In a significant move to curb the unchecked growth of private coaching institutions, the Maharashtra government announced its intention to introduce a regulatory bill. The state's Minister of School Education, Pankaj Bhoyar, made this declaration during an informal interaction with journalists in Nagpur on Saturday.
Coaching Centres Undermining Formal Education
Minister Bhoyar expressed deep concern over the uncontrolled mushrooming of private coaching classes across the nation, stating they have begun to severely undermine the formal school education system. He highlighted a troubling trend where students are increasingly prioritising private coaching over their regular schools, with many skipping school altogether.
"Parents, driven by anxiety about their children's future, are spending lakhs of rupees on what they perceive as better and more competitive education through these centres," Bhoyar noted. He revealed that this shift has led to a paradoxical situation in many Maharashtra schools where posts for science and other subject teachers remain vacant or underutilised. This is not due to a staff shortage but a direct consequence of plummeting student attendance.
Following Rajasthan's Legislative Lead
The proposed bill is modelled on legislation already enacted by the Rajasthan government. Bhoyar pointed out that in Rajasthan, the situation had deteriorated to a point where schools and colleges faced significant difficulties due to the explosive growth of private coaching institutes, forcing the state to intervene with a law.
"Maharashtra is also considering whether similar corrective measures are required," the minister stated, confirming the government's plan to table a bill. He emphasised that while parents might feel enrolling children in coaching centres is the right decision, the government believes quality education must be accessible within schools themselves. Reforms will be explored to restore public confidence in the school education system.
Shifting Focus to Tourism and Ongoing Probe
During the interaction, Bhoyar also shifted focus to tourism, highlighting Vidarbha's unique ecological identity. He proposed that Vidarbha could be recognised as the 'Tiger Capital', given its several tiger reserves and significant tiger population that attract global tourists. Furthermore, he mentioned Chikhaldara's potential to develop the world's largest 'sky walk' as a major tourist attraction.
On the question of the Shalarth ID scam investigation, Bhoyar clarified that the probe is currently underway in Nashik. The future course of action will be decided once the investigation is completed, he said.
