SITUATION OF COACHING INSTITUTES IN ARA

SITUATION OF COACHING INSTITUTES IN ARA

18-DEC-ENG 2

RAJIV NAYAN AGRAWAL

ARA--------------------------The Bihar government implemented the "Bihar Coaching Institutions (Control and Regulation) Act" in 2010 to ensure quality education, transparency, and student safety. Under this law, private coaching institutions across the state are required to register, provide basic facilities, and adhere to prescribed operational standards. But the question remains: are the coaching institutes operating in Arrah, Bhojpur district, complying with this law?

This law, enacted in 2010 and recently amended in 2022-23, mandates the following: Every coaching institute must register with the District Education Officer (DEO). Coaching classes can only be conducted before 7 AM or after regular school hours. The institute must have clean toilets, drinking water, fire safety equipment, a first-aid kit, proper seating arrangements, and adequate lighting and ventilation. Minimum classroom size and student-teacher ratio have also been prescribed. Failure to register or violation of the rules can result in fines ranging from ₹25,000 to ₹1,00,000 and closure of operations.

Arrah, an educationally emerging city in Bihar, has been a hub for coaching centers for years. Hundreds of coaching centers here prepare students for Class 10th, 12th, competitive exams, NEET, and JEE. But the unfortunate reality is: Most coaching institutes have neither registered nor comply with the regulations. Hundreds of children are crammed into small rooms without proper ventilation or fire safety equipment. Many institutes lack proper electricity, sanitation, or even toilet facilities. There is no record of the teachers' qualifications, nor any monitoring system in place.

Although the Bihar government has ordered the district administration to enforce the Coaching Act, its implementation in Arrah is quite weak. Neither is the administration conducting regular inspections, nor has a list of all coaching institutes been published yet.

Local education authorities are not showing any strictness, leading to blatant disregard of the rules. There have also been frequent discussions about collusion between coaching center operators and officials.

This negligence by coaching institutes directly affects the education and safety of students. Lack of safety measures in case of emergencies, Deterioration in the quality of education, Lack of timely fee refunds or transparency in schedules, And lack of accurate information for parents –all of these are harming students and their parents. A strict registration verification drive should be conducted. Local media and students should be made aware that they should only enroll in registered coaching centers. An online portal/list should be made public containing a list of registered coaching centers. An easy complaint system should be established where students and parents can file anonymous complaints.

The arbitrary actions and disregard for rules by coaching institutes in an education-centric city like Ara are not only a legal violation but also a gamble with the future of students. It is high time that the district administration takes proactive steps, and society becomes aware to ensure that no coaching center operates without registration and without adhering to safety standards. Because education is not just about teaching, but also about providing a safe, organized, and equitable environment – ​​and this is the right of every student.