The Hindu : Front Page : Total literacy should be State’s target: Thakur

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Friday, Nov 02, 2007
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Total literacy should be State’s target: Thakur

Special Correspondent

‘Government should realise the importance of imparting quality and purposeful education’

Bangalore: Despite its achievements on various development fronts, the State should make all-out efforts to achieve cent per cent literacy, Governor Rameshwar Thakur has said.

Delivering a speech at the 51st Rajyotsava celebrations at the Sri Kanteerava Outdoor Stadium here on Thursday, Mr. Thakur said that the education being imparted by many institutions across the State was outdated. The Government should realise the importance of imparting quality and purposeful education that could respond to the social needs of the day. It should take steps to ensure all children below 14 years are covered under school education, he added.

It was a relief to note that the number of dropouts had been coming down owing to efforts of those concerned, he said. Programmes such as providing free textbooks, uniform, midday meal, bicycles to boys and girls, free-ship and scholarships had been serving and encouraging the cause of primary education and helping the administration in bringing down the number of school dropouts, Mr. Thakur said.

The State had carved a niche in the field of higher education by establishing new universities. Many premier educational institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science, Indian Institute of Astrophysics and Indian Institute of Management and establishments such as ISRO, DRDO, DFRL, NIAS and CFTRI had been attracting students from across the country and abroad and made the State proud, he said.

History

Tracing the history of the State, which was once spread out between the “Kavery” and “Godavary” as specified in the “Kaviraja Marga” authored by the first Kannada emperor Nrupatunga, from the ninth century, Mr. Thakur recalled the contribution of dynasties such as Kadamba, Ganga, Rashtrakuta, Chalukya and Hoysala, and writers, scientists and educationists for the development of the State at various junctures. He paid rich tributes to Kittur Rani Channamma, Tipu Sultan and Rani Abbakakdevi.

Over 2,500 students from various schools presented cultural and gymnastic events.

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