Private companies to form India Edtech Consortium

Highlights:

• The private companies in India have joined together to form India EdTech Consortium. 
• It was formed under the guidance of Internet Mobile Association of India. 
• It was launched after Government of India announced that it is to launch as policy to regulate the edtech sector, that is education and technology sector.

• EdTech is Education and Technology. Before COVID-19, the education and technology sector were performing normally. 
• They were growing steadily. The COVID induced lock down shut schools and colleges. Suddenly modern choice, that is, remote learning became the only alternative. 
• Four out of every six edtech startup have succeeded in their respective field during this phase. 

• It is mostly formed by the 1 billion USD companies. 
• This includes Unacademy, BYJU’s, upGrad, Lead School and Vedantu. 
• These 1 billion USD companies are generally referred to as Unicorns. 
• Technically unicorns are defined as those companies whose annual turnover is more than one billion USD.
• People are enrolling in courses without studying about the courses completely. 
• The edtech companies are not providing clear details about the courses. 
• This includes subjects included, fee structure, certificate, etc. Some have even signed up for loans. Some of the edtech companies are forcing parents to sign for the auto debit feature.
• Basically, the consortium is framing self-regulation. 
• This is being done to reduce the interference of the government in the sector’s operating principles or rules and regulations. 
• The parliament of India recently debated about the malpractices in edtech companies. 
• These practices are undertaken to attract consumers. 
• In December 2021, the Government of India issued an advisory of dos and donts to guardians and students who are signing up online courses offered by the edtech companies.

• The consortium has launched a three page code. It stresses on transparency, warnings of misleading ads. 
• The educational institutions can use their students’ success as promotion tool only with proper proof of performance. 
• The industrial players should compulsorily adopt codes issued by Advertising Standards Council of India.