Coaching of children below 16 years of age stopped, fine of Rs 1 lakh for not following orders, guidelines issued
According to the new guidelines announced by the Education Ministry, coaching institutes will not be able to admit students below 16 years of age and will also not be able to make misleading promises like guaranteeing good marks or rank. The guidelines are to meet the need for a legal framework to regulate coaching institutes and to prevent the growth of private coaching institutes in a haphazard manner. The ministry has prepared these guidelines after complaints received by the government regarding increasing cases of student suicide, fire incidents, lack of facilities in coaching institutes as well as the teaching methods adopted by them.
What does the guideline say?
The guidelines said, “No coaching institute will appoint teachers with qualifications less than graduation. Coaching institutes cannot make misleading promises to parents for enrolling students or guaranteeing rank or good marks. Institutions cannot enroll students under 16 years of age. Enrollment of students in coaching institutes should be done only after secondary school examination. According to the guidelines, “coaching institutes should not be responsible for the quality of coaching or the facilities provided in it or the results obtained by such coaching institutes or the students studying in their institutes.” Cannot publish or cause to be published or participate in the publication of any misleading advertisement regarding any claim, directly or indirectly.
Instructions to update all information on the website
Coaching institutes cannot employ the services of any teacher or person who has been convicted of any offense involving ethical misconduct. No institution shall be registered unless it has a counseling system as required by these guidelines. “Coaching institutes will have a website which will have updated details of the qualifications of the teachers (tutors), curriculum/syllabus, duration of completion, hostel facilities and fees charged,” the guidelines said.
Order to develop consultation system
According to the new guidelines, due to the tough competition and academic pressure on students, coaching institutes should take steps to protect them from stress and conduct classes without putting unnecessary pressure on them. “Coaching institutes should put in place a mechanism for immediate intervention to provide continuous support to students in crisis and stressful situations,” the guidelines said. The competent authority may take steps to ensure that a counseling system is developed by the coaching institute which is easily available to the students and parents.
Instructions to give receipt of fee to be collected
The detailed outline for mental well-being of students in the guidelines comes after a record number of students committed suicide in Kota last year. The guidelines said that fees for various courses should be transparent and logical and receipts for the fees charged should be given. It has been made clear that if a student leaves the course midway, his fees for the remaining period should be refunded.
Strengthening the policy, the Center has suggested that coaching institutes should be fined up to Rs 1 lakh for violating the guidelines or their registration should be canceled if they charge excessive fees. For proper monitoring of coaching institutes, the government has proposed to register new and existing coaching institutes within three months of the guidelines coming into effect. According to the guidelines, the state government will be responsible for monitoring the activities of the coaching institute.
