The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : ‘Higher education must be inclusive’

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Thursday, Mar 20, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Higher education must be inclusive’

Staff Reporter

The 2012 target for the gross enrolment ratio has been set at 15 per cent
‘Focus should be on increasing enrolment
in rural areas’

Bangalore: Only 10 per cent of the total student population in the country go for higher education, said H.A. Ranganath, Vice-Chancellor of Bangalore University.

He was speaking after inaugurating the orientation programme on the policies and programmes of the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) for college principals and teachers here on Tuesday. The programme was organised by the university’s Directorate College Development Council.

Prof. Ranganath said that as per the UGC’s 11th plan, the target for the gross enrolment ratio has been set at 15 per cent, which should be achieved by 2012. “The number of universities, colleges, students and even teachers has increased. The enrolment ratio has also increased. However, we should take steps to increase it further,” he said.

He said that the enrolment ratio is indicative of the country’s economic status. The ratio in the U.S. was around 60 per cent, while it was around 40 per cent in the European countries. “We still have a long way to go. We need to devise ways to increase enrolment ratio in the rural areas. The system needs to be strengthened,” he said.

He urged the principals and teachers to send proposals to the UGC. “There is no dearth of funds for these activities in the UGC’s 11th Plan,” he added.

Prof. Ranganath also spoke about the problems that the increasing number of affiliated colleges posed to the university. “Over the past 50 years, the number of universities has increased from 20 to cross 350,” he said. He stressed on the need for a policy to make higher education inclusive.

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