Universities need a new wave of institutional reform: Manmohan

Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Friday said that universities in the country are in need of a new wave of institutional reform.

Panaji, Dec 28 : Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Friday said that universities in the country are in need of a new wave of institutional reform.

Addressing at the convocation of the Goa University, Dr. Singh said, "The reform will enable them to augment existing talent. There has to be openness to lateral entry into teaching and research staff and a willingness to try new pedagogical methodologies and technologies to access teaching materials and databases."

Dr. Singh said that massive qualitative expansion of the educational system would put its infrastructure under stress, as there would be a shortage of good quality teachers.

"To address this problem our universities and educational institutions must adopt innovative methods to augment their physical infrastructure and their teaching and research capabilities," he added.

He also said that his government is committed to achieve the Millennium Development Goal and added that the "Education Plan" in the XIth Five-Year Plan places the highest priority on education as an instrument for achieving rapid and inclusive growth.

"It presents a comprehensive strategy for strengthening the education sector covering all segments of the education pyramid," he added.

Stating that the challenge lies in empowering every citizen with access to education and skill building, Dr. Singh said, "I would like to see our farmers, our workers, our artisans and everyone of our working people equipped with modern education and the capabilities required to earn a decent living."

"We have increased the outlay on education from 7.7per cent of the total Central Gross Budgetary Support (GBS) in the 10th Plan to over 19 per cent in the 11th Plan. The actual outlays have been raised five-fold. This is an unprecedented increase in allocations for education in the history of our country. As I said from the Red Fort on Independence Day this year, I wish to see a new revolution in modern education in India," Dr. Singh added.

ANI