26,000 colleges, 800 universities to be connected with in 3-4 years

Updated on: Tuesday, March 01, 2011

In an effort to build an International Highway of Information, 26,000 colleges and 800 universities in the country would be connected with Fibre Optics in the next 3-4 years, Union HRD, IT and Telecom Minister, Kapil Sibal, said.
Addressing students and teachers of the Rajagiri Public School at nearby Kalamassery, Sibal said once the connectivity was through there will be a flow of information which will be free of any charges.

There will be a global opportunity as India will be providing the workforce of the world by 2050, the minister said adding the country would be the hub of knowledge.

While by 2020, the average age of Indians will be 29 years, in Italy, Germany and Japan, the average age would be over 60 years.

The nature of education has changed. Access to knowledge is diversified. It is no longer a dialogue or solo act between teacher and student. 'The right of choice to children to learn want he wants is democracy. Allow the child the choice not only at school level but also at the university level', sibal said.

The minister also handed over the keys of the fully equipped Physics, Chemistry and Biology Laboratories and books for the library to the HMT School Kalamassery.

The students of the Rajagiri school had through the ishare project which began in 2009 raised the funds for 3 labs and library by contributing rs one per day from their pocket money.

Sibal said CBSE was going to introduce vocational courses as only 13 per cent of those who enroll in schools reach the universities.
"No nation can move forward unless we are able to send our children to universities from schools," he said, adding CBSE would be made a statutory authority.

26,000 colleges, 800 universities to be connected with in 3-4 years

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