Lakhs of students from all over the country and state are not only preparing to crack competitive examination, but are also testing their luck by studying in coaching centres that do not have requisite concern for their safety, health and even education at times.
The true scenario for Indore is a growing hub of education and business. Where schools are regularly hammered to consider the welfare of students and provide quality education in a safe environment through affiliation bye laws and state government rules, the large chain of coaching classes face no such regulations and can continue to expand classes like business.
Most national coaching institutes are opening and expanding their branches in the city with new institutes in privately owned buildings or floors in commercial buildings. While they are clearly growing and progressing with hefty fees, there is no provision for them to provide quality education or facilities for students.
No regulatory body
In order to open a school, it is must that schools are registered with state government under societies/trust/company as per the norms of state. However, coaching classes do not need any such registrations.
Some large-scale coaching classes opt for ‘Gumasta Licence’ to open bank accounts. However, Gumasta License is a registration required for doing any kind of business in the state. This means it could range from a small shop owner to a production company.
Since, it does not limit land area or other concerns that are must for educational institutes, coaching classes officially get a licence to run their centres as business establishments only.
No affiliation requirementsSchools are required to have affiliation to state board, CBSE board, ICSE board or international boards. When it comes to coaching classes, they do not provide any assurance from any standard board. It is simply based on their promotional techniques that they set a brand value.
Affiliation bye-laws are not limited to education; they cover various aspects of the school. Following are some pointers from 72-page CBSE affiliation bye-laws:
• Land area requirement
ü Continuous plot of land with minimum 8,000 square meters
ü Land under the name of society/trust/company
• Physical Infrastructure
ü Classrooms: 8 meter * 6 meter (approx 500 square feet) - minimum 1 square meter per student
ü Science lab
ü Library requirements and rules
ü Computer lab (minimum 1:20 computer to student ratio)
ü Math lab
ü Extracurricular activities room
ü Drinking water, toilets and other physical facilities
ü Playground
• Safety
ü Writ petition (civil) no 483 of 2004
ü School Safety Policy 2016
ü Manual on safety and security of children by National Commission For Protection Of Child Rights
ü National building code 2005
• Enrolment
ü Optimum number 40 in each section
No limit on students in classroomsCoaching classes tend to stuff in hundreds of students in classrooms. During his visit, state minister for higher education, sports and youth affairs Jitu Patwari had visited a coaching class having capacity of over 500 students in a penthouse class.
Such is the case with many other coaching institutes, who stuff in hundreds of students in a classroom. On the other hand, schools have to maintain optimum number of 40 students in a class. In most schools, the ratio is even better to convince parents of quality education.
No qualification required for educators
Coaching classes are primarily hiring youngsters and homemakers. While some of these youngsters opt for coaching classes as they fail to get corporate jobs, some are even taking it up as a part-time job to earn money. Though there are some experts in coaching classes, there are no qualifications or certified expertise.
On the other hand, schools cannot hire teachers if they do not meet state norms and affiliated board norms. Following are some essential bodies, whose considerations are must for schools to hire an educator:
Lack of security systemSet in commercial buildings and private buildings, most coaching classes have not even considered hiring a security personnel ensuring safe transit of students in the building. There are barely a few who have considered installing a CCTV.
On the other hand, every school is expected not only to provide good transportation from school to home, all the boards have required schools not to commercialise transportation.
Further, it is essential for schools to provide requisite safety measures in school buses and school campus like security personnel, CCTV, female attendants, panic buttons, etc.
There are some large-scale coaching classes running their own transport facilities as well. However, they are not required to have any security concerns like schools.
Medical facilitiesIn case of an injury or illness, most coaching classes have no preparation for student safety. Most do not even have first aid boxes handy, let alone having a medical professional for help.
On the other hand, every school is required to be prepared for emergencies with first aid box and even a medical professional. Some schools even have a resident doctor to help students.
Fire fighting equipment
After Surat’s fire tragedy, coaching classes are quickly installing fire extinguishers. Some who own private buildings are even considering another exit for avoiding a conflict with IMC.
However, most coaching classes continue to run in commercial complexes, where there is only one exit, no fire safety equipment and combat plan.
There are no emergency evacuations in most coaching classes. There are no evacuation combat plans or safety training workshops.
Schools are required to have fire safety equipment and a combat plan.
Such is the case with many other coaching institutes, who stuff in hundreds of students in a classroom. On the other hand, schools have to maintain optimum number of 40 students in a class. In most schools, the ratio is even better to convince parents of quality education.
No qualification required for educators
Coaching classes are primarily hiring youngsters and homemakers. While some of these youngsters opt for coaching classes as they fail to get corporate jobs, some are even taking it up as a part-time job to earn money. Though there are some experts in coaching classes, there are no qualifications or certified expertise.
On the other hand, schools cannot hire teachers if they do not meet state norms and affiliated board norms. Following are some essential bodies, whose considerations are must for schools to hire an educator:
- National council for teacher education
- State rules for recruitment of teachers
- Minimum qualification introduced by CBSE
Lack of security systemSet in commercial buildings and private buildings, most coaching classes have not even considered hiring a security personnel ensuring safe transit of students in the building. There are barely a few who have considered installing a CCTV.
On the other hand, every school is expected not only to provide good transportation from school to home, all the boards have required schools not to commercialise transportation.
Further, it is essential for schools to provide requisite safety measures in school buses and school campus like security personnel, CCTV, female attendants, panic buttons, etc.
There are some large-scale coaching classes running their own transport facilities as well. However, they are not required to have any security concerns like schools.
Medical facilitiesIn case of an injury or illness, most coaching classes have no preparation for student safety. Most do not even have first aid boxes handy, let alone having a medical professional for help.
On the other hand, every school is required to be prepared for emergencies with first aid box and even a medical professional. Some schools even have a resident doctor to help students.
Fire fighting equipment
After Surat’s fire tragedy, coaching classes are quickly installing fire extinguishers. Some who own private buildings are even considering another exit for avoiding a conflict with IMC.
However, most coaching classes continue to run in commercial complexes, where there is only one exit, no fire safety equipment and combat plan.
There are no emergency evacuations in most coaching classes. There are no evacuation combat plans or safety training workshops.
Schools are required to have fire safety equipment and a combat plan.
Working on regulation
“Currently, there are no regulations for coaching classes. However, we are working on a making a regulation for coaching classes in the state.”
Prabhuram Choudhary
State School Education Minister
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“Currently, there are no regulations for coaching classes. However, we are working on a making a regulation for coaching classes in the state.”
Prabhuram Choudhary
State School Education Minister
0x
x
x
x