Coaching centres in Bhopal asked to clean up their act

The Bhopal administration has asked the city’s 100-odd coaching institutes to improve security and other facilities within a week or face action, officials said on Thursday, in a move aimed at regulating the sector in the capital city.

The Bhopal administration has asked the city’s 100-odd coaching institutes to improve security and other facilities within a week or face action, officials said on Thursday, in a move aimed at regulating the sector in the capital city.

Bhopal has emerged as a major educational centre with institutes springing up in large numbers.(HT photo)

Additional commissioner Disha Pranay Nagvanshi said the guidelines were issued on Wednesday and the institutes have been asked to clean up their act within seven days.

Bhopal has emerged as a major educational centre with institutes springing up in large numbers to cater to thousands of students seeking coaching for admission to professional courses. However, most of the institutes have been found to be flouting norms including safety measures.

The Supreme Court recently said coaching centres should only be in commercial premises or institutional areas and not in residential areas as they are a nuisance to women and the elderly.

According to district administration estimates, up to 2,300 students are registered with each institute.

Many coaching institutes do not follow any safety measures

Sources said the many of the coaching institutes are overcrowded and do not follow any safety measures like installing CCTV cameras at the entrance, regulating drop facility for students if the classes get extended or maintain fire extinguishers.

In a meeting with the hostel operators on Wednesday, officials found that classes in most coaching centres get over by 9.30 pm due to which students residing in hostels get back only by 10 to 10.30 pm.

“After talking to hostel proprietors, we realised that we need to take steps for the security of these students. Thus, not only coaching institutes but we have laid out safety measures for hostels also,” said additional collector Disha Pranay Nagvanshi.

Recently, a girl lodged a complaint with mayor Alok Sharma alleging harassment by unidentified people near her coaching centre.

We are following many norms, say officials of coaching centres

However, officials of coaching centres said they are already following many norms like checking identity cards and following the biometric attendance system.

“We don’t have a ramp for the disabled but we do have all the other facilities and until the time parents call us to inform that the student has reached home, we don’t shut down our office, this way we ensure the safety of our students,” said Almas Baig, in-charge of Quantum coaching classes

Career Launcher in-charge Abhishek Gupta, however, said they are yet to receive any guidelines.

Students said though coaching centres do not have all safety measures they had no option but to attend the classes if they are late.

“If we do not attend a session we miss out on studies. Earlier, I used to travel by public transport but due to the fluctuating timings of classes from early morning till late night I had to buy a two-wheeler so that I reach home safely on time,” said Tanima Chakraboty, a CA aspirant.

Suggestions to coaching centres

A WhatsApp group of every coaching centre should take students’ report of reaching home safely.

Centres should have their own vehicles to drop students which should have a GPS installed.

All centres should have a biometric punch system to check if the students are actually present or not.

Guidelines by district administration

A parking facility for their students and their vehicles have to be guarded by a guard.

CCTV camera on the entrance, fire extinguishers, an emergency exit, a ramp for the differently-abled students and separate toilet facilities for girls and boys

Coaching should take responsibility of ensuring that students reach home safe especially girls

The guard should be of good character and should be able to protect students if needed

Institutes should give ID cards to their students and staff and if any student is absent, then parents should be informed immediately.