President Pranab Mukherjee, the chief guest of the 45th Convocation of the Utkal University here on Thursday, in his address dealt with the entire gamut of quality, quantity and affordability issues related to the existing higher education scenario in the country.
Mukherjee pointed out that the 2.6 crore students in the higher education segment at present would grow to 3.6 crore by the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period and called for expanded infrastructure including more universities and augmentation of seats in the existing ones to meet the demand. At the same time, he pointed out that the growth in the numbers must not be at the cost of the quality of education which has been detected by the Knowledge Commission in its report in 2006. He rued that not a single university of the country figures among the Global Top 200. He also emphasised that absence of faculty can no longer be an excuse for low quality of education.
Citing affordability of higher education as an issue, the President suggested measures like scholarships and study loans in ample numbers and amounts to ensure that the deserving students are not deprived of opportunity for higher education because of lack of money.
Mukherjee expressed his dissatisfaction over the very low rate of enrolment in the higher education system. In India, it is only 7 per cent for the 18-24 years age group while it is 21 per cent in Germany and 34 per cent in the US. He suggested that building accessibility would be an important exercise in inclusion and recommended adoption of technology and better teaching methodology for the purpose. Mukherjee saw education as the way to economic development and a key means of fostering the spirit of innovation.
He also referred to the current spate of crimes against women as an indicator of the lack of emphasis in value education and urged the managers of education to rectify the situation quickly. In his short speech, Mukherjee mentioned the glorious records of the Utkal University and recounted the efforts of the eminent sons of the soil which have resulted in the university being established 70 years ago. He also referred to the late Biju Patnaik and his achievements in glowing terms. Governor Dr SC Jamir, who is the Chancellor of the university, congratulated the Vice-Chancellor for the achievements of the university and spoke of the need to reform, restructure and rejuvenate.
He listed out major achievements of the university which included the introduction of the Choice-Based Credit Semester System. Guest of Honour Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik referred to the steps of the State Government that have made the State a destination of higher education in Eastern India in recent years.
He said the youth constitute a significant proportion of the population and referred to the State’s Youth Policy on the anvil which would focus on their all-round growth. President Mukherjee conferred prestigious Honoris Causa on eminent neurologist Dr Sanatan Rath and former Chairperson of State Human Rights Commission Justice Radha Krushna Patra. Art of living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar was also conferred the honour in absentia. Vice-Chancellor Prof Prashant Kumar Sahoo presented his report highlighting the achievements of the university on various fronts.
A total of 94 gold medals and 229 PhDs were handed over at the convocation. Barring the brief stampede in the convocation hall before the President arrived which damaged the air-conditioning system the proceedings passed off peacefully.