance: The guidelines state that class schedules should not overlap with regular school hours to ensure consistent attendance.
- Off Time: Both students and tutors must have mandatory weekly offs.
- Attention to each pupil: Class sizes should be maintained to ensure a healthy teacher-student ratio.
- Mental Health: The Coaching shall ensure the mental well-being of students by avoiding undue pressure and establishing a mechanism of assistance to students in stressful situations.
- Space: Coaching centers should allocate a minimum of one square meter per student in each class.
- Fire Compliance: Compliance with fire safety and building codes, including obtaining Fire and Building Safety Certificates, is mandatory.
- CCTV: The coaching center should also be equipped with CCTV cameras, a first aid kit, and access to medical assistance.
Need of Guidelines For Coaching Institutes
- To Regulate Uncontrolled Growth of Private Coaching Centers: Centre has brought in new guidelines for the coaching centre as the unregulated private coaching centers continue to grow in the absence of any policy or regulation.
- To Curb Exploitative Practices: Some coaching centers often charge exorbitant fees from students, undue stress on students resulting in students committing suicides, loss of precious lives due to fire and other accidents, and many other malpractices being adopted by these centres.
Coaching Centre
- ‘Coaching Centre’ is any facility run by an individual that provides coaching for study programmes, competitive tests, or academic support to students at the school, college, or university level, with a student capacity of more than 50.
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Guidelines For Coaching Institutes: Penalty for Violations of Guidelines
- In the event of a coaching center violating any terms or conditions of registration or general requirements, penalties will be imposed.
- The first offense incurs a penalty of ₹25,000, the second offense warrants a penalty of ₹1 lakh, and repeated breaches may lead to the revocation of registration.
Also Read: Rethinking India’s Exam-Centric Education System
News Source: LiveMint
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January 19, 2024