Centre flags surge in coaching institutes; parliamentary committee to study regulation

New Delhi: With the number of student suicides linked to exam stress a cause for concern, the Centre has decided to review coaching centres and the social issues arising from it. It has set up a parliamentary committee to look into the "expansion" of coaching centres to support students in competitive exams.

The Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports is also vested with the responsibility of reviewing the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and new technologies on education and students. According to a recent Lok Sabha bulletin, the committee will also review the PM Schools for Rising India (PM-SHRI) in the year 2025-26.

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The unchecked rise of coaching hubs

According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, student suicides increased by 65 per cent between 2013 and 2023. Many mental health experts cite exam stress, academic competition and family stress as the main reasons.

In recent years, the suicide rate among students enrolled in coaching institutes has increased significantly due to the stress of studies. Many cases have been reported in the city of Kota in Rajasthan, which is considered the hub of coaching institutes in the country.

Panel formed to review...

A parliamentary committee set up by the Cabinet will review the expansion of coaching centres in the country, support students in competitive exams and social issues.

This year, the education ministry set up a nine-member panel to examine the impact and fairness of entrance exams, as well as issues related to coaching and the emergence of "dummy schools".

The panel is putting its best foot forward to understand the impact and fairness of competitive entrance exams in the context of the school education system. It will also review the impact on the growth of the coaching industry.

The parliamentary panel will also examine the "current practices and policies" regarding school closure, PTI reported. The committee will also review the functioning and performance of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to promote the education of linguistic and religious minorities. The panel will be reviewing the details on the Education Ministry's "efforts" to create a Higher Education Council of India (HECI).

All set for the Higher Education Council of India (HECI)

The central government is all set to introduce the Higher Education Commission of India (HECI) Bill 2025 in the Winter session of Parliament, scheduled to commence on December 1. The agenda behind the HECI Bill, proposed under the National Education Policy (NEP), aims to replace India’s major higher education regulators: University Grants Commission (UGC), All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) and National Council of Teacher Education (NCTE).

The parliamentary panel will be reviewing a study of Indological academic traditions and its impact on the current education system.