Government Crackdown on Integrated Classes! ‘Private Coaching Act’ Coming Soon; Announcement by Education Minister Dada Bhuse in Assembly

To control the malpractices of ‘Integrated’ classes in the state, the state government will soon introduce a new law. School Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced this in the Assembly. There will also be control over the fees of these classes for JEE and NEET exam preparations. This law is expected to provide relief to millions of parents. Bhuse also stated that there is a need to amend the Educational Fees Act.

Although ‘Integrated’ has become a buzzword for millions of students in the state who aspire to pursue engineering or medical education after the 12th grade, there are large-scale malpractices happening in these coaching centers. Taking note of these complaints, the Private Coaching Act will soon come into existence to regulate such ‘private coaching.’ The state government is working on the draft of this law, announced School Education Minister Dada Bhuse in the Assembly on Wednesday.

For engineering and medical courses, the two main entrance exams at the national level are JEE (Main and Advanced) and NEET. In recent years, private coaching classes preparing students for these entrance exams have mushroomed across the state. These private coaching operators tie up with nearby junior colleges, enroll science stream students from those colleges into their coaching centers. This means that even if students do not attend college, their attendance is recorded there. Also, students can appear for board exams through the college. Many reputed junior colleges are also involved in this arrangement.

Since there is no official registration of these ‘Integrated’ coaching centers with the School Education Department or any other department, there is no regulation over them. These coaching centers charge fees ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹3.5–4 lakh annually for a two-year admission. Besides preparing students only enough to pass the 12th-grade board exams, they mainly focus on JEE-NEET preparations. Taking serious note of these private coaching centers’ tie-ups with junior colleges, Bhuse announced that a Private Coaching Act will soon be implemented. If this law comes into effect along with the Maharashtra Educational Fees Act, it is likely to provide relief to millions of parents.

Amendment in Educational Fees Act too –
MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar raised a starred question in the Assembly regarding fee hikes by an educational institute in Bhiwandi. At that time, MLA Varun Sardesai asked a supplementary question. Amol Jawale raised a question regarding the compulsory purchase of school items by educational institutes, and MLA Hiraman Khoskar raised a starred question about some colleges in the state making agreements with private coaching centers. Answering these questions, Bhuse stated that there is a need to amend the Maharashtra Educational Fees Act. He also informed that planning on this matter is ongoing.

• Draft of Private Coaching Act in Progress

• No Registration of ‘Integrated’ Coaching Classes with the School Education Department

• Fees up to ₹4 Lakh for Two-Year Admission