New Delhi: Emphasising the importance of character building over literacy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday called for innovation and 'wholesome' education in the country.
While addressing the inaugural ceremony of "Conference on Academic Leadership on Education for Resurgence", the Prime Minister said, "Knowledge and education are not restricted to books. The aim of education is the overall and balanced development of a person and this is not possible without innovation."
Invoking the works of leaders like BR Ambedkar, Deendayal Upadhyaya and Ram Manohar Lohia, Modi said, "These leaders always emphasised on character-building over literacy and Swami Vivekananda stressed on wholesome education that makes us a human."
Recalling the ancient Indian texts like the Vedas, the Prime Minister said, "We cannot imagine our society, our country, and even our lives, without knowledge. Our ancient universities such as Taxila, Nalanda and Vikramshila, gave importance to innovation, besides knowledge."
While addressing a gathering of vice-chancellors and directors of over 350 higher education institutions, PM Modi said, "I insist that students should give knowledge in classrooms of college, university but they also add them to the aspirations of the country."
Calling upon academics to not only impart education in classrooms of college and universities but connect their students with the aspirations of the country, Modi said, "Higher education should equip students with high thinking, dignified behaviour and capability to solve the problems being faced by the society."
Spelling out major steps taken to improve education system of the country, PM said, "The government started Revitalization of Infrastructure and Systems in Education (RISE) programme to improve the infrastructure of education. The move aims to spend 1 lakh crore by 2022."
Besides, the government has set up Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA), which will provide financial assistance in the formation of higher education institutions and it has been decided to increase the budget of National Higher Education Campaign.
"We have also started giving autonomy to institutions like IIMs. Now IIM has got the strength to decide on its course curriculum, teacher appointment, board member appointment, expansion and the government will no longer have any role in them, which is an unprecedented decision related to higher education in the country," Modi said.