CPA accepted AP views on youth devt: Kodela

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Dr Kodela Siva Prasad Rao has said the members of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) accepted the Andhra Pradesh model on youth empowerment and appreciated the steps that were taken by the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during his first stint as Chief Minister in late 90s for widening scope of technical education in the State.

Kodela said he initiated a discussion on “How can Parliament ensure young people placed at the center of sustainable development and the role of education” at the 60th session of CPA held at Cameroon from October 6 to October 10. He told the Association that India in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular has advantage of having 60 per cent of the population under the age of 40 years and 27.5 per cent in the age group of 15 and 29. “I told how Andhra Pradesh government increased the number of engineering and medical colleges across the State there by drawing the entire youth into the technical stream. More than the general education, the technical education provided meaningful employment to the youth,” the Speaker said. He also explained how professional education weaned away the youth from drug abuse, extremism and other anti-social activities. The Association was told to involve the youth in decision-making and accordingly pass laws to allocate more funds for education, importantly vocational and technical.

Taking cue from his suggestions, R Tau from South Africa said parliaments should create environment for young people to participate in scrutinising programme designed to facilitate job creation and skill development through public hearing system.

Prof Cosmos Cheka of host country Cameroon suggested that parliaments must master and use its powers to legislate and oversee the implementation of a visionary educational policy.