Many tuition centres in Kerala likely to be closed; new order

KOZHIKODE: Today, many tuition centres are operating in all districts of the state. The parents' belief that schooling alone is not enough for children to score good marks in exams is behind the increase in tuition centres. Now, the District Level Child Protection Unit meeting chaired by the Kozhikode District Collector has decided to close the tuition centres that are operating illegally.

Many tuition centres operate on the terraces of houses that have roofing done by asbestos sheets. Many of them operate in a manner that violates the rights of children. Such institutions should be closed down immediately. Otherwise, a case will be registered under the Juvenile Justice Act. Local self-government bodies should conduct inspections and find illegal institutions. If a big celebration like a DJ party is organised in tuition centres, the matter should be reported to the respective police station or gram panchayat.

School vigilance committees should convene meetings and discuss issues of drug abuse and violence involving children. Various problems faced by children can be reported to the authorities through the Childline number 1098. It is directed that a large board informing about the Childline number 1098 and all the issues that can be reported to this helpline should be displayed on all government-aided, unaided, and private schools and approved tuition centres in the district.

The District Collector also directed that counsellors should be appointed compulsorily in all schools, whether government, aided, unaided, or private. Tuition centres should be registered as per the Panchayat Raj Act. However, many tuition centres in the district are operating illegally without registration. The participants in the meeting called by the Collector complained that children here do not have access to basic facilities like toilets, fans, or other facilities.