The Hindu Business Line : ‘Need for better learning model, content change’

Chennai, Feb. 14 The three challenges — excellence, expansion and accessibility — have to be addressed to improve educational standards in the country, said Mr Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission, in his keynote address during the Education Summit through video conferencing.

There is a need for a better model of learning and change of content as only a low percentage of graduates meet the requirements of the industry. Moreover, they lack soft skills, he said.

Mr Pitroda said that a large number of professors and teachers do not research and many researchers do not teach and it is crucial that this situation changes.

It is essential that universities are connected, there is research and development collaboration, resource sharing and interaction among universities, he said.

Talking about the second challenge, Mr Pitroda said that the country needs more universities, colleges and schools.

Only 8-10 per cent of the poor are able to access university education.

Using technology

“Technology is not given the right value in education. We have not used information technology effectively as imparting education is still about the duster, black board, teachers, grades and examination for us,” he said.

There is a requirement to change the productivity and efficiency equation in education through technology, he said.

Mr Pitroda said that accessibility is the final challenge, we should make sure that the poorest of the poor are able to access education by providing them with loans, scholarships and other incentives.

He also said that few of the recommendations given by the national knowledge commission to the government were not accepted.

Government can experiment with ‘Special Education Zone’ and provide special incentives to bring in reputed foreign universities in the country, he said.

Areas to focus

There is an urgent need to focus on administrative reforms, financial discipline, fee structure and requirement for public-private partnership as the government is not able to deliver what the society needs regarding education, he said.

Mr G. Viswanathan, Event Chairman and Chancellor, VIT University, quoting a McKinsey study, said that only 15 per cent of graduates in India are fit for employment. He also said that there should be some parameter fixed for choosing Vice Chancellors of universities.

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‘Need for better learning model, content change’