Aurangabad: The state Directorate of Technical Education (DTE) has cautioned students about taking admissions in unapproved or bogus institutes, ahead of the 2016-17 academic year. In its latest notification, the directorate has advised students seeking admissions in any technical institution to first check the status of approval from the respective apex regulatory bodies.
The All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE), Pharmacy Council of India (PCI), Council of Architecture (CoA) and the University Grants Commission (UGC), along with state universities, are the competent bodies for approving courses. The list of authorized institutes and approved courses is available on the official website of the DTE (www.dtemaharashtra.gov.in).
Senior officials said the DTE’s website has the option of advanced search for tracking approved institutions. “The students or their parents can search institutes using different parameters such as name of the course, college and university among other options. Using this facility is advisable,” authorities said.
The DTE has also invoked the Maharashtra Unauthorized Institutions and Unauthorized Courses of Study in Agriculture, Animal and Fishery Sciences, Health Sciences, Higher, Technical and Vocational Education (Prohibition) Act, 2013. The legislation aims at putting a check on bogus institutes and awards enabling provisions to the competent authorities to take stern action.
It spells out stringent punishments such as imprisonment up to one year or fine in the range of Rs 1-5 lakh for persons/companies running institutions/courses without approval of the professional regulatory councils, state universities, boards of technical education, universities of health sciences, animal and fisheries science, state-backed open university and the National Council for Vocational Education. The Act also states that every educational institution shall follow the self-imposed discipline required under the Advertising Council of India’s code for self-regulation in advertising.
The code concerned bars educational institutions from making claims which it cannot be substantiated. Separate penalties will apply for advertisements making false and misleading claims to attract students.
Note: News shared for public awareness with reference from the information provided at online news portals.
