Ensure continuity of women's education : President

Kolkata, Dec 6 (UNI) Observing that Indian women had ''tremendous opportunity'' for participating in nation building, President A P J Abdul Kalam today called for the need of empowering them by ensuring continuity of their education.

''We have to ensure the continuity of secondary education and university education for girls. Periodically, secondary level students should be counseled to continue their education both in diploma and degree level,'' he said while addressing the closing ceremony of Sesquicentennial celebrations of Calcutta Girls High School here.

Dr Kalam said it was essential to establish connectivity between the university and secondary schools, while distance education packages should be evolved to cater towards women education for reaching remote areas.

Describing women as the equal partners of their male counterparts in nation building, the President said they should take the responsibility of promoting a noble society.

''Women are equal partners in national development. You all have to get ready to take the responsibility of promoting a noble society,'' he said.

In today's world women were equally serving the nation in various professions, including in the army in the freezing temperature of Kargil, and many of them are doing pioneering work for application of science and technology to human welfare. ''These women who have performed pioneering work in their own area of specialisation should become role models for all of you,'' he said.

Dr Kalam said enlightened women were very important for nation building since their thoughts, the way of working and value system would lead to faster development of a good family, good society and a good nation. ''Thus, the women in our country have tremendous opportunity for participating in the development of the nation,'' he said.

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