Focus on development of State-run universities: Prof Nageshwar

- Says capacity addition to varsities will have no use
- Finds fault with Central government invite to foreign and private varsities to develop higher education

Vijayawada: Former MLC and Editor of The Hans India, Professor K Nageshwar emphasised the need for development of State-run universities in the country to promote higher education to eradicate the socio-economic inequalities in the society.

He raised concerns over decision of the Central government to not to set up new higher educational institutions in the country. “How will the government fulfill its objective of increasing higher education in the country, if it does not open new universities in the country,” he questioned.

Prof. Nageshwar addressed a seminar organised by Vidya Vikasa Vedika at Montessori Mahila College, here on Sunday, to discuss the new education policy draft prepared by the Central government.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that the new education policy bats for capacity addition to the existing educational institutions to promote higher education instead of setting up new varsities. “The higher education in the country increased from 4.6 per cent in 1996 to 23.6 per cent in 2016 due to setting up new educational institutions and varsities. Capacity addition to education institutions will have no use to the country and education system,” he averred.

He stressed upon the need for development of State-run varsities and said that they should promote democratic values, secularism and work for the eradication of inequalities in the society.

Referring to the education standards in the country, he said the educational institutions are mushrooming like poultry forms and lamented that many lack labs, libraries, faculty and facilities. He questioned how the capacity addition would be possible in these educational Institutions.

The former MLC regretted the government’s invite to private educational institutions and foreign varsities to promote higher education. “Education will be a commodity for private institutions. They work with a profit motive rather than developing education in the country,” he opined.

Professor Ramakrishnan, who also addressed the gathering, said that the Central government must reveal what was the wrong with the present education system and inform people the advantages with the new education policy.

He expressed concern that the NDA government was trying to include communal elements and saffronise education in India. “New education policy draft is against the wishes of progressive thinkers,” he remarked.

He said that the policy segregates people and proposes two types of education. “Government is planning to promote caste-based skill education to children from school and intermediate-level,” he said and appealed to the people to oppose the idea.

Save Education Committee convener Ramesh Patnaik said that the policy reflects ‘Manu Dharma’ as it suggests for the two types of education for the children. “Right to Education will be affected with the implementation of the policy. Evening schools will encourage child labour,” he added instead of going to regular schools.

Former MLC K Lakshmana Rao, who presided over the seminar dubbed the policy as pro-rich and pro-corporate. He called upon people to oppose it. Vidya Vikasa Vedika convener S R Parimi spoke about the policy’s impact on the quality education in the country.

Educationists, former MLCs, lecturers and students attended the day-long seminar.