The Maharashtra government is drafting new rules to regulate private coaching centres, stop unjustified fee hikes by schools, and prevent schools from forcing parents to buy books and uniforms from specific vendors.
School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse informed the Assembly on Tuesday, July 15, that a Private Coaching Regulation Act is being prepared. The act will stop partnerships between colleges and private tuition centres. Bhuse said that a draft and related regulations are being written. Inputs from MLAs will also be considered.
The government also plans to amend the Maharashtra Educational Institutions (Regulation of Fee) Act, 2011. This comes in response to complaints about illegal increases in school fees. Bhuse stated that schools cannot charge more than the approved fee structure. Violations will lead to action. He stressed that education is a social responsibility, not a business.
Bhuse further stated that new rules will soon be issued to stop schools from pressuring parents to buy supplies from selected sellers. He said parents must be free to purchase from any store. Any force or pressure from schools will be handled strictly.
The school education department is also studying similar rules from Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. It is also reviewing central government guidelines for coaching centres. The bill is also part of the department’s 100-day action plan.
One key feature of the proposed law is mandatory registration for all coaching classes. The law will also define the space required for each student. While the rule recommends one square meter per student, this may be changed for crowded cities like Mumbai and Pune.
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