Need to evolve education system with focus on removing poverty: Rau

Shimla, Nov 8 (UNI) Himachal Pradesh Governor Prabha Rau today emphasised the need to evolve an education system with focus on removing poverty and discrimination in society.

In her address at the 16th Convocation of Himachal Pradesh University, she said there was a section of society crumbled under poverty and discrimination which needed to be removed.

Their talent need to be harnessed for their own good and for the betterment of the society where the poverty and discrimination still existed, the Governor, who is also the Chancellor of the university, said.

Ms Rau awarded medals and degrees to 527 successful students in different disciplines.

Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal, addresssing the convocation, said his government was planning to develop Special Education Zones (SEZ) in collaboration with renowned international universities to impart world class vocational education to youth in emerging disciplines like Information Technology, Bio-Technology, Pharmacy and allied technologies.

He gave a clarion call to the teaching fraternity to contribute effectively to strengthen higher education to produce competent and productive human resource. He emphasised the need for achievement of the objective India: Vision 2020 in the real sense.

Mr Dhumal said it was heartening to know from the national survey reports that Himachal Pradesh had 20 per cent college-going students compared to 10 per cent at the national level.

He said credit goes to the vast educational infrastructure created in the state. He said the drop out rate at primary schools had come down to 0.89 per cent and a minimum accommodation of at least three classrooms provided in every primary school.

The Chief Minister said the vast network of educational institutions includes six universities, 86 degree colleges, 71 teacher-training colleges, 22 sanskrit colleges and 49 other vocational institutions.

He said sites had been identified for setting up of an IIT in Mandi district and a Central University in Kangra district. The ESIC Medical College and Hospital has been approved for Mandi district recently.

He said Himachal Pradesh was poised to emerge the 'knowledge hub' in the coming years, in which university teachers were to play leading role.

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