Sibal pitches for new policy framework on investments in edu

Updated on: Friday, November 12, 2010

HRD Minister Kapil Sibal today pitched for a new policy framework to allow huge investments in the education sector to meet the demands of the country's economy in the coming decade.
Inaugurating the FICCI Higher Education Summit here, the minister said "the task in higher education in the country is daunting" as more universities and colleges are needed to achieve the increased gross enrolment ratio of 30 per cent in the higher education by 2020.

"My dream is by 2020, the gross enrolment ratio should be expanded to 30 per cent," he said. At present, the gross enrolment ratio in the country is only 12.4 per cent while the developed economies like the US and Russia have an enrolment ratio of 82 per cent and 75 per cent respectively, he said.

The minister also pointed out the government's inabilities in creating a system that helps achieving the target of 30 per cent of people getting into the university
system by 2020.

That would require 800 universities and 40 to 45000 colleges to be built in 10 years, the minister said, and added: "I don't think any government in the world have the
resources and expertise to set up higher education institutions in those numbers."

"In next 10 years, we need a framework... a policy framework to allow huge investment in the education to meet the demand of the economy," Sibal said underlining the role of private educational institutions to fulfill the government's
2020 vision.

In his address, UK's Minister of State for Universities and Science David Willets said his country wanted to take forward the collaboration in education sector with
India further.

Welcoming more Indian students to UK for higher studies, Willets said British students should also have the opportunity to come and study in Indian universities.

"That is the best way to strengthen collaboration between the two nations in the higher education sector," he said.

The theme of the two day conference is "Renovations in Indian Higher Education: Renewed Focus on Autonomy, Accountability and Partnerships." Delegates from many foreign countries including US, Canada and UK are participating in the conference.

Sibal pitches for new policy framework on investments in edu

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