Prez for critical reforms in educational system

SONEPAT: President Pranab Mukherjee today emphasised on the need to make critical reforms in the country's educational system by raising the quality of teaching, faculty and research in the universities.


The focus should be on the quality, affordability and accessibility, the three cornerstones of higher education, Mukherjee said while inaugurating a conference at O P Jindal Global University here.

"There could be no second opinion on the critical role that education plays in the development of a nation. It is the most powerful tool that can spawn societal changes and transform the economic fortunes of a country.

"The need to make critical reforms in our educational system is more compelling now, in many ways, than at any time before. There is an urgent need to raise the quality of teaching, faculty and research in our universities," he said.

Disapproving of an unacceptable 38 per cent vacancies in the central universities, the President called for urgent steps to fill the gap and suggested development of a centre of excellence in each university across the nation.

"Amongst the academic challenges that we face, is the large number of vacancies in the universities. In central universities alone, the vacancy of teachers is around an unacceptable 38 per cent. This has to change.

"We cannot expect to impart quality education without teachers who are most equipped to provide guidance to students and encourage research," Mukherjee said.