Laying the foundation

Updated on: Monday, December 21, 2009

Replying to a debate in the Lok Sabha on the Central Universities (Amendment) Bill, 2009, HRD Minister, Kapil Sibal said that out of the 220 million students that go to schools in India only 12.4 per cent of them are eligible to go to colleges. With percentages showing rather a dismal trend, Sibal said that the government had set a target of ensuring that this figure rose to at least 30 per cent by 2020.

As the Bill, that was moved by the Minister — aimed at setting up two central varsities in Jammu and Kashmir — was passed, Sibal emphasised the need to exponentially expand the university education system. Calling on a national effort to achieve this goal Sibal said, “The house should think in terms of the next generation.”

Asking each state government to identify four or five sites with 500 acres of land to set up the central universities, Sibal said an expert committee would decide the place where the institution could be set up, reports IANS. However there should be no central varsity in an area that had no or low connectivity the Minister said.

The government has already allocated central universities to Karnataka, Haryana, Orissa, Punjab and Tamil Nadu. But varsities are not the only answer. What is really needed is quality education. “We need to set up a benchmark (through the central universities),” said the Minister. Every new varsity or school established in the country will be disabled-friendly and there would be “absolute access in educational institutions,” said Sibal.

The Minister also stated that his Ministry would appoint a committee on measures needed to be taken for inclusive education, reports IANS. “The round-table will look at all problems, including those faced by physically challenged persons.”
What India really needs is a change in mindset which will put education on the fast track to success. The right moves are certainly being made, but the outcome remains to be seen.

Laying the foundation

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