Bills stuck,Sibal seeks ways to push reforms

The National Academic Depository Bill,2011,that aims to put in place an electronic certification system in academic institutions and to set up a national depository of the same is currently pending in Parliament. Sibal has decided to at least initiate the reform in Central educational institutions and schools,for which a legislation is not necessary.

Last month,Sibal had announced that all Central educational institutions,technical,management and teacher training institutions,would have to set up grievance redressal mechanisms before starting admissions this year. This was to be dealt by the Educational Tribunal Bill,which was deferred after an uproar in the House over lack of consultation over it.

Prohibition of Unfair Practices in Technical,Medical Educational Institutions and Universities Bill and the National Accreditation Regulatory Authority Bill,2010,are also pending. There is a thinking in the government that wherever reforms can be taken forward without legislation,they should be through executive orders or other mechanisms. So while legislations are in the pipeline,work can at least start on pilot basis, said an official.