UGC chairman calls for "inclusive education"

Chandigarh, July 28 (UNI) UGC Chairman Sukhadeo Thorat today stressed the need to have "inclusive education" so that all the marginalised sections of the society can get equal access to higher education.

"The endeavour of the government is to include everybody in higher education," Prof Sukhadeo Thorat said, while inaugurating 'Centre for the Study of Social Exclusion and Inclusive Policy' at Panjab University.

The Chairman said the UGC was committed to set up such special centres in different parts of the country, where the focus of research and teaching would be on inclusive growth.

He said the Centre would act as a conduit across different disciplines, and after making rigorous research, would give policy prescriptions to the respective governments in the North West region. The Centre would also act as a data bank, where relevant research reports, books, primary and secondary data would be maintained for the intrested scholars in the area.

Mr Thorat while expressing concern over disparity in the accessibility of higher education in the society, said that presently only 10 per cent of the students in the country go for higher education, which is a concern. He said that the Planning Commission had set a target that by the end of 11th Plan the National Average would be improve from 10 per cent to 15 per cent.

Panjab University Vice Chancellor R C Sobti in his welcome address said that with the establishment of this centre, PU would be able to focus on politics of exclusion and it will play interventionist role in bringing change in the North West region.

While demanding the Central university status for PU, the VC said "Time has come to recognise PU as a Central University." About the expansion plan of the University, the VC said the University is starting 17 new courses from this year, including Masters in Public Health and Masters in Social Work.

He also said that Sector 25 would soon emerge as a educational hub, as the Unversity had decided to build a business school, fashion designing school and hostels for the students.

The VC hoped that under the 11th plan, special grant would be given to the University for its expansion projects.

Prime Minister's Economic Advisory council Member GK Chadha, who presided over the inaugural function also advocated ''inclusive growth'' in the country. "Externally our country is shinning but we have to take stock of our internal situation also", he said.

UNI