Article from The Hindu: Sent to you by koraputonline

=============================================================
This article has been sent to you by koraputonline ( koraputonline@gmail.com )
=============================================================
Source: The Hindu (http://www.hinduonnet.com/2009/08/30/stories/2009083054390300.htm)
Other States
-
Orissa
  

Kapil Sibal inaugurates Central University in Koraput


Ch.Santakar

Education Bill is a milestone in offering right kind of growth for children

Concern over large number of students dropping outRs. 31,000 crore for supporting State universities


— Photo: PTI

Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal and Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the university inaugural function at Koraput on Saturday.


KORAPUT: “The people of Koraput region deserved a Central University and it was we who have delayed it” said Kapil Sibal ,Union Minister, Human Resource Development (HRD), while inaugurating the Central University here at a function organised in the premises of Nishani Munda at Koraput on Saturday. Expressing concern over the large number of students dropping out in the higher education he said that out of each 100 students that get enrolled in the first year of higher education only 12 students reach up to the graduation level in the country. The Right to Education Bill which was passed recently is a milestone to offer the right kind of growth for the children . Central University of Orissa was the beginning in the list of a great many measures that the government was keen in implementing to facilitate qualitative education all across the nation, he said.

Migration of youth
The number of schools and colleges have been increased to many folds over the years. While there were only 20 universities with 450 colleges and 1 lakh students at the time of independence, there are more than 480 universities with 22,000 colleges catering to more than 1.25 crore students and 5 lakh teachers all over the country at the moment. But the quality of education was needed to be improved, he asserted.
For this reason the government had kept Rs. 31, 000 crore for supporting the State universities in the country to see that quality education was given to students. Highlighting the problem of migration of youth to other countries, he said that about 1.6 lakh students go abroad every year for higher studies. Efforts have now been made by inviting private partners from the inland and overseas to open high quality educational centres in a partnership mode with the government.
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, while highlighting the efforts of his government in reaching out to tribal girls , said that 1,000 girls hostels were opened this year for giving education to at least 1 lakh girls in the State. The State government would extend all its support to the initiations made by the Union Minister for improvement of education in the State, he added.
Among others, Bhupinder Singh , leader of opposition ,State Legislative Assembly of Orissa and other dignitaries also spoke.


Copyright: 1995 - 2006 The Hindu
Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly
prohibited without the consent of The Hindu