Coaching institutes cannot enrol students of age below 16 years: New MoE guideline
New Delhi : The government has issued new guidelines to regulate coaching centres in India, aiming to protect students’ well-being and ensure proper education. These guidelines were established in response to concerns about student suicides, fires, and poor teaching practices.
The new rules set minimum standards for coaching centres, including qualified teachers, appropriate facilities, and ethical advertising. According to the new guidelines, the student must be at least 16-year-old to enrol in a coaching institute. Centres are also required to register with the government, a process that involves submitting an application, meeting space requirements, and following specific rules. Failure to comply with the guidelines may result in cancellation of a centre’s registration.
The move comes amidst growing scrutiny of coaching centres in India, which have been criticized for their high fees, aggressive marketing tactics, and excessive pressure placed on students.
Conditions for registration:
No coaching centre shall:
• Engage tutors with qualifications lower than graduation.
• Make misleading promises or guarantees of ranks or good marks to parents/students for enrolling them in the coaching centre.
• Enroll students below 16 years of age; student enrollment should only occur after the secondary school examination.
• Publish or be involved in the publication of any misleading advertisement related to claims, directly or indirectly, regarding the quality of coaching, facilities offered, or the results obtained by the coaching centre or its students.
• Be registered if it has less than the minimum space requirement per student.
The objectives of these guidelines include:
• Establishing a framework for the registration and regulation of coaching centres.
• Defining minimum standard requirements for the operation of coaching centres.
• Safeguarding the interests of students enrolled in coaching centres.
• Encouraging coaching centres to prioritise co-curricular activities for comprehensive student development.
• Providing career guidance and psychological counseling to ensure the mental well-being of students.
It is important to note that the new guidelines have been met with mixed reactions. Some have welcomed the move, arguing that it is necessary to protect students from exploitation. Others have expressed concerns that the guidelines may be too restrictive and could stifle the growth of the coaching industry.
