Lok Sabha Question No. 48 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2024-07-22
Subject: Prohibition of Enrollment of Student below 16 years  in Coaching Centres
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 48 ANSWERED ON 22.07.2024

## Prohibition of Enrollment of Student below 16 years in Coaching Centres

## 48. Shri Prabhakar Reddy Vemireddy:

Will the Minister of Education be pleased to state:

- (a) whether it is true that the Government has issued new set of guidelines which prohibit coaching centres from enrolling students below 16 years of age;
- (b) if so, the details thereof;
- (c)  whether  the  prohibition  of  enrollment  of  students  below  16  years  reduces  the  psychological pressure them;
- (d)  the  other  guidelines  issued  by  the  Government  and  how  are  these  different  from  the  earlier guidelines; and
- (e) whether the Government ensure that coaching centres will strictly follow the new guidelines?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)

(a)  to  (e):  Keeping  in  view  the  growth  in  number  of  unregulated  private  coaching  centers  in  the country in the absence of any laid down policy or regulation; instances of such centers charging exorbitant  fees  from  students;  undue  stress  on  students  resulting  in  students  committing  suicides and many other malpractices being adopted by these centres; Ministry of Education has circulated a Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers to States/UTs on 16.01.2024 for consideration by way of appropriate legal framework. The guidelines, inter-alia, recommends for non-enrolment of students  below  16  years  of  age  or  the  student  enrolment  should  be  only  after  secondary  school examination.

While  recognizing  the  current  nature  of  secondary  school  exams,  including  Board  exams  and entrance  exams,  the  resulting  coaching  culture  of  today  and  its  harmful  impact  and  suggesting reform  in  the  existing  system  of  Board  and  entrance  examinations  to  eliminate  the  need  for undertaking  coaching  classes,  National  Education  Policy  2020  focuses  on  regular  formative assessment for learning  rather  than  the  summative  assessment  that  encourages  today's  'coaching culture.  It  also  suggests  introducing  greater  flexibility,  student  choice,  and  best-of-two  attempts, assessments that primarily test core capacities and develop further viable models of Board Exams that reduce pressure and the coaching culture.

Additionally, the Guidelines for Regulation of Coaching Centers provides that the coaching centers shall conduct coaching classes in a way that it is not excessive for a student. It also provides that the coaching  classes  for  those  students  who  are  also  studying  in  institutions  /  schools  shall  not  be conducted  during  their  institutions  /  schools'  hours,  so  that  their  regular  attendance  in  such institutions / schools remains unaffected and also to avoid dummy schools.

While earlier State and UT Governments were requested vide letters/advisories dated 04.04.2017, 14.08.2019 and 24.12.2020 to take necessary action for regulation of the coaching centers in their jurisdiction  through  appropriate  legal  framework,  to  ensure  safety  and  security  of  students  and avoid unnecessary exploitation, the guidelines circulated vide letter dated 16.01.2024 comprehensively cover the issues related to regulation of coaching centres.

Education being in the concurrent list, the State and UT Governments need to take further action by way of appropriate legal framework.

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