Utility-based education need of the hour: Jacob

Itanagar, Feb 22 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Governor M M Jacob today called for utility-based education to reverse the trend of ''throwing unemployed'' graduates by higher educational institutions.

Addressing a programme at the inaugural session of seventh conference of Higher&Technical Education (HTE) here today, he propagated the theory of ''research and teachers''.

''Former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was instrumental in setting up of 22 national laboratories to create scientific minds throughout the country for accelerating the growth process,'' he said adding the research theories should be taught to students who in turn would make themselves employable.

The Centre has started emphasising on higher education at a time when the country has been ranked among the 40 'scientifically proficient' nations of the total 192 as graded by the Rank Commission, Mr Jacob informed and called for pragmatic applicability of HTE to benefit Arunachal by utilising its rich natural resources.

Education Minister Chowna Mein stressed the need for diversified skill-oriented courses to face the global challenges, providing backward forward linkages between secondary and university level.

He also mentioned that with Rajiv Gandhi University (RGU) getting the much desired central varsity status, the Rs 8.59 crore annual grant of the university would remain unutilised for the expansion of HTE.

The governor gave away awards to Dr Rajendra Babu, Commerce, Indira Gandhi Govt. College, Tezu, Dr Shivananda Jha, Geography, Donyi-Polo Govt. College, Kamki and Dr. P C Panda, Geography, Dera Natung Govt. College, Itanagar for their outstanding endeavours besides academics.

UNI