UGC should give place to new regulatory body:Sam Pitroda

New Delhi, Jan 8 (UNI) Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda today said bodies like the University Grants Commission would have to give place to a proper regulatory authority if private participation in education was coming.

If those bodies have resisted the idea, it is their right but they should realise that education scenario had changed and expansion of facilities would require private participation, hence, of course, regulation, he said replying to a question at a press conference here.

The business of such bodied should not be just giving grants, but to worry about the quality too, he said.

When asked whether, the Knowledge Commission reports had been used by the government, Mr Pitroda said the 11th plan was all about knowledge, and pointed out that ''Never has such a massive resource allocation been made to the education sector.'' He said there was complete political consenus on knowlege being the main driver of econmoy and development.

Replying to a question, he said, coming in of the private sector did not mean that the government should withdraw. In fact the governmemt should expand its role in education, but have private sector too where feasible and needed.

He said India will have to create its own model of learning which should be low cost, and technology was going to play a main role in this task.

''Expansion, excellence and equity should be the aim of our educational efforts,'' added Mr Pitroda.

Mr Pitroda said the Knowledge Commission was going to present its next annual report to the Prime Minister on january 18 or 19, and this time its focus was on legal and medical education.

UNI NAZ SHB AS2000