Real challenge is equity in quality - D. Purandeswari

Updated on: Saturday, January 08, 2011

"The country seems set to achieve Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) of 15 percent by the end of 2012, with the conclusion of the 11th Five Year Plan. With this, the government hopes, the country shall have moved towards the onerous task of achieving equity and expanding access of higher education across the country," said Union Minister of State for Human Resource Development (HRD) D. Purandeswari while addressing a special session of Central University of Orissa on Wednesday.

As per government report of the Higher Education in India, issues related to expansion, inclusiveness, quality and finance, the access to higher education measured in term of gross enrollment ratio increased from 0.7% in 1950-51 to 1.4% in 1960-61. By 2006-7 the GER increased to about 11 percent. By 2012 (the end of 11th plan objective) is to increase it to 15%.

Speaking about the challenges of Higher Education, she said, "The bigger challenge before Indian higher education system is to bring equity in quality of education across the width and breadth of the country."

Purandeswari added "We have to innovate and cleverly deploy our restricted resources to make education more relevant and to achieve excellence in research".

On the increasing demand for expansion of private college and university level institutions necessitating an understanding of its implications in terms of the system's enrolment capacity, program focus, regional balance, ownership pattern, modes of delivery, degree of regulation, quality and credibility as well as social concerns of inclusiveness, the higher education system in India has been refined according to the needs of the society, she added.

The government should completely carry out the spirit of true and quality education policies especially in the under-developed regions of the country. Otherwise the economically sound society will enjoy all benefits available in the country, she added.

Speaking about the University initiative in promoting higher education, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Orissa Surabhi Banerjee said, "Our real challenge has been to extend the benefit of higher education to tribal communities of Koraput region which so far have not been able to catch up with the national main stream. We have been also promoting research on tribal communities to know more about what have been other reasons besides the economic factors for the meager representation in higher education.

He further added, "Working at a frenetic pace, the University has made rapid strides in short time and runs five programmers under two schools, School of Languages and School of Social Sciences. The University also plans to set up Schools of Development Studies, Health Sciences, Education Technology, Basic Sciences & Information Sciences, Bio-diversity and Conservation of Natural Resources."

The University has set up a Centre for Tribal Welfare and Community Development, the VC added.

"The University has already started skill development programme under this Centre and I believe the centre will emerge as the main catalyst in integrating tribal from these areas to main stream education in time to come," she said.

Giving call to faculty members, the governor of Orissa MC Bhandare said, "Higher education plays pivotal role in inculcating leadership qualities, which the faculties of this University should endeavor all the time."

Rather than showing your superiority, be meticulous in your approach and it would be a wise idea for you to give constant feedback to your colleagues or sub-ordinates that helps you to achieve your targets with ease, added Mr. Bhandare.

Minister for Higher Education, Tourism and Culture of Orissa Debi Prasad Mishra said, "Today there has been need for higher education in rural areas too which necessitate setting up of institution of higher learning in rural areas. Besides it is also important that the basic education in rural area be improved to prepare student for higher education so that quality education is not only limited to the privileged class, who have means to impart quality education to their wards. Government of Orissa is committed to improve the education quality in each area."

Real challenge is equity in quality - D. Purandeswari

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