Kota suicides: Rajasthan likely to enact law to set up education regulator

The Rajasthan Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Bill – 2022 is likely to be introduced in the next session of the state assembly. It covers schools, colleges and coaching centres in Kota that prepare students for competitive exams. 

The Rajasthan government is likely to enact a law establishing a regulatory authority to keep a check on private educational institutes, including coaching centres, ensuring that they open counselling cells, end “glorification” of toppers and deal with the kind of stress that possibly led to three students committing suicide recently.  

The draft law proposes aptitude tests for students before they join a coaching centre for competitive exams, and a helpline if they find that they cannot deal with the stress. ‘The Rajasthan Private Educational Institutions Regulatory Bill - 2022’, which has been in the making since 2020, is likely to be introduced in the next session of the state assembly. It covers schools, colleges as well as centres, like in coaching hub Kota, that prepare students for competitive exams, Business Standard reported.

Recently, three students studying at a Kota centre allegedly committed suicide, because they could not cope up with the pressure of studies there. The draft bill also seeks to regulate tuition fees, annual fee hike, cost of study material and other charges levied by private institutions, including tuition centres.  The authority, headed by a prominent academician as chairperson, shall also make provisions to fix study hours, days off and the gap between tests to avoid stress on students. 

Bill proposes up to INR 5-crore fine for repeat offenders 

The bill proposes hefty penalties -- up to INR 5 crore for repeat offenders. The draft bill mentions setting up a career counselling cell to inform students about job options. The regulatory authority will also take measures to discourage “bogus advertising” and “glorification of toppers” to prevent other students developing a sense of “inferiority”, the draft says.  

It will also deal with false claims by coaching centres about their students succeeding in competitive exams. “In order to ensure mental as well as physical well-being of the students in educational institutions, the Authority shall frame regulations for regular counselling, recreation and safety of the students. It will mandate establishing of a counselling and mentoring cell in every institute,” it says. 

24x7 helpline for students, parents  

Specific directions shall be issued for ensuring safety of girl students. There will also be provisions for differently abled students, teachers and non-teaching staff in private educational institutions, it said. The draft says there will a mandatory aptitude test for students before they join a coaching centre – and its findings shall be shared with their parents. The Authority shall mandate setting up a 24x7 helpline for students and parents. Private institutions would pay a maximum penalty of INR 1 crore if they violate provisions of the proposed law. The fine could increase up to INR 5 crore for a repeat violation. The bill seeks mandatory registration of all coaching institutes with the government and annual auditing of their accounts. 

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