Redefine way of imparting education: Pranab
22 March 2013 6:52 AM IST
Pranab Mukherjee has called upon the urgent need to raise the quality of teaching, faculty and research in the universities of the country.
Mukherjee was here to inaugurate International conference on ‘The Future of Indian Universities: Comparative Perspectives on Higher Education Reforms for a knowledge Society’ at O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat. A number of national and international experts and participants are participating in the three-day conference.
Taking serious note of none of Indian universities being among the top 200 universities in the World, the President called for serious introspection and added that it is not at all acceptable. He asked the ministry of human resource development, University Grants Commission and the universities to work together in achieving qualitative improvement in our educational system so as to make it as good as the best in the world. Common approach should be adopted with focus on quality, affordability and accessibility. He also called upon the private sector to play larger role in education system and replicate its success in several key sectors like health, transport and financial services.
The President said that India has a young population and the demographic profile of the country could be a boon. It would be a boon if we are able to harness their potential and if we failed to do so and challenise their productive energies, it may visit us with ‘terrible and negative consequences’. He said that India’s average age would be 29 years in year 2020, which would be much lower than 40 years in US, 46 years in Japan and 47 years of Europe. He cautioned that we must recognize that the demographic dividends could only be reaped if the young population is provided higher education and vocational training.
Mukherjee was here to inaugurate International conference on ‘The Future of Indian Universities: Comparative Perspectives on Higher Education Reforms for a knowledge Society’ at O P Jindal Global University, Sonipat. A number of national and international experts and participants are participating in the three-day conference.
Taking serious note of none of Indian universities being among the top 200 universities in the World, the President called for serious introspection and added that it is not at all acceptable. He asked the ministry of human resource development, University Grants Commission and the universities to work together in achieving qualitative improvement in our educational system so as to make it as good as the best in the world. Common approach should be adopted with focus on quality, affordability and accessibility. He also called upon the private sector to play larger role in education system and replicate its success in several key sectors like health, transport and financial services.
The President said that India has a young population and the demographic profile of the country could be a boon. It would be a boon if we are able to harness their potential and if we failed to do so and challenise their productive energies, it may visit us with ‘terrible and negative consequences’. He said that India’s average age would be 29 years in year 2020, which would be much lower than 40 years in US, 46 years in Japan and 47 years of Europe. He cautioned that we must recognize that the demographic dividends could only be reaped if the young population is provided higher education and vocational training.
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