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A government order barring coaching institutes from enrolling students below 16 years of age has irked institutes that start training students as young as 10 for engineering and medical entrance exams.
In a meeting with over 200 coaching centers on Saturday, the Coaching Federation of India (CFI), the industry body comprising over 25,000 coaching institutes, decided to explore legal remedies.
“Immediate legal advice was sought to explore alternatives and take necessary steps to stop the implementation of the proposed guidelines. There was consensus on seeking relaxation in rules regarding coaching for students below 16 years of age, given the potential stress on those preparing for the highly competitive exams, an excerpt from the minutes of the meeting seen by Mint said. Emphasis was placed on.
CFI director Ashish Gambhir said, “We would like to appeal to the government to reduce the age barrier of 16 years to 12 years. Do this before taking a decision on the legal appeal.”
The Department of Higher Education under the Education Ministry last week issued a set of rules – Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers – which state that coaching centers should not accept students below 16 years of age, or enroll the student Should be after secondary only. School (Standard 10) Examination.
The institutes are waiting for more details from the state governments as regulation of +2 level education is the responsibility of the state and union territory governments.
According to one of the founders of a leading coaching institute in Kota, Rajasthan, it is this guideline that has troubled the centers the most. The founder said on the condition of anonymity, “About 10% of their revenue comes from young students who enroll in class V/VI with the hope that most of their preparation is for a seat in engineering, medical and civil services ” The revenue pie may seem small, but it is a catchment area for coaching centres.”
Thousands of students enroll in “dummy schools” that have tie-ups with coaching centers and do not insist on students attending classes. Instead young children work on their entrance exams and the school passes them school exams. The government founder said, it is clear that it wants to avoid dummy schools. A large part of these centers are located in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra.
However, some coaching institutes have a different approach. “I don’t want the guidelines to change and 16 years to be fine,” said Pramod Maheshwari, founder of coaching institute Career Point. “Even at 16, the competitive pressure may be too much for many students.”
The guidelines are to regulate private coaching centres. The ministry said the rules “have been attracting the attention of the government from time to time in the context of increasing student suicide cases, fire incidents, lack of facilities as well as methods of teaching”.
According to reports, 25 students died by suicide in 2023 in Kota, Rajasthan, the hub of coaching institutes in India.
“Since my child has taken an integrated course, where coaching centers are the only option till the child passes 12th boards and then competitive exams, we are relieved that the new policy will not affect us, as these children are above 16 years of age. Are of. ,” said the father of a Thane-based student, who is enrolled in Mumbai-based School Toppers coaching classes. According to him, for students opting for four or five-year courses starting from class nine, it would have been difficult with the new guidelines. kicking in.
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