Madras Varsity VC calls for expanding higher education

Chennai, Feb 8 (UNI) Madras University Vice Chancellor S Ramachandran today called for expanding the scope of higher education to a large community of students, similar to foreign countries.

Inaugurating a national convention on ''Contemporary issues in higher education,'' organised at the Ethiraj College for Women here, Dr Ramachandran said it was saddening that only 12 per cent of students in the country become eligible to pursue higher education.

While 85 per cent of the students take up higher education in the US, it was 70 per cent in Canada and more than 60 per cent in other developed countries.

''Thus, on an average, 58 per cent of the youth pursue higher education in developed countries while it is about 36 per cent in developing countries like China, South Africa and Brazil.

''It's a saddening fact that in India, only 12 per cent of youth are eligible to pursue higher education,'' he said.

He said higher education had assumed intellectual importance due to globalisation.

''Though our country's population can be considered as a weakness, it can be even projected as a power for economic and social development in the country.

''In today's scenario, higher education has to be analysed in a global context,'' he added.

Quoting 'Knowledge Commission', he said at least 35 per cent of youth should pursue higher education in India in the next 20 years and it should reach at least 15 per cent in the first phase.

''This will require at least 1,500 universities and an investment of Rs 74,000 crore in the country,'' Dr Ramachandran said and expressed hope this could be achieved through joining hands with private institutions.

UNI