Important Facts For Prelims
MoE Guidelines for Coaching Centres
- 24 Jan 2024
- 3 min read
Why in News?
Recently, the Ministry of Education (MoE) has introduced comprehensive guidelines to regulate coaching centers and manage the unregulated growth of private coaching centres.
What are the Major Guidelines for the Coaching Centres?
- Age Restrictions: Coaching centers are prohibited from enrolling students below 16 years of age. Student enrolment is allowed only after completing the secondary school examination.
- Tutor Qualification: Tutors must have at least a graduation qualification, and the hiring of individuals convicted of moral turpitude is prohibited. Moral turpitude means an act done contrary to honesty and good morals of the society.
- Avoiding False Promises and Assurance: Coaching institutes cannot make misleading promises, guarantee ranks, or assure good marks.
- Misleading advertisements about coaching quality, facilities, or results are strictly prohibited.
- Updated Website: Coaching centers are required to have a website with updated information on tutor qualifications, courses, duration, hostel facilities, and fees.
- Mental Well-being: In response to rising student suicides, the guidelines emphasize the need for coaching centres to prioritize mental well-being.
- This includes establishing a counseling system, providing information about psychologists and counsellors, and training tutors in mental health issues.
- Fee Regulations: Tuition fees must be fair and reasonable, and refunds should be provided on a pro-rata basis if a student leaves a course prematurely.
- Inclusive Policies: Coaching institutes must refrain from discriminating based on religion, race, caste, sex, place of birth, or descent.
- Special efforts can be taken to increase the representation of female students, those with disabilities, and marginalized groups.
- Infrastructure Standards: A minimum of one square metre per student during a class.
- Coaching center buildings must comply with fire safety codes, building safety codes, and other relevant standards.
- Buildings and surroundings must also be Divyang-friendly, following the provisions of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- Government Oversight: The government proposes the registration of new and existing coaching centers within three months of the guidelines taking effect.
- State governments are tasked with monitoring coaching centre activities and ensuring compliance with registration eligibility.
- Penalties: In case of violation of any of the terms and conditions of registration or general conditions, the coaching centre shall be liable for penalties as follows:
- Rs 25,000/- for first offense
- Rs. 1,00,000/- for the second offense
- Revocation of registration for subsequent offense.
Note
According to the Ministry of Education, coaching means tuition, instructions or guidance in any branch of learning imparted to more than 50 students but does not include counseling, sports, dance, theatre and other creative activities.
