Question : EdTech firms in Education

(a) whether the Government is aware that 4,530 EdTech start-ups were operating in India as on April 2021, out of which 453 came up during the last two years and if so, the steps taken by the Government to maintain a central database for monitoring the fees and payment options;
(b) whether the Government is aware of the malpractices, false promise and misleading fee loans/scholarships to lure students for their courses by EdTech companies;
(c) if so, whether the Government is contemplating to create a common policy for regulation of EdTech companies;
(d) if so, the details thereof along with the timeline for release of such policy and if not, the reasons therefor;
(e) whether the Government is working with other Ministries to ensure a comprehensive policy that addresses concerns of predatory marketing, data security, consumer protection etc.; and
(f) if so, the details of the Ministries/Departments being consulted in this regard and if not, the reasons therefor?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

(DR. SUBHAS SARKAR)

(a) Ministry of Education has initiated National Educational Alliance for Technology (NEAT) as a Public-Private Partnership model to bring the popular educational technological Products on a single platform for the convenience of learners. Any student of economically & socially weaker sections across the country can benefit from NEAT as 25% of the coupons are provisioned for them free of cost. 48 Ed-Tech Companies are listed on Portal, providing 79 products. Around 2 lakhs Students are registered on the Portal.
Data on EdTech start-ups is not being maintained by Ministry of Education.
(b) to (f) UGC has notified regulations - UGC (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) Regulations, 2020 - for offering full-fledged online programme by the Higher Educational Institutions (HEIs). These regulations, inter-alia, include eligibility conditions, recognition process for offering online programmes, maintenance of infrastructural, academic and other quality standards by HEIs. It prohibits franchise arrangement with private sector and the ownership of offering online programmes shall be that of HEIs only. The details may be seen at https://www.ugc.ac.in/pdfnews/221580.pdf.
However, considering grievances against Ed-tech platforms, UGC and AICTE have issued public notices on 16th January, 2022 advising the students to check recognition/entitlement status of programme on official website before enrolling any course. The notice may be seen at https://deb.ugc.ac.in/pdf/UGC_Public_Notice_16-01-2022.pdf.
In order to safeguard against the exploitative practices of ed-tech companies, the Ministry of Education has issued advisory on 23rd December, 2021 which includes do’s and don’ts for the stakeholders. It has also reiterated legal provisions for e-commerce firms (which were notified by the MINISTRY OF CONSUMER AFFAIRS, FOOD AND PUBLIC DISTRIBUTION (Department of Consumer Affairs)) for information to citizens who are consumers of ed-tech services. The details may be seen at https://pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1784582.

******