At World Education Summit Delhi, State Education Ministers Demand Raising Education Budget on par with the defence budget

Several State education ministers attending the two day World Education Summit 2018 here have urged the Union government to allocate budget for education equivalent to defence spending as education is similarly important to develop Human Resource Forces in the country.

“India is country of young people with 65 per cent of the population is under 35 or under, and half the country’s population of 1.25 billion people is under 25 years of age. Education is needed for the youth and country to grow, but due to lack of funds education institutes are suffering the country with shortage of faculty and facilities” said Mr Temjen Imna Along, Minister of Higher & Technical education , Government of Nagaland while speaking at inaugural session of the World Education Summit 2018 organised by Elets a non government body here today.

“Country’s education institutes were becoming more of ‘Education Industry’ by adopting smart classes, western culture but loosing out our traditions and culture. Similarly the education policies are made sitting in Delhi by government on pan India basis without knowing or verifying the culture of region or state” said Mr Along

“ Due to such policies higher education in Nagaland and other states has been neglected for far too long, this was one reason why students from Nagaland and other states spend crores of rupees every year in pursuit of higher education outside the state. This underscored the need to revamp Higher Education in the state to impart quality education and to check huge money being drained to outside the state: he said.

Dhan Singh Rawat , Minister of Higher Education , Uttarakhand Government expressed similar views and while inaugurating the World Education summit said” Due to shortage of funds in education most of the higher education institutes are facing faculty shortage and lacking quality education. The state government has recruited 100 per cent teacher s through state public service commission which has resulted in higher attendance by students in the state. The attendance increased to 68 % from 47 % within days”

“When we talk of higher education we are talking about the future of the state and the nation. Our professors and teachers are capable and qualified enough to impart world class education if given the chance and facilities. I can see zeal in our teachers”, the minister said .

“Uttarakhand government is planning to organise a Two day National educational Summit titled “GIAN KUMBH’ on September 22-23, 2018 in Haridwar, where all education minster’s from 29 states and all directors of IIT’s and vice chancellors of all universities are expected to participate. The summit is expected to be inaugurated by President of India” said Mr Rawat.

Anju Sharma ,Principal Secretary , Higher and Technical education, Government of Gujarat said “ country’s present higher education system was more aimed at creating machine out of human being and showcasing students as models for selling a product. Students were being taught mugging and swalling of books and help books instead of teaching them innovations. Government in Gujarat is now focusing on innovations and start-ups at college level. Each innovative project was being provided Rs Two lakh aid and about 550 projects have been funded till date”

Ashutosh Pednekar secretary, Higher Education & commissioner College education , Government of Rajasthan speaking on the occasion said “ Biggest problem from college pass outs is finding a job ,Rajasthan government is tying up with various companies and IGNOU for skill based development of students .It has already tied up with CISCO and Microsoft for training of students and faculty from colleges in the state. Students will be awarded certificates on successful completion of the various course, “

“All the classrooms in states colleges will have smart classes and smart labs by end of the current Financial year 2018-19 “ he added

Others who were present on the occasion included Dr Ravi Gupta, Founder , Elets, Ramanathan Ramanan , principal secretary , Atal innovation mission , and Ryan Pinto, CEO Ryan schools.