The Prohibition of Unfair Practice in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and University Bill

NEED:
"India's demographic dividend(major population age) in coming years by 2020  is around 29 years that means a population with an average age of 29" (Ref here TheHindu)
Whats interesting here is that the same for 

• China is 37 years
• US is  38 years

 This means around 2020 we will have maximum population as young Indians.
So its important that young Indians are meaningfully participated in the economy and contribute to growth.

Most of the readers here must have witnessed a wonderful college life featuring

• huge donations at the time of admission 
• class bunks ( attendance way below minimum requirement) 
• one day rush for your exams preparation 
• xeroxing class notes of peers 
• cheating (oh my god we are indeed innovative here)
• unhappy from inefficient teachers
  and the list goes on........  

 In schools we often here news featuring

• teacher hospitalizes student by beating [some times case may be other way round ;) ]
• discrimination on category basis SC,ST, etc.
• After RTE many schools have been in news for harassing students admitted under RTE.

Well why only Govt should worry about these issues?? [we are equally correct to raise our concern]
so here comes government's Bill "The Prohibition of Unfair Practice in Technical Educational Institutions, Medical Educational Institutions and University Bill".

hightlights of the Bill  
[three key features define unfair practice, avoid it by more information and penalties]

1. To prohibit specified unfair practices in technical and medical institutions and universities to protect the interest of students.
•  unfair practices 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.
2. Every institution to maintain records of the selection process and publish a prospectus at least 60 days prior to admission. The prospectus should include information 
• about fees,  
• conditions of eligibility, 
• process of admission and details of faculty.
3. The Bill imposes penalties for offenses such as taking of capitation fees, not adhering to the prospectus, publishing false advertisements, etc.

 Aim of the Bill:

• to eliminate the multiplicity of agencies governing higher education. 
• to prohibit unfair practices such as capitation fee collection. 
• creation of tribunals at state and national level for settlement of disputes involving teachers, students and institutions. 
• strengthen basic schooling and invest substantially in the National Vocational Education Qualifications Framework for creating many more skilled jobs
•  imperative to improve the quality of teaching in schools. 

The Bill has been recently drafted by the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE).

The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE)

• The highest advisory body to advise the Central and State Governments in the field of education
•  consists of HRD minister, representatives of different departments at Union, state and UTs level and schools, other institutes.

 

The All-India Council for Technical Education (Establishment of Mechanism for Grievance Redressal) Regulations, 2012, issued by AICTE

1. There should be Grievance redressal mechanism 
2. Each technical university shall appoint an ombudsman whose order would be mandatory, and failure of compliance could lead to withdrawal of AICTE approval and withdrawal of grants or financial assistance from the Council
3. The grievance could include those related with 
• The standards of education, 
• Irregularity in the admission process adopted by the institute, 
• Refusing admission in accordance with the declared admission policy, 
• Withholding or refusing to return any document, and demanding money in excess of that specified in the declared admission policy. 

References:
TheHindu Article1
TheHindu Article2
The Bill pdf. Source PRSIndia 
TheTimesofIndia Article