Centre Issues Strict Guidelines for Coaching Centres, Prohibits Enrollment of Students Under 16

New Delhi: In a significant move to address the unregulated growth of private coaching centres in India, the Centre has unveiled model guidelines for states to implement. The proposed “Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centre 2024” emphasize several key measures to curb malpractices and ensure student well-being.

The guidelines recommend that students below 16 years should not be enrolled in coaching centres. Additionally, coaching centres are advised against making misleading promises or guaranteeing ranks. Tutors with qualifications below graduation are not permitted to teach in these institutes.

Recognizing the alarming increase in unregulated coaching centres and associated issues such as exorbitant fees, student stress, and accidents, the Centre proposes penalties of up to 1 lakh or cancellation of registration for such malpractices.

To bolster oversight, the guidelines propose mandatory registration of new and existing coaching centres within three months of implementation. State governments will play a crucial role in monitoring and ensuring compliance.

A notable crackdown is on misleading advertisements, with the guidelines prohibiting coaching centres from making false claims about coaching quality or results. The guidelines aim to safeguard students’ mental well-being by recommending weekly offs, a well-structured curriculum, and limiting daily classes to five hours.

Addressing the rise in student suicides, particularly in Kota, Rajasthan, a renowned coaching hub, the guidelines emphasize the need for an easy exit policy and a transparent fee refund mechanism. Coaching centres are required to maintain a website with updated tutor qualifications, course details, hostel facilities, and fees. A provision for filing complaints against coaching centres is also outlined, with a commitment to resolve them within thirty days.

For school-going students, coaching classes are restricted during school hours to ensure regular attendance. To foster a balanced lifestyle, coaching centres are encouraged to customize leaves, prioritize co-curricular activities, life skills, psychological counselling, emotional bonding, and mental well-being.