Be careful in choosing institutes abroad: Sibal to students

Expressing concern over radio-tagging of scores of Indian students duped by a "sham" US university, HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today appealed to the student community to be more "careful" in choosing their institutes while going abroad to pursue higher studies.

"We are concerned," he told reporters here when asked for his reaction on the incident, adding the External Affairs Ministry is handling the issue.

"People should be careful when they go," he said, adding, there are institutes here too who are also not recognised.

He also sought to allay fears that the passage of Foreign Educational Institutions (Regulation of Entry and Operations) Bill would encourage fly-by-night institutes to set campuses here, saying the Bill has enough provisions to stop such institutes from entering into the country.

"Foreign universities have to go through separate registration process and should also fulfil the requirement of 20 years of existence. There are other conditions attached also," he said.

A few members of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on HRD had yesterday sought stringent measures to ensure that a Tri Valley University-like situation does not recur here while discussing the Bill.

Asked about his Ministry's demand from the forthcoming Budget, he said they have sent a proposal for a "substantial increase" in budget allocation which is required for the full implementation of the RTE and fulfilling the agenda of the higher education sector.

The Budget allocation for education sector was Rs 45,711 crore in 2010-11.

Noting that several of the reform measures initiated in the higher education sector are "on track", he said the Ministry had a meeting with the Planning Commission today on the Innovation Universities bill and "they are on board now with us".

Asked whether medical education would be included in the proposed National Commission for Higher Education and Research, Sibal said a "national consensus" has to be evolved on the issue.