Caught in a fix over 11 crucial education reform bills, the Ministry of HRD fears some of these proposed legislations might have become victims of “vested interests.” Minister of State for the HRD, Shashi Tharoor, claimed these bills face opposition from “big fishes”, including industrialists and politicians.
“There is a jail term and a massive penalty for the people involved in unfair practices like capitation fees, ineligible students offered technical and other professional degrees in lieu of money etc. Since big fishes including politicians and leading industrialist are involved in higher education racket hence the opposition,” Tharoor told The Pioneer.
Some of the important legislations pending in Parliament include foreign educational institutions (regulations of entry and operations) Bill, Education Tribunal Bill, National Accreditation Regulatory Authority for higher educational institutions Bill, Higher Education and Research Bill, prohibition of unfair practices in technical educational institutes bill and Universities for Research and Innovations Bill.
The junior Minister claimed some of these bills were necessary for “capacity building” and employment generation. The Ministry is also upset over losing some prestigious universities to other South Asian countries because proper legislations were not in place in India. Incidentally, the prestigious Yale University opted to open its branch in Singapore following uncertainty over the passage of the related Foreign Education Bill.
“We are unable to create capacity. Although Yale University was offered infrastructure and logistical support by China, they did not go there. The country would have been lucky to have India-Yale University but unfortunately Yale opened at Singapore due to uncertainty over the related foreign education bill,” Tharoor said.
He claimed this particular case itself was a loss of FDI for the country in the education sector, as universities operating in different countries have nearly 90 per cent Indian students.
“I feel frustrated. The blockage of important bills due to continuous disruption of the Parliament is a national disgrace. In this way the education system of the country will suffer,” Tharoor said.