Coaching centres cannot enrol students below 16 years of age
- The Ministry of Education has recently introduced comprehensive guidelines to regulate coaching centres.
- Objective: To establish a legal framework and manage the uncontrolled growth of private coaching centres.
- These guidelines are introduced in response to complaints regarding student suicides, fire incidents, and deficiencies in coaching facilities.
Key Guidelines
- Age Restrictions and Academic Qualifications
- Coaching centres cannot enrol students below 16 years of age.
- Student enrolment should be only after secondary school examination
- Tutors must have qualifications of at least graduation.
- The coaching centres cannot hire the services of any tutor or person who has been convicted of any offence involving moral turpitude.
- Misleading Promises
- Coaching institutes are prohibited from making misleading promises, guaranteeing ranks, or ensuring good marks to parents.
- Publication of misleading advertisements about coaching quality or results is strictly forbidden.
- Mental Well-being
- Coaching centres should take steps for the mental well-being of students.
- Immediate intervention mechanisms for students in distress should be established.
- Tutors may undergo training in mental health issues to effectively communicate improvement areas to students.
- Counselling System
- Coaching centres must have a counselling system, and the institute will not be registered without it.
- Trained counsellors should be appointed, and information about their availability must be provided to students and parents.
- Fair and Reasonable Fees
- Tuition fees must be fair and reasonable and receipts for the fee charged must be made available.
- Refund policies are specified, ensuring pro-rata refunds for students leaving courses mid-way.
- Penalties, including fines up to ₹1 lakh or registration cancellation, for charging exorbitant fees causing stress leading to student suicides or engaging in malpractices.
- Monitoring and Registration
- Registration of new and existing coaching centres within three months of guideline implementation.
- State governments will monitor coaching centre activities and ensure compliance with eligibility criteria.
- Coaching centres shall have a website with updated details of the qualification of tutors, courses/curriculum, duration of completion, hostel facilities, and the fees being charged.
Prelims Takeaway
- Ministry of Education Guidelines to regulate Coaching Centres
- Mental Health