Government not against ed-tech companies but they cannot enter areas prohibited even to IIMs: AICTE chairman
India Today
The AICTE chairman said that the government is not against ed-tech companies but they cannot be allowed in areas where even IIMs are not allowed.
The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) Chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe said that the government is not against ed-tech companies but they cannot be given permission to delve into areas that lie outside their domain, such as offering diploma and degree courses.
These remarks come after the University Grants Commission(UGC)has warned higher education institutions(colleges and universities) against offering distance learning and online mode courses in collaboration with ed-tech while adding that no "franchise" agreement is permitted under norms.
Speaking to the news agency PTI, the AICTE chairman 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."He went on to add, "We have given approvals to universities and colleges to offer degree and diploma programmes but they are supposed to offer it on their own and not piggyback on private companies or outsource their job to any third party."
The AICTE chairman then informed these companies were found to be directly releasing advertisements offering programmes like MBA and MCA, upon closer observation.
He said after closely observing the companies, it was found that they were directly releasing advertisements and were offering programmes like MBA and MCA.
On the issue, he explained, "These are postgraduate programmes in management and computer applications that can only be offered by universities and approved colleges.
Even IIMs cannot award management degrees
