Guwahati: Assam cabinet on Tuesday approved new rules to regulate private coaching institutes and strengthen mental-health safeguards amid concerns over student suicides linked to competitive exam pressure.CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said the Assam Private Coaching Institutes Control and Students’ Mental Health Safeguard rules would make registration mandatory for coaching centres with more than 50 students. The framework will cover their functioning, infrastructure and student-welfare measures.Institutes must provide sensitive, non-discriminatory environments for SC, ST, OBC and EWS students, those with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, and those affected by trauma, bereavement or previous suicide attempts.The rules will require coaching centres to have access to clinical psychologists and mental-health counsellors. Teachers and staff will be trained to identify psychological distress and suicidal tendencies and respond sensitively.“Along with physics, chemistry and biology, we want mental health to be integrated into coaching,” Sarma said, stressing that students must be prepared to cope with both success and failure.Students with a history of trauma or previous suicide attempts will require special care and monitoring, while those identified as being at risk must receive appropriate psychological intervention.“Coaching institutes would be required to take preventive measures and ensure that students receive appropriate psychological support before results are declared,” Sarma said.“Teachers and staff would be required to respond to such students with sensitivity and care, while students showing signs of suicidal tendencies would have to be provided appropriate intervention and support,” Sarma said.Sarma said mental-health professionals should interact with students before results are declared and help them understand that poor performance in one examination does not determine their future.The rules will also prescribe greater clearance between ceiling fans and the floor and require grilled or otherwise secured windows to prevent suicide attempts by hanging or jumping.
