NEW DELHI: Apex child rights body – National Commission for Protection of Child Rights – is working on finalising within the next month a set of detailed guidelines on psychological counselling of children studying in coaching centres and residing in their hostels.
In 2023, Kota (Rajasthan) recorded 24 student suicides related to the pressure of competitive exams, the highest number in any year.
The draft guidelines highlights that suicide rates among students living away from home – in places like Kota, Vijaywada and Chandigarh, to prepare for competitive exams or in hostels/PGs – have been a matter of concern in recent years.
The guidelines, drafted by a working group of experts constituted by NCPCR, on the directions of Rajasthan High Court, once finalised, will be applicable to all coaching institutions where children (below 18 years) are studying and also living in hostels of these study centres. These guidelines have been drafted to support states and Union territories for planning interventions for psychological counselling of students.
NCPCR had sought comments and suggestions from all the stakeholders on the guidelines till October end. “We are studying the suggestions received and also consulting the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights on the issue. We will finalise the guidelines in December and submit them to the high court,” said NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo.
The draft guidelines cite that these coaching institutions aim to provide quality education and help students reach their goals, but they have also been associated with intense academic pressure and stress. “The students preparing for competitive exams such as NEET-UG, IIT-JEE, JEE Mains Advanced, NTSE, etc often opt for full time coaching at hotspots in places such as Kota, Vijaywada, Ranchi, Chandigarh and Delhi. The curriculum and the ambience of such centres target intensive training to crack the competitive exams. This often results in immense pressure on the students to score a good rank,” the draft says.
The draft calls for regulations for institutes to ensure they prioritise the well-being of students over profits.
In 2023, Kota (Rajasthan) recorded 24 student suicides related to the pressure of competitive exams, the highest number in any year.
The draft guidelines highlights that suicide rates among students living away from home – in places like Kota, Vijaywada and Chandigarh, to prepare for competitive exams or in hostels/PGs – have been a matter of concern in recent years.
The guidelines, drafted by a working group of experts constituted by NCPCR, on the directions of Rajasthan High Court, once finalised, will be applicable to all coaching institutions where children (below 18 years) are studying and also living in hostels of these study centres. These guidelines have been drafted to support states and Union territories for planning interventions for psychological counselling of students.
NCPCR had sought comments and suggestions from all the stakeholders on the guidelines till October end. “We are studying the suggestions received and also consulting the State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights on the issue. We will finalise the guidelines in December and submit them to the high court,” said NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo.
The draft guidelines cite that these coaching institutions aim to provide quality education and help students reach their goals, but they have also been associated with intense academic pressure and stress. “The students preparing for competitive exams such as NEET-UG, IIT-JEE, JEE Mains Advanced, NTSE, etc often opt for full time coaching at hotspots in places such as Kota, Vijaywada, Ranchi, Chandigarh and Delhi. The curriculum and the ambience of such centres target intensive training to crack the competitive exams. This often results in immense pressure on the students to score a good rank,” the draft says.
The draft calls for regulations for institutes to ensure they prioritise the well-being of students over profits.
