Government to bring out stringent guidelines to regulate coaching sector
The various scams that dubious UPSC coaching centres indulge in to attract more candidates, which was blatantly exposed in the hit movie ‘12th Fail’ will soon be a thing of the past as the central government is bringing out stringent guidelines to prevent innocent students falling prey to fake claims.
Soon, coaching centres across the country will not be able to make lofty claims of 100 per cent success or a job guarantee, as is often the case these days in this booming sector, as the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) is drafting a set of DOs and DON’Ts for the sector.
The guidelines shall be applicable to all the coaching institutes whether online or physical and cover all forms of advertisement regardless of form, format or medium. They prescribe conditions when an advertisement by a coaching institute shall be construed to be misleading advertisement as defined under the Consumer Protection Act 2019 which inter-alia include concealing important information related to the course opted by the successful candidates (whether free or paid), duration of course etc.
Coaching institutes are not allowed not make false claims regarding success rates or number of selections and any other practices that may lead to consumer misunderstanding or subvert consumer autonomy and choice.
Coaching institutes are not allowed not make false claims regarding success rates or number of selections and any other practices that may lead to consumer misunderstanding or subvert consumer autonomy and choice, a release stated.
The CCPA also clarified that penalty for misleading advertisement by coaching sector will be governed as per Consumer Protection Act, 2019 and the guidelines are just in the nature of clarification to the stakeholders and violations of the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019 shall continue to be governed under the existing provisions of the Consumer Protection Act 2019.
The consumer rights body has also taken sou moto action against misleading advertisement by coaching institutes and issued notices to 31 coaching institutes for misleading advertisement and imposed fine on nine of them for misleading advertisement.
The consumer rights body has also taken sou moto action against misleading advertisement by coaching institutes and issued notices to 31 coaching institutes for misleading advertisement and imposed fine on nine of them for misleading advertisement.
CCPA also observed that some of the coaching Institutes also indulge in making claims like 100 per cent selection, 100 per cent job guarantee, among others.
Some of the guidelines include:
- Coaching Institute shall mention requisite information with successful candidate photo including the rank secured by successful candidate, course opted by successful candidate, duration of course, whether it is paid or free etc.
- Coaching institutes shall not make claim 100 per cent selection or 100 per cent job guaranteed or guaranteed preliminary or mains.
- The font of disclaimer/Disclosure/Important information in the advertisement shall be the same as that used in the claim/advertisement. The placement of such information shall be at a prominent and visible place in the advertisement.