The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Education system is directionless: Minister

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Mar 18, 2006

Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Education system is directionless: Minister

Staff Reporter

`We are still following policies formulated by Lord Macaulay'

TACKLING CHALLENGES: Higher Education Minister D.H. Shankaramurthy speaking to Principal Secretary of the department Shobha Nambisan at a seminar in Bangalore on Friday. Commissioner of Collegiate Education M.V. Jayanthi and Director of the departmen t K.V. Kodandaramaiah are seen. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

BANGALORE: India is still following the education policies formulated by Lord Macaulay during the 19th century, Higher Education Minister D.H. Shankaramurthy said here on Friday.

Inaugurating a conference and seminar on "Quality management: new challenges" here on Friday, he said: "Lord Macaulay wanted to create Brown Britishers. Even after gaining independence, we have not been able to devise our own pattern. This is why our education system is directionless," the Minister said.

He said the only objective of college education for most people seems to be to embark on a financially rewarding career. "When this is the case, our children will grow up to become doctors, engineers or policemen with the only agenda of making money," he added.

Members of the Karnataka State Government College Principals' Forum submitted to the Minister a memorandum with eight demands. They sought grants for government colleges for infrastructure improvement, steps to fill vacancies and appoint full-time lecturers, and recruitment of administrative staff.

Appointments

The memorandum said representatives of teachers should be appointed Joint Director and Assistant Director of the Department of Collegiate Education and the amendment to C&R Rules in this regard stayed.

Forum members said the Government should prepare guidelines for granting autonomy to government colleges and construct quarters for principals, physical education instructors, librarians and security personnel where possible.

Principal Secretary for Higher Education Shobha Nambisan, Commissioner of Collegiate Education M.V. Jayanthi, Director of the department K.V. Kodandaramaiah; Additional Director V. Kamalamma, and forum president B.L. Bhagyalakshmi were present.

The seminar was organised by the Karnataka State Government College Principals' Forum.

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