Bill to keep tabs on private colleges

Union human resources development ministry is hoping to introduce unfair practices in education bill during the forthcoming Budget Session of Parliament. The bill seeks to check irregularities in private educational institutions and provide access to students and parents to the information related to institutions.

Sources stated that the bill will only be introduced once the consultations with stake holders are finished. The much-delayed bill had earlier been proposed during the UPA regime. However, it could not be passed as the bill was stuck in Parliament logjam.

Sources stated that the bill seeks to prohibit specified unfair practices in educational institutions and universities to protect the interest of students. Unfair practices identified in the bill include, demanding or paying capitation fee, admitting students without specified merit criteria, not issuing receipt for any fee charged by the institution, publishing advertisement misleading students and withholding degree to compel a student to pay a fee. The bill imposes penalties for offences such as taking of capitation fees, not adhering to the prospectus, publishing false advertisements, etc.

The bill aims to make it mandatory for every institution to maintain records of the selection process and publish a prospectus prior to admission. The prospectus should include information about fees, conditions of eligibility, process of admission and details of faculty. Although demanding capitation fees is illegal under current regulations, it has not been curbed.

Sources stated that the bill has also been sent to the states for comments and uploaded on the website to seek suggestions from stakeholders.