There is need for qualitative improvement in the standards of higher education in the State. The State’s Higher Education Minister Indira Hridayesh said this while speaking at a two-day national seminar on the challenges and possibilities for education in mountainous areas. The minister inaugurated the seminar along with Kumaon University vice chancellor HS Dhami and academician Pushpesh Pant.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Higher Education Minister stressed on the need for qualitative change in the education system and making it more profession-oriented in order to keep abreast of changing times. She said, “In addition to theoretical knowledge, education should also include aspects that enable students to secure employment in their chosen profession after passing out from colleges. There has been a change in the thinking regarding higher education in foreign nations. We will need to bring about positive changes in our working style and action plan considering the quality of higher education provided by enterprises in the private sector. In the present times, there is also a need for incorporating digital education in the education process. The new concept of paperless education has become well established in foreign nations. We too will have to works in this direction,” she said.
The minister recalled that earlier there were only 25 colleges in Uttarakhand whereas now this number has increased to 95. Since the teacher is the central point of the education system, the process for appointments to vacant posts of lecturers in the colleges of the State. Teachers will soon be appointed for all the subjects in the various colleges of the State in the near future, claimed Hridayesh. She further informed the gathering that all the universities functioning in Uttarakhand have been asked to work on the concept of skill development.
Addressing the gathering on the occasion, the Kumaon University vice chancellor Prof HS Dhami said that universities across the nation are awarding graduate and post graduate degrees as per the old pattern. The vice chancellor said, “Simply awarding academic degrees will not do. The universities need to facilitate education based on public concerns Uttarakhand has a rich culture, literature, folk traditions and folk tales apart from a wealth of medicinal herbs, all of which need to be researched. Education based on these subjects can have considerable impact at the national and international levels,” he said.
Speaking on the occasion, noted academician Prof Pushpesh Pant pointed out that primary level education is the foundation of higher education. He said, “News about the level of the knowledge of teachers and students in primary schools have become quite common nowadays. This makes is necessary to initiate effective action for achieving the desired level of improvement in the quality of primary education in order to effect the desired improvement in higher education,” he stressed.
Academicians and students from various institutions apart from officials were also among those present on the occasion.