Bogus MS-CIT training centres thriving in city

MS-CIT is a popular IT literacy course started by MKCL in 2002. The certificate is essential for many government posts and promotions,and people from various sectors opt for the course.

Talking to Newsline,Karande,a resident of Akurdi,said he took admission in the Bijli Nagar centre on December 12,2012,by paying a fee of Rs 2,700. “But months passed and the institute did not conduct my exam. I could not apply for the senior post. On June 1,2013,I filed a complaint with the MKCL,” he said.

MKCL replied to Karande on June 26,saying,“Aasci computer institute in Bijli Nagar,Chinchwad,is not MKCL’s authorised learning centre.” It asked for the centre’s photograph and the admission fee receipt from Karande for taking action.

Hemant Vandekar,head,Brand Promotions,MKCL,said: “We have been receiving complaints about unauthorised centres. Between May 2012 and April 2013,we have issued legal notices to 32 such centres.”

Meanwhile,just a few days after Karande filed the complaint,his hall ticket for the MS-CIT exam was issued. Santosh Oza of Aasci computer institute said: “Karande’s admission is with our Thergaon centre and not with the Chinchwad centre. His exam was not conducted because his photograph had been rejected.”

Karande,however,said: “I was told that my photograph had been rejected only after I filed a complaint with MKCL,six months after my admission. But the same photograph was approved and I got my hall ticket. I never submitted a fresh photograph. I feel I am cheated.”

He added: “MKCL officials told me that Aasci’s Kalewadi branch is authorised,but the Chinchwad branch is not. Many such institutes are operating unauthorised branches offering MS-CIT course.”

MKCL’s Managing Director and CEO Vivek Sawant said efforts were on to check computer institutes offering bogus MS-CIT courses. “The bogus MS-CIT centres offer heavy discount on the course,deviating from the fee structure devised by MKCL. We advise candidates to visit our official website to see the list of authorised MS-CIT centres,along with their addresses,” he said. According to Sawant,MKCL initiates legal proceedings against unauthorised MS-CIT centres upon receiving formal complaints against them.

Bogus MS-CIT training centres thriving in city

Aasci computer institute’s Bijli Nagar branch in Chinchwad,which is not authorised to run MS-CIT course according to MKCL,has been distributing pamphlets saying it is a government-approved centre and also uses the logo of University of Pune (UoP). Karande filed an application under the Right to Information Act (RTI) at the UoP on June 6,2013,seeking the copy of rules that clarify who all are allowed to use its logo and for what purpose. In its reply on July 4,UoP gave him the copy of a public notice issued by the then registrar on September 9,2009. The notice says: “Many educational and other institutes are using its logo in its advertisements without taking permission. This is causing confusion among the students taking admission at these organisations. Students take admission thinking it’s a UoP course and get cheated. UoP has received many such complaints. Using UoP’s logo without permission is cheating and amounts to an offence.” Karande then filed a complaint with the UoP seeking action against the computer institute. Registrar Narendra Kadu said they had received the complaint. “It is a serious incidence and the university administration will take due cognisance of it after seeking details,” he said.