Push for free Wi-Fi plan on campuses, UGC and AICTE seek report from education institutions

The plan to provide free Wi-Fi facilities in colleges and universities has got a crucial push.

Higher education regulators — University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) — have sought, from all education institutions, compliance reports on whether they have ensured free Wi-Fi by the beginning of the new academic session in August 2018.

According to sources, a special number will be generated to provide free Internet connection to students. This will be mentioned on admission forms. A large number of institutions, including Delhi University colleges, have already provided Internet. Others are in the process of doing it.

"Colleges and universities have been asked to provide free Internet to students on a mandatory basis and a compliance report in this regard needs to be sent to UGC and AICTE in case of technical institutions," said an official.

The central government has been pushing to connect all educational institutions through Wi-Fi for the last two years now.

The government has also sanctioned funds to UGC for the purpose.

THE PROJECT

• In 2017, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar announced the plan to connect education institutions with free Internet
   
• With this, students will be able to use resources to access SWAYAM courses