States urged to increase allocation for education

Updated on: Monday, March 14, 2011

The Union Human Resources Development (HRD) Ministry on Sunday urged the State governments either to increase allocation towards education or to retain it at existing levels to help the country reach the target of spending of six per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) on education.

Addressing a conference on “Education for sustainable development,' organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry, D. Purandeswari, Union Minister of State for HRD, said State governments were not making enough allocation towards education. While the Centre had increased its contribution, the State governments failed to do it and that was why State universities were languishing.

Mentioning that there had been substantial increases in budgetary allocation in the 11th five-year plan over the previous plan period, she said, “The allocation ratio between the Centre and State governments in terms of percentage is 20:80. The Centre had increased its contribution to 23-24 per cent, while the support from the State governments is decreasing. Our goal is to achieve 6 per cent of GDP and currently the country's spending is about 3.8 per cent of GDP and we hope to get enhanced allocation in the next plan period. We request the State governments not to decrease the allocation any further.”

Arun Maira, Planning Commission Member, said the manufacturing sector was not attracting youth as much as other sectors did. This called for a change in learning methods and other innovations to make it more attractive.

In his special address, S. Gopalakrishnan, Chairman, CII Southern Region, said engaging the private sector in providing quality education across primary, secondary and post-graduate levels would not only augment the Government's efforts in education, but significantly upgrade its quality and relevance to our times.

While urging the private sector to invest in faculty, R&D and infrastructure, he said industry-institute interaction was needed.

Nandini Rangaswamy, Chairperson, CII-TN, called for engaging industry in the National Skills Policy and introducing public-private partnership for creating model schools. She favoured making India the world skills capital by 2012; improving education infrastructure and greater usage of technology and upgradation of ITIs.

States urged to increase allocation for education

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