Maharashtra is set to regulate the booming private coaching industry with a new law aimed at ensuring quality, transparency, and student safety across the sector.
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MUMBAI: In a significant move to rein in the unregulated private coaching sector, the Maharashtra government is working on a comprehensive law that will establish clear guidelines for the functioning of coaching classes across the state. The proposed legislation aims to address various issues, including the qualifications of teaching staff, safety and infrastructure standards, and the growing trend of misleading advertisements that exploit students’ academic aspirations.
This initiative, spearheaded by the state’s School Education Department, forms part of its 100-day action plan and is likely to be introduced in the monsoon session of the state legislature. Officials said that the department is currently examining legal frameworks implemented by other states—such as Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan—as well as guidelines issued by the central government to draft a more comprehensive and practical law for Maharashtra.
Key Highlights of the Proposed Law
- Mandatory Registration: All coaching classes will be required to register with the appropriate state authority before operating.
- Infrastructure Norms: The law will define classroom standards, such as minimum space per student. While central guidelines suggest one square metre per student, the law may provide relaxations for metropolitan areas like Mumbai and Pune due to space constraints.
- Safety Regulations: Coaching centres will need to obtain periodic safety certifications from designated authorities.
- Teaching Qualifications: Teachers employed at these centres must meet minimum educational criteria, ensuring a baseline of instructional quality.
- Advertisement Controls: The bill will impose strict rules to curb false and misleading advertisements, particularly those exaggerating students’ academic achievements or coaching outcomes.
Debate on Fee Regulation
One of the contentious issues being debated within the department is whether the law should cap or regulate the fees charged by these institutions. Some officials argue that since coaching classes are not a part of the fundamental education system provided by the state, price control would be inappropriate. “It’s a private contract between students and institutions. Fee regulation might interfere with market freedom,” said a senior official. The current inclination is to leave fee decisions to market forces.
Defining ‘Coaching Classes’
The law is also expected to define what qualifies as a “coaching class.” Activities like music, dance, or sports training are likely to be excluded from its scope, as they do not fall within the realm of academic tutoring.
Ranjit Singh Deol, Principal Secretary of the School Education Department, said,
“We are studying legislative models from other states and revising our draft accordingly. Whether the bill will be tabled in the monsoon session is yet to be confirmed.”
Current Legal Framework Governing Coaching Classes in India
At present, India lacks a uniform national law that regulates private coaching institutions. However, several states have enacted their own legislation:
- Karnataka: The Karnataka Coaching Regulation Act, 2018 mandates registration of coaching centres and sets norms for infrastructure, advertising, teacher qualifications, and fee structures.
- Goa: Goa has adopted regulations under its Goa Coaching Classes (Regulation) Act, which includes provisions related to licensing, fire safety, and sanitation.
- Rajasthan: The Rajasthan Private Educational Institutions (Regulation) Act covers coaching centres, with provisions for fee regulation, safety, and grievance redressal mechanisms.
- Uttar Pradesh: While UP doesn’t have a separate act exclusively for coaching classes, it has issued government orders from time to time that prescribe basic guidelines for safety and teacher conduct.
- Central Guidelines: The Ministry of Education has issued advisory guidelines urging states to formulate their own regulatory frameworks. These guidelines recommend minimum safety standards, a ban on misleading advertisements, and the registration of centres.
In the absence of central legislation, regulation currently varies widely across states, leading to inconsistencies in standards and accountability. Maharashtra’s proposed law is expected to bring uniformity and discipline to the coaching sector within the state.
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