BIS to set norms for e-courses, enhance quality

The chaotic markets of online education may soon see some ground rules being established to introduce standards and checks and balances, and ensure students are not taken for a ride.

- Dhirendra Kumar

The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) will soon put in place norms to regulate the quality of content in online courses and their delivery platforms, two people aware of the matter said. The BIS, which works under the department of consumer affairs, is framing the norms in coordination with the education ministry, they added.

The standards will impact coaching institutes that provide professional course content, experts who prepare their own training modules using e-courses, private educational institutions, and even learning apps or edtech companies.

The new standards will establish clear rules to ensure that content creators and institutions follow quality guidelines. This will help maintain consistency across online educational materials, ensuring students receive reliable and effective learning resources, the people cited above said on condition of anonymity.

"Online courses have become an integral part of the education system, offering flexibility and reach that traditional methods often cannot.