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Panel to frame norms for IT training institutes

Bipin Chandran

The free run by fly-by-night operators running private IT training institutes is set to be over. The government is contemplating forming strict norms to control the functioning of these institutes as the number of alleged frauds by such companies are on the rise.

The All India Council for Technical Education, an autonomous body which oversees the technical education system in the non formal sector in the country, has set up a committee to look into the issue of regulating the functioning of the non-formal IT training institutes.

This move comes close on the heels of IT training companies like Wintech Computers and Zap Infotech allegedly cheating students and franchisees of the companies after collecting hefty fees from them by closing down training institutes round the country.

The committee, headed by N V Vaswani, former vice chancellor of Gujarat University is expected to submit its report after three months. "The committee will look into the entire issue of non formal IT education scenario and the ways it can be regulated," chairman, AICTE, R S Nirjar, said on Wednesday.

The committee will propose steps that should be taken to protect students from malpractice by training companies. "We have noticed that IT training companies do promise a lot to students and deliver very less. We want to ensure that students are not cheated by such companies," he said.

Besides, Nirjar said, the committee will also examine the fee structure of these various training companies.

The committee will also look at the ways to regulate the functioning of the training centres by the companies. The government is of the view that most of these institutes are not even partially equipped to conduct the course they offer.

"Some of the issues that would be brought under scrutiny are quality of the content of the courses being offered and the capability of training centres. The training companies would be required to follow certain standards in both the aspects," he said.

The committee will also look at the various ways that the government can regulate this sector and the agencies and the modalities involved in it. "The committee will examine the various issues like how the can regulate the functioning of these institutes and the agencies that would be involved in that process," Nirjar said.

Another issue that would be brought under inspection by the Vaswani committee will be the standard of trainers. "In many cases it has been brought to our notice that the teachers in these institutes are not well qualified. This issue will also be tackled," he said.

The government of Karnataka has recently formed laws to regulate the informal IT education in the state, with an aim to safeguard the students from frauds.

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