The Maharashtra government is taking decisive steps to bring much-needed regulation to the state's rapidly expanding coaching industry. After years of operating without proper oversight, coaching classes across Maharashtra will soon need to comply with a comprehensive regulatory framework that addresses multiple aspects of their operations.
Key Regulations Under the New Framework
The proposed regulatory framework will introduce mandatory registration for all coaching classes based on clearly defined standards for infrastructure and facilities. While the government won't directly control fee structures, there will be strict parameters regarding space requirements, safety norms, and operational standards that institutes must meet to obtain and maintain registration.
One of the most significant aspects of the new policy involves bringing transparency to fee structures. Every coaching class will be required to maintain an information prospectus that clearly outlines their fee patterns and other operational details. This move aims to protect students and parents from hidden costs and unclear payment structures.
Curbing Misleading Claims and Advertisements
The framework specifically targets the widespread problem of misleading advertisements that have become commonplace in the coaching industry. A senior officer from the school education department highlighted a familiar scenario: "It is very common to see a successful student's photo on advertisements of multiple coaching classes, each claiming that he/she studies there."
The new regulations will establish clear guidelines to prevent such falsified claims that often mislead potential students and their parents. This represents a significant step toward ethical marketing practices in the education sector.
Defining the Scope and Implementation Timeline
An important challenge the government is addressing involves defining what constitutes a coaching class under the new framework. The regulation must distinguish between commercially-run coaching institutes operating independently or integrated with junior colleges, and informal tuition classes run from residential houses.
The school education department is studying existing laws from other states including Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Karnataka, as well as central government guidelines issued last year. According to officials familiar with the development, the draft policy is likely to be presented during the upcoming winter session of the Assembly, with the potential to become formal law.
This isn't the first attempt to regulate the coaching industry in Maharashtra. During the 2017-18 academic year, a 12-member committee had prepared a draft set of rules that was submitted to the state government in 2018. However, that proposal remained pending. The current initiative represents a fresh perspective that accounts for the evolving education sector and coaching industry landscape.
The new framework aims to strike a balance between controlling malpractices and enabling better-regulated growth of coaching institutes. Rather than stifling the industry, the government seeks to create an environment where genuine educational service providers can thrive while unethical practices are systematically eliminated.
