Kalam calls for creation of more seats in specialised courses

By Staff
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Google Oneindia News

New Delhi, May 12 (UNI) In the midst of snowballing 'quota' controversy, President APJ Abdul Kalam today suggested creation of larger number of seats in institutions of higher learning such as engineering, medical and specialised sciences.

''The Indian youth faces the twin problems of provision of quality education...in institutions of higher learning such as engineering, medical and specialised sciences and of employment. We have to ensure that a large number of seats are made available,'' Dr Kalam said, while inaugurating Grassroots Summit here.

He said such a mission could be achieved by the private-public pertnership.

Dr Kalam said another problem staring in the face of the youth was the generation of employment for about 40 million people.

''That means our education system has to become entrepreneurial oriented, both in schools and colleges, so that we can create employment generators and not employment seekers.'' Such national needs concerning the welfare of a billion people must be discussed and debated and solutions found by the media for dissemination at the grassroots level, he argued.

Pointing out that India has 540 million under the age 25, he said the number would be continuously growing till the year 2050.

''Fortunately, India has a vision and has the youth power which is the engine that can give the thrust to the movement towards growth. Ignited minds of the youth are the most powerful resource compared to any other resource on the Earth, above the Earth and under the Earth,'' the President said.

Dr Kalam said in the 21st century, India needs a large number of talented youth with higher education for the task of knowledge acquisition, knowledge imparting, knowledge creation and knowledge sharing. ''I am working for it,'' he added.

He called upon the Universities and educational systems to create two cadres of personnel: a global cadre of skilled youth with specific knowledge of special skills and a global cadre of youth with higher education.

''These two cadres will be required not only for powering the manufacturing and services sector of India but also will be needed for fulfilling the human resource requirements of various countries.'' He set a target of 14 per cent increase throughout of the higher education from the existing 6 per cent by 2015, 30 per cent by 2020 and 50 per cent by 2040. Further, those left out in the higher education system should be skilled in areas such as carpentry, electricals, paramedical, paralegal and computers.

UNI SKS/NAZ Mir BD2110

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