Mumbai, May 7 (IANS) Chandrakant Patil on Thursday directed the administration to file criminal charges against educational institutions that deceive students, saying that protecting the academic interests of students is the government’s highest priority, and any fraud or academic loss to students will not be tolerated.

Taking serious note of a fraud case at Baliram Hire College in Bandra, Mumbai, Minister Patil ordered immediate criminal proceedings against the guilty management.

The government release said it has been revealed that over 132 students at Dr Baliram Hire College were defrauded through bogus courses and degrees. Upon reviewing the case, the Minister found that the institute, while being a recognised architectural studies centre, was running courses without the approval of the University Grants Commission.

He directed authorities to take action under University Laws regarding the institute’s recognition. The Minister further instructed that action be taken under the provisions of the Maharashtra State Agricultural, Animal and Fishery Sciences, Health Sciences, Higher, Technical and Vocational Education (Prohibition of Unauthorised Institutes and Unauthorised Courses of Study) Act, 2013.

Minister Patil also cautioned aspiring students, stating that many unauthorised institutions lure students with false promises or by pretending to be recognised. Students must verify the accreditation of courses on the official websites of the Directorate of Higher Education, Directorate of Technical Education, or other competent authorities before taking admission, he said.

To prevent such occurrences in the future, the Minister directed the department to create a Standard Operating Procedure. Regarding the 132 affected students in Bandra, he suggested that the Maharashtra State Council of Educational Research and Training study the ‘Recognition of Prior Learning’ provisions under the National Education Policy 2020 to ensure their academic future is protected, the release said.

Meanwhile, the Minister of State for School Education, Pankaj Bhoyar, on Thursday said that the state government has issued a Government Resolution for the ‘Chief Minister Student Science Yatra’ (Mukhyamantri Vidyarthi Vigyan Wari).

This innovative initiative aims to provide students with direct exposure to world-class research institutions. The scheme will offer meritorious students from both rural and urban areas the opportunity to visit the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States of America and the Indian Space Research Organisation in India. Aligned with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020, the programme seeks to move beyond textbook learning to foster hands-on research and experimentation, the Minister said.

About 2,148 students (taluka-level winners) and 20 supervisors will visit regional science centres in Nagpur, Pune, or Mumbai. The cost of Rs 20,000 per person will be funded by the District Planning Committee.

Further, 180 district-level winners and 8 teachers have been cleared to visit the Indian Space Research Organisation centre in Bengaluru. The government has sanctioned Rs 25,000 per person for this trip, including students from general, tribal, and specially abled categories.

The top 51 young scientists from state-level exhibitions and 4 officials (55 total) will be sent on an 8-day trip to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration in the United States of America. The government has approved a budget of Rs 3.30 crore (Rs 6 lakh per person) for this mission, the Minister said.

Selection and monitoring: Transparent selection committees have been formed, chaired by Block Education Officers at the taluka level, Chief Executive Officers at the district level, and Directors at the state level. The State Institute of Science Education, Nagpur, will monitor the entire programme.

Minister Bhoyar said that this Government Resolution gives wings to the dreams of students and added that the primary goal was to ensure that even a student from a rural background gets the chance to visit an institution like the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

He expressed confidence that this initiative will produce the scientists of the future.

–IANS

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