Coaching Institute Regulation Bill: A Much-Needed but Delayed Response From Rajasthan Govt

In reaction to the student rate of suicide due to academic pressure, the government of Rajasthan has planned to introduce the Rajasthan Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Bill 2023 to reduce some of the stress on students. 

The year 2022 was the worst when it came to students committing suicide owing to academic pressure. A maximum of 15 such cases were recorded that year, leading to the Rajasthan government’s current plans to bring a new bill to regulate coaching institutes. Earlier in 2018, the state government had issued detailed guidelines to the coaching institutes in Kota, but those have had no visible impact on the mental health of students.

The bill aims to lessen the present academic pressure on students and create mandatory guidelines for coaching institutes. One of the major aspects of the bill is that it introduces an aptitude test for students enrolling into coaching centres. If a child does not clear that test, then they would not be eligible for the entrance exams of undergraduate engineering or medical courses.

The bill also urges the institutes to stop the glorification of the toppers as it significantly affects average and below-average students. As the institutes take regular tests weekly, the bill stipulates that the students have a counselling session after each test.

If the bill is passed, the government will create an e-complaint portal, which would act as a tool to promptly address and resolve student and parent complaints about coaching centres and dormitories.

To address mental health issues, such as depression and suicidal ideation, among students attending coaching institutes, the state government is adopting proactive measures. 

The government will introduce the Rajasthan Coaching Institute (Control and Regulation) Bill 2023, designed exclusively for coaching centres, in the next session to address this issue. However, these efforts have come significantly delayed with the State Assembly elections right around the corner.

The High Court in Jaipur recognised the situation's seriousness and noted the heartbreaking stories of student suicides at coaching facilities and acted swiftly. The procedure began in 2016 when the court brought attention to the issue, which led to the issuance of additional directions on February 6, 2018.

Before the passage of this legislation, thorough instructions targeted at inspiring coaching facilities and preparing students for mental toughness were released on November 11, 2022.

A State Level Committee has been established to monitor the situation closely, and committees at the district level to ensure that the government's directives are implemented effectively. District Collectors and Police Superintendents received the appropriate notice via letters on February 8 and February 15, 2023. Proper steps will be taken in accordance with the terms of the draft law once it is passed.

NewsClick spoke with several students who attend these coaching institutions to understand the situation and whether a bill like this could be effective. Speaking to NewsClick, Dr Nirmala Rao, a psychiatrist, pointed out that the bill should have been introduced much earlier. 

Suhel has been studying in Kota for the past year and has seen and faced the academic pressure as it comes. “Yes, we are late. Many suicides could have been prevented had this law been introduced earlier. Rajasthan is a hub of coaching centres, and a law like this is extremely important. We still have to wait to see the outcome of the law,” said Suhel. 

He added that academic pressure is not the only thing the students deal with while there. At a very young age, students live away from their families and in unfamiliar surroundings where there are many barriers to tackle, he said.  

Another student, Rakesh, has been present for the past two years and echoed the details shared by Suhel. He said, "The coaching institutes used to conduct tests on Sundays as well. However, now that the government has implemented a rule mandating a complete holiday for all students, it will help alleviate the pressure on students. There is an unnecessary burden on students when they are expected to work, even on holidays. A weekly break is absolutely necessary."

The Kota police reported 52 student suicides between January 2019 and December 2022, with 27 of those deaths occurring while the victims attended various coaching facilities.

In 2022, there were 15 suicides reported at coaching institutes, which is a concerning increase. The majority of these incidents, accounting for over 65% of them, took place between October and December. Bihar had the highest number of student suicides at four, followed by Chhattisgarh at three.

In response to Pana Chand Meghwal's inquiry regarding student suicides in the Kota division, the Rajasthan government issued a written reply. The reply disclosed a total of 53 incidents over a four-year period, with 52 occurring in Kota and one in Baran. Among these cases, there were ten suicides by high school students, 16 suicides by college students, and the remaining incidents involved athletes from training facilities.

According to the report, there are four main factors contributing to suicides among students attending coaching institutes. These factors include reduced self-confidence resulting from poor performance in coaching centre exams, parental pressure, increased physical and mental stress, financial constraints, blackmail, and romantic involvement.

During a conversation with NewsClick, Dr Nirmala Rao emphasised that as a country, India has repeatedly failed to recognise issues of mental health, and the legislation has come quite late. She also mentioned that this was just the beginning, and the outcome will determine the ultimate success of the law.

Dr Rao added, "The ratio of seats available to the number of candidates aspiring to achieve them is astronomical. Particularly, Rajasthan coaching centres over the years have advertised their success rates widely, attracting students from all over the country to enrol in these centres. Soon their expectations are not met, and this leads to frustration." She also mentioned how the students at a very young age of 15-17 are sent to Kota, and these are the formative years. These are also the years when their mental health might be severely affected if they are put in dire straits academically. "Being in Kota is a pressure itself, and then there are the coaching institutes who overburden these students," he said.

As this bill proceeds, the experts believe that a major focus should be kept on the counselling cells available in all these coaching institutes, and a target should be set for their efficiency, ensuring better communication.

Interim recommendations have been issued to coaching institutes to ensure adherence to proper practices and provide students with critical mental assistance until the legislation is finalised.

Furthermore, the government is actively striving to build an e-complaint portal, which will serve as an efficient tool for responding to and resolving complaints about coaching centres and halls of residence received from students and parents in a timely manner.

To encourage compliance with the provided directives, regular meetings are held with the District Level Committee, coaching institutes, hostels, and P.G. organisations.