Maharashtra Teachers Seek Consultation on Coaching Law

The Professional Teachers Association of Maharashtra (PTAM) has urged the Maharashtra Government to consult coaching-class representatives before finalising the proposed Maharashtra Private Coaching Centres Registration and Regulation Act.

The association's president, Dr Prashant Kulkarni, addressed a press conference in Pune on Tuesday, stating that the association is not against regulation but opposes provisions that could impose disproportionate compliance requirements on coaching institutions and create scope for arbitrary administrative action.

PTAM argues that coaching institutions complement the formal education system by providing academic guidance tailored to individual needs, remedial and advanced learning, examination preparation, and specialised instruction. The Government must recognise the coaching sector as a partner in education and as a major generator of employment.

The association referred to Writ Petition No. 3447 of 2025, filed before the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Bench of the Bombay High Court in April 2025. The court directed the state government to consult its representatives and hear the petitioners before enacting the proposed legislation.

PTAM, which claims to have more than 50,000 members across around 27 districts, said the proposed regulatory framework appears to proceed from an assumption that coaching classes are a problem for the education system. However, the association argues that coaching institutions provide academic support to students in urban, semi-urban, and rural areas while creating employment and self-employment opportunities for teachers and young professionals.

One of PTAM's major demands is to raise the proposed registration threshold from 25 students to more than 100 students per branch. This would prevent home tutors and very small coaching centres from being subjected to an unnecessarily complex regulatory regime.

The association also opposes the proposed blanket restriction on coaching for children below 13 years of age. Such a provision could affect age-appropriate remedial education, foundational learning, and preparation for Olympiads.

The proposed law aims to regulate private coaching centres in Maharashtra, but PTAM believes that the government should consider the concerns of coaching institutions and their representatives before finalising the legislation.

The Bombay High Court's direction to the government to consult PTAM representatives before enacting the law is a significant development in this matter. The government must now decide whether to consult the association and hear their concerns or communicate the reasons for not doing so.

In conclusion, the proposed Maharashtra Private Coaching Centres Registration and Regulation Act has sparked a debate between the government and coaching institutions. While the government aims to regulate the sector, coaching institutions believe that the proposed law could impose unnecessary restrictions and compliance requirements. The outcome of this consultation process will be crucial in shaping the future of private coaching centres in Maharashtra.

The government's decision on this matter will have significant implications for the education sector in Maharashtra. It is essential for the government to consider the concerns of coaching institutions and their representatives to ensure that the proposed law is fair and effective.

The proposed law is expected to impact not only coaching institutions but also students and parents who rely on these institutions for academic support. The government must balance the need to regulate the sector with the need to ensure that coaching institutions can continue to provide quality education to students.

In the coming days, the government is expected to announce its decision on whether to consult PTAM representatives and hear their concerns. The outcome of this decision will be closely watched by coaching institutions, students, and parents across Maharashtra.

The issue of regulating private coaching centres is complex and requires careful consideration. The government must weigh the pros and cons of the proposed law and consider the potential impact on coaching institutions, students, and the education sector as a whole.

Ultimately, the goal of the proposed law should be to ensure that coaching institutions provide quality education to students while also protecting the interests of students and parents. The government must work with coaching institutions and their representatives to achieve this goal and create a fair and effective regulatory framework for the sector.