Centre to bear one-third cost on skill development

Bhopal, Oct 8 (UNI) The Centre will bear one-third expenditure on expansion of quality education and skill development in educational institutions, Human Resources Development Ministry Secretary R P Agrawal said today.

The HRD ministry has earmarked Rs 6,500 crore for skill development and imparting quality education during the 11th Five Year Plan, Mr Agrawal said at a function here to mark foundation stone laying of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research and the School of Planning and Architecture.

Union Minister for HRD Arjun Singh laid the foundation stone for both institutes being set up at Bhounri village near here at a cost of Rs 500 cr. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was earlier scheduled to be the chief guest at the function, but he did not turn up due to his preoccupation with ''necessary meetings''.

Mr Agrawal said 19.5 per cent of the total outlay of Eleventh Five Year Plan was earmarked for education. With a view to impart quality education, a number of prestigious institutes like IIT, IIM, NIT, IISER and IIIT were being set up across the country.

Six new IITs, one IIM , 5 IISER and the second School of Planning and Architecture have started functioning. It was also planned to start a National Mission on Education, he said.

Refresher courses for the faculty was being organised during the summer season facilitating about 20,000 teachers, Mr Agrawal added.

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