Thursday, February 19, 2009

‘India needs a giant leap in higher education’

ITANAGAR, Feb 19 – Since the 21st century has been credited of being the century for India and China, Arunachal Pradesh Governor General (Retd) J J Singh today said that once tagged as the seat of learning, the country needs to make a giant leap forward in higher education sector in order to compete with its Asian rival as well as other European countries.

Inaugurating the IXth annual conference of Higher & Technical Education here, the Governor said that the country gifted with students with higher IQ who are doing exceptionally well all over the world, must produce responsible citizens so that all could contribute to its growth and development.

Describing education to be the key to the continued economic growth and progress of the country, Gen Singh said it is high time that the educationists promote opportunity, ensure affordability and quality in higher education system, and also ensure that higher education is accessible to every qualified and motivated student.

He further said that in order strive for marching ahead to join the front-ranking states of the country, the number of higher and technical educational institutions in Arunachal should be increased.

Earlier, Higher and Technical Education Director Dr Joram Begi said the State should make a perspective plan of enhancing access rate to higher education upto 20 per cent by the end of XIth Five Year Plan by opening up more higher and technical educational institutions. At present, the access rate to higher education in Arunachal is below 7 per cent, which is the lowest in the country in comparison to the national average of 10%