Govt tightens oversight of educational consultancies
Summary
The government has introduced stricter regulations for educational consultancies including a mandatory Rs 2.5 million cash deposit, licensing requirements, and oversight on promotional events to improve service quality and protect students pursuing studies abroad.
Key Points
- The government approved tighter regulations for educational consultancies requiring a Rs 2.5 million cash deposit for central offices.
- Consultancies must obtain Ministry of Education approval for educational fairs and adhere to new fees for promotional events.
- Educational counsellors are now required to have a bachelor's degree and certified training, with foreign counsellors needing prior permission.
- Legal penalties apply for violations including sending students to restricted countries, opaque transactions, and misleading counselling.
- The Ministry of Education will implement a grading system for consultancies and blacklisting of high-risk foreign universities.
