According to the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe, the authorities cannot allow Edtech firms to delve into areas that aren’t their area like providing diploma and diploma programs.
The feedback comes after the technical training regulator and University Grants Commission warned universities and faculties in opposition to providing programs in distance studying and on-line mode in affiliation with Ed-Tech corporations, saying no “franchise” settlement is permissible as per norms.
After closely observing the companies, it was found that they were directly releasing advertisements and were offering programmes like MBA and MCA.
Sahasrabudhe said, “We are not against Ed-Tech companies, but they cannot be allowed to delve into areas that are not their domain. Norms are norms. These are postgraduate programmes in management and computer applications that can only be offered by universities and approved colleges. Top institutions in the country like the Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs) are also not allowed to offer management degrees, they offer diploma in management. How can we allow ed-tech companies to do so?”
He further explained, “As far as universities are concerned, it is perfectly fine if they are using the platform of Ed-Tech companies for conducting classes or online exams but it cannot be beyond that and cannot be franchise agreement.”
The Education ministry had said that parents, students and all stakeholders in education have to be careful while deciding on opting for online content and coaching being offered by a host of Ed-Tech companies.
Amid growing concerns that many such firms were indulging in various forms of business malpractices to attract consumers, a group of companies this month formed a collective “India EdTech Consortium”, under the guidance of the industry body Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI).
