How Chandigarh plans to regulate coaching centres: In first move, nodal officer appointed

On January 17, the Centre released thorough guidelines in light of issues such as student suicides, fire safety hazards, insufficient facilities, and questionable teaching methodologies at private coaching centres. Implementing these guidelines became a significant talking point after the Delhi coaching centre deaths on July 27. Three civil services aspirants drowned after rainwater flooded the basement of an IAS coaching centre in Delhi’s Old Rajinder Nagar.

Regulating coaching centres involves establishing and enforcing the central guidelines to ensure that these institutions provide quality education, adhere to ethical standards, and operate transparently in a safe environment for the students.

Speaking to The Indian Express, Brar said, “By addressing these aspects, we can help ensure that coaching centres operate in a manner that benefits students and maintains high educational standards.”

Coaching centres will now need to register on an online portal with the requisite documents in a faceless manner with the least amount of human intervention.

Brar said he hoped to complete the registration of the eligible centres by the end of October. “We expect coaching centres to cooperate in following the guidelines to ensure a smooth process for everyone. Our ultimate goal is the welfare of the students. As the guidelines state, the registration process will be completed within three months of implementation,” he said, adding that the guidelines would be implemented in both letter and spirit.

Chandigarh had been attempting to regulate coaching centres, but with the appointment of a nodal authority, these guidelines will now have legal backing for implementation.