New Delhi: Today on Thursday i.e. March 11, 2010, the Cabinet is likely to take up five bills, which is expected to revamp the scenario of higher education in India. As per sources, of the total five bills, three of them have been already approved at the Group of Minister's meetings.
Moreover, the agenda to be discussed also include - checking malpractices in institutes, establishing tribunals to adjudicate on education related disputes, accrediting institutes on set parameters and allowing foreign education providers to set up centres in India.
The new Bills are a part of the Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal's plans to overhaul higher education in India. Moreover, the Minister expects them to be passed in the monsoon session of the Parliament. Although the Cabinet's agenda does not include the Bill to check malpractices, the Ministry is trying to ensure that it does finds a place.
The Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical, Medical Educational Institutions and University's Bill if implemented, it will authorize the Centre to impose fines of Rs.50 lakh against errant institutes on committing 25 set violations like providing false information about faculty and facilities and sentencing of up to 10 years in case of individuals.
The Educational Tribunal Bill deals with any dispute arising between students and institutions, teachers and institutions and institute and regulatory body.
The Bill on Accreditation recommends for all institutes to necessarily seek accreditation from private accrediting agencies, which are registered under the ministry and after receiving the ratings, the institute has to declare it in public.
The Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operation) Bill will grant approval to a foreign institute to ply in the country through three levels - from the registrar to the Higher education Commission, which will advice the Centre to grant or hold it back. The Bill will come with an eight month time bound format.
The Council of Architecture Act 1972 will rationalize the Council's powers.
