Introduction

The recent government guidelines on regulating the coaching industry have stirred debate and raised questions about the state of education in India.
This article delves into the reasons behind the need for these guidelines and the potential impact on various stakeholders.

Coaching Chaos: What’s the Issue?

Early Enrolment Scrapped: The government’s guidelines stipulate that students below 16 years of age should not be enrolled in coaching centers, restricting enrolment to post-secondary school (standard 10) examination.
A Shift in Education: This rule has caused concern as coaching centers have evolved into an alternative education pathway. Students as young as 10-12 years old are prepared for highly competitive exams, such as engineering, medical, and civil service, with low success rates.
Proliferation of Coaching Centers: Coaching centers are especially popular in states like Bihar, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh.

Rising Student Suicides: The alarming increase in student suicides, with 26 reported cases in Kota alone in 2023, underscores the immense pressure on schoolchildren.
Government’s Concerns: The Department of Higher Education, under the Ministry of Education, expressed the need for regulations in light of issues like student suicides, fire incidents, inadequate facilities, and teaching methodologies.
Emergence of ‘Dummy Schools’: The rise of ‘dummy schools’ linked to coaching centers, where physical attendance is not mandatory, has raised concerns. Parents often uproot their families and take loans to relocate to coaching hubs in pursuit of quality education.

Ecosystem Impact: Coaching hubs like Kota have an entire ecosystem supporting institutes, students, and families, including middlemen, hostels, and hotels. All of these entities stand to lose out.
Real Estate Implications: Families relocating to coaching hubs contribute to local real estate income. Regulation may impact this aspect.
Impact on ‘Dummy Schools’: Dummy schools will face closure due to the new regulations.

Coaching Federation of India’s Response: The Coaching Federation of India (CFI), representing over 25,000 coaching institutes, may legally contest the minimum age requirement, seeking a reduction from 16 years to 12 years.
Competitive Stress Concerns: Large coaching institutes express concerns that the regulations may intensify competitive stress among students, offering them less time for preparation.
Regulatory Effectiveness: There is apprehension that the regulations may not effectively oversee smaller private coaching centers, making it challenging to monitor mom-and-pop establishments.

Coaching Dependency: The guidelines shed light on the prevailing reliance on coaching institutes. They supplement students’ regular schooling and often require additional hours of study outside the classroom.
Misleading Promises: The guidelines also highlight how institutes sometimes make misleading promises or guarantee high scores, emphasizing that ranks and marks have eclipsed holistic student development.

The government’s new guidelines have ignited a critical discussion about the coaching industry and its role in the Indian education landscape.
The regulations aim to address pressing concerns while acknowledging the evolving dynamics of education in the country.