Liberalise education sector: Shourie

Bilaspur, Oct 20 (UNI) Eminent journalist and former Union Minister Arun Shourie today called for liberalisation of the education sector to develop world-class higher education facilities in the country.

''The standard of higher education is declining. There is an urgent need to bring more quality in higher education,'' he said while speaking on 'Vision 2020' at a programme organised by Bilaspur Press Club.

Pointing out that Indians were spending about four billion dollars on education in foreign countries, Mr Shourie said, ''we can set up several institutions such as the Indian Institute of Technology and Indian Institute of Management by expending a part of the money spent on foreign education.'' Referring to education initiatives being taken by China, the ex-Minister said that the neighbouring Communist nation allocated Rs 500 crore each to 30 universities in order to make them world-class institutions of higher learning.

Moreover, two varsities in China have been allocated Rs 1,200 crore each for the purpose.

''China plans to have at least 100 world-class universities by 2050,'' he said and called for liberalisation of education while saying that the country needed such institutions and planned investment on manpower development.

UNI