Private coaching class bill may not be tabled for now
Mumbai:
State education minister Vinod Tawde assured private coaching class owners on Monday that the government would prepare a fresh draft of the Maharashtra Private Coaching Classes Regulatory Bill. He had met with members of coaching class association to discuss their contentions over the proposed bill.
Coaching class owners raised objections over several provisions of the bill and requested the government to scrap provisions. Dileep Mehendale, president, Association of Coaching Class Owners and Mentors (ACCOM), said, “We met the minister and demanded changes be made in the draft before it is tabled in the assembly. The minister told us that the government will come up with a fresh draft of the bill and would open it to suggestions from class owners before it is finalised.”
While Tawde was not available for comment, a spokesperson from the education department confirmed the development. “The bill will not be tabled in the ongoing legislative assembly session, as it needs revision. We will give time to owners for their suggestions and come up with a fresh draft,” the spokesperson said.
Some of the provisions that have been opposed to include the mandate for classes to have dedicated parking spaces, provide separate washrooms for boys and girls, and give 1% of their fee to the state government.
Sachin Karnavat, president, the Maharashtra Class Owners Association (MCOA), said the government should give time for suggestions and objections in order to draft a good bill. “The previous committee appointed by the government did not do the due diligence before formulating the draft. If we get more time, we will give our suggestions this time,” he said.
In December 2017, a government appointed committee had come up with the first draft of the bill. Some of the provisions, that were included in the first draft but later removed owing to criticism by the association, include the setting of a cap on fees, giving discounts on fees and reservation of seats for economically backward students.