High prospectus price under UGC scanner

Starting this academic session,the University Grants Commission (UGC) plans to regulate the price of admission prospectus put out by higher education institutes.....

Starting this academic session,the University Grants Commission (UGC) plans to regulate the price of admission prospectus put out by higher education institutes. The commission has shot off letters to the vice-chancellors of all varsities,asking them to give their views on the issue and will soon be formulating regulations to put a ceiling on the cost of prospectus.

In the letter to the V-Cs,the commission has asked for all varsities to intimate the UGC about the price of their prospectus as it exists now,along with their views on the proposal to regulate the cost structure for the same. Terming the practice of selling prospectus at exorbitant prices as a highly exploitative one that amounts to harassment of students,the commission has further raised concern about institutes selling discipline-wise prospectus instead of a composite single prospectus.

The UGC took the decision to regulate the cost of prospectus after its meeting held in November 2008 where the subject was raised by the members and the need for remedial action was also brought up. The commission feels that a cap on pricing of prospectus is most necessary,especially for deemed universities most of which are in the private sector. A UGC expert committee will soon take a final decision on these regulations keeping in mind views of varsity V-Cs.

It has been observed,that some of the deemed universities,particularly those belonging to the private sector,are charging exorbitant charges for the prospectus for admission to various courses. Some universities insist on purchase of separate admission form and prospectus for each course conducted by it. This practise is not only exploitative in terms of exorbitant price of prospectus,but also an unwanted burden on the students who have to waste lot of time and money on entrance examinations, the letter read.