Govt fixes fees for coaching classes

OCTOBER 16: The much-awaited ordinance to regulate private coaching classes in the state was signed by Governor Dr P C Alexander today, ac...

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OCTOBER 16: The much-awaited ordinance to regulate private coaching classes in the state was signed by Governor Dr P C Alexander today, according to Minister of State for School Education Anil Deshmukh. He said the state government will issue the ordinance in two days.

The ordinance makes it mandatory for the coaching classes to register themselves with the competent authority, pay licence fees, renew their licences every year and introduces uniformity in the fees they can charge, he said.

Owners of private turorials will have to file an affidavit containing 19 clauses including details on their teaching faculties and schedules. The ordinance allows tutorials in Mumbai to charge each student Rs 1,200 per subject per year and Rs 7,000 for all subjects. In places falling under the jurisdiction of other municipal corporations, Rs 1,000 can be charged per subject and Rs 6,000 for all subjects.

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In `A’ and `B’ class municipal councils, the fees allowed are Rs 800 per subject and Rs 4,500 for all subjects while in rural and `C’ class municipal councils, the fee per subject will be Rs 700 and Rs 4,000 for all subjects. Each coaching institute will have to apply to the task force led by the deputy director of education if it wants to charge more.

While registering themselves, the tutorials will have to make arrangements for sufficient space in their classrooms, health facilities, a waiting room and parking space. They will have to also submit their Income-Tax returns and audit reports at the time of registration.

They will be required to pay Rs 2,000 to Rs 5,000 as registration fees and Rs 1,500 to Rs 1,000 for renewal of their licences, depending on the areas in which they are located.

The ordinance also restricts advertisements, which can henceforth be published only in a format approved by the government. It also provides for a fine of Rs 50,000 and imprisonment up to one year or both in case the proprietors violate the guidelines.

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A meeting of officials in the state Education Department will be convened within a week to chalk out a plan for implementation of the ordinance, Deshmukh said.

Meanwhile, the state government has decided that the tution fee for the medical students should be 50 per cent of the annual fees charged to them.