This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 to reduce the prevalence of a high-pressure “coaching culture” in favor of holistic learning.
Many middle class families believe that IIT or AIIMS is a gateway of change into a more stable lifestyle but nobody sees beyond this facade-there is something grotesque. The coaching institutes who assure selections in a college with acceptance rate less than one percent.
Our Education System : So during this journey is the caliber of the child the only the thing that matters? I answer bluntly NO. The economic stratum of the family plays a key role. Seven lakhs was the fee of an School Integrated Program ran by Fiitjee. The collapse of Fiitjee unraveled another side of our Education System. The teachers resigned, they switched from one coaching to another, trying to convince rather forcing students to switch as if the parents have abundant funds.
The Coaching Industry : The misleading advertisements of an education institution can’t be unnoticed now. A student with an IITian tag still has twenty four hours in her day. How can she study in five different coaching institutions? This reveals the coaching industry’s desperate monetization of authenticity through deceptive rank-clubbing tactics.
Guidelines for Coaching : The Ministry of Education’s Department of Higher Education in the Government of India have introduced the Guidelines for Registration and Regulation of Coaching Center 2024. NEP 2020 in its Para 4.36 recognizes the current nature of secondary school exams, including Board exams and entrance exams, the resulting coaching culture of today and its harmful impact. The matter has also been taken up with the Deptt. of Consumer Affairs for taking necessary action under the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 against the Coaching Centers / Private Higher Education Institutions who publish mis-leading advertisements.
The Law also focuses on mental health encouraging these institutions to involve counselors and experienced psychologists to counsel and provide psychotherapeutic service to students for the resolution of mental stress and depression.
Students affecting Mental Health : Batch segregation on academic performance ground shall not be done, as it leads to excessive pressure on the students affecting their mental health. Batches should be formed in the order of entry / admission of students and the batch shall not be changed till completion of the course.
The document mandates that centers must register with local authorities and prohibits the enrollment of students under sixteen years of age or those who have not yet completed secondary school. To prioritize mental health, institutions are required to provide professional psychological counseling, maintain reasonable class hours, and avoid making deceptive claims regarding exam success. Facilities must also meet specific infrastructure standards, including fire safety compliance, adequate space per student, and separate restrooms. Furthermore, the policy outlines legal penalties and registration revocation for centers that fail to comply with these consumer protection and student welfare measures. This initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 to reduce the prevalence of a high-pressure “coaching culture” in favor of holistic learning.
Education future : But are these laws just for the paper? These guidelines represent a monumental shift, but the ultimate question remains: Can a set of rules truly dismantle a ‘coaching culture’ so deeply ingrained in the nation’s mindset, or is this just the first step in a much longer journey toward a more holistic and less stressful educational future?
