In a significant move aimed at safeguarding students, the Gujarat government is preparing to introduce a comprehensive bill to control and regulate private coaching institutes across the state. This action comes against a backdrop of rising concerns over student suicides, fire hazards, inadequate facilities, and various malpractices reported in the sector.
Key Provisions of the Proposed Bill
The state is set to table the Gujarat Coaching Institute (Management) Bill during the upcoming budget session of the Legislative Assembly. The bill's foundation is the Ministry of Education's 2024 Guidelines, which mandate uniform standards for coaching centres nationwide, with a core focus on student safety, mental well-being, and operational transparency.
Mukesh Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary of the Education Department, confirmed that the government is scrutinising issues highlighted in the national guidelines. The proposed regulations are expected to cover a wide array of critical areas to ensure a safer and more ethical coaching environment.
Focus on Safety, Transparency, and Fair Practices
The bill will address several pressing concerns that have long plagued the coaching industry. Key measures under consideration include:
- Mandatory registration for all coaching centres.
- Strict action against misleading advertisements with false claims.
- Ensuring qualifications of tutors and barring teachers from government institutes from coaching.
- Establishing minimum space per student and enforcing fire safety norms.
- Mandating a fair fee structure with provisions for refunds if a student leaves mid-course.
- Prohibiting coaching classes for school-going students during official school hours to protect regular attendance.
- Setting up mandatory counselling services and grievance redressal mechanisms for students.
Infrastructure mandates will also require centres to have well-ventilated buildings, safe drinking water, and CCTV surveillance.
Addressing Mental Well-being and Unrealistic Pressure
A central pillar of the new framework is student mental health. Mukesh Kumar emphasised the need for better pre-enrolment counselling. "Students are often not fully aware of the exam's difficulty, the syllabus, or the intense preparation level required," he noted. The bill aims to prevent the segregation of students based on performance and curb excessive parental ambitions that contribute to mental stress.
To this end, the regulation will enforce the provision of career guidance and psychological counselling by experienced professionals to help reduce stress and depression among enrollees.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
The state government is considering strict penalties for coaching centres that fail to adhere to the new rules once they are officially notified. Sources indicate that options include cancellation of registration and imposing financial penalties. The government is also studying similar legislation enacted by other states, such as the Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025, to shape its own policy.
This legislative push, driven by the Supreme Court's directive for states to enforce the 2024 guidelines, marks a pivotal step towards reforming the largely unregulated coaching centre ecosystem in Gujarat, with student welfare at its heart.
