Central Consumer Protection Authority Targets Unrealistic Claims in Coaching Sector, Invites Public Input Till March 16
In a move to eradicate misleading advertising practices in the coaching industry, the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has released draft guidelines aimed at curbing exaggerated claims made by coaching institutes. The guidelines, open for public feedback until March 16, are a result of extensive consultations with stakeholders, including coaching institutes, law firms, government bodies, and voluntary consumer organizations.
CCPA’s Intent and Official Statement
The official statement from CCPA, dated February 18, highlights the purpose of the guidelines in protecting consumers from deceptive advertisements in the coaching sector. It emphasizes that these guidelines, aligned with the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, aim to provide clarity to stakeholders while safeguarding the interests of consumers.
Key Points in the Draft Guidelines
The primary focus of the draft guidelines is to ensure coaching institutes refrain from making unsubstantiated claims regarding success rates, selection numbers, or student rankings in competitive exams. Importantly, institutes should not attribute students’ success solely to coaching without acknowledging individual efforts. False impressions implying the necessity of coaching and misleading practices that compromise clients’ autonomy are discouraged. Transparency is encouraged, requiring coaching centers to clearly communicate the extent to which coaching contributes to students’ success.
Reaction from Education Community and Students
Professor Manish Choudhary, a senior teacher at a Pune-based coaching class, commended the CCPA’s initiative, stating, “The guidelines issued by the CCPA are rightful, as it is normally seen that most newly started coaching classes for competitive exams mislead students.”
Student Ankita Palankhi shared her experience, stating, “These classes are fooling the students with false advertisements,” recounting a situation where a coaching class failed to deliver on promised results.
In Conclusion: A Step Towards Consumer Protection in Education
The CCPA’s draft guidelines represent a crucial step towards ensuring transparency and fairness in the coaching industry. By addressing misleading advertising practices, the authority aims to protect students and parents from falling prey to unrealistic claims and guarantees made by coaching institutes.
