NEW DELHI: In a move aimed at protecting students’ interests, UGC has brought out an elaborate sets of rules to put an end to “coercive and profiteering” practices by educational institutes regarding verification of certificates during admission, remittance of fees and refunds.
As per the new rules notified by the UGC, no higher education institute shall insist upon a student to submit the original academic, personal certificates and testimonials like mark-sheets, school leaving certificates and other such documents while submitting admission form.
Institutes shall physically verify the original documents at the time of admission and return those immediately, though they can keep attested copies, the new norms say.
It will not be mandatory for applicants to purchase the institute’s prospectus at any time during the course of the study program, it said, adding institutes can charge fees in advance only for the semester or year in which a student is to engage in academic activities.
“Collecting advance fees for the entire program of study or for more than one semester or year in which a student is enrolled is strictly prohibited as it restricts the student from exercising other options of enrolment elsewhere,” the norms say.
According to the new norms, if a student chooses to withdraw from the program of study, in which he or she is enrolled, the institute shall follow a four-tier system for refund of fees remitted by the student. (AGENCIES)
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