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Policy revision for CENTAC programme soon

— Photo: T. Singaravelou

Discussing CHANGES: Minister for Education M.O.H.F. Shahjahan speaking at the Information Day of Alliance Francaise in Puducherry on Saturday. Consul-General of France in Pondicherry Joelle Rayet (right), preisdent of Alliance Francaise V. Nallam (left) and director of Alliance Francaise Michel Houdayer are in the picture.

PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry government will soon bring about a policy revision for the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) programme, Minister for Education M.O.H.F. Shahjahan said on Saturday.

Inaugurating the ‘Information Day’ celebrations at Alliance Francaise, the Minister said, “We are planning to revise the policy and expand the programme by adding more courses. The proposal will be tabled in the Cabinet.”

CENTAC carries out the admission to professional courses such as engineering and medical streams.

The government, along with the Azim Premji Foundation, was carrying out a research for “a total change in the education system” in Puducherry. “Children who learn in a more interactive manner secure better marks. So, we embarked on this computer-aided programme. The syllabus will remain the same and it will be implemented in schools,” Mr. Shahjahan told The Hindu shortly after inaugurating the celebrations.

While the government spent Rs. 60 lakh for the project, the foundation was investing Rs. 40 lakh, he said.

“The economy of Puducherry is rapidly growing at a GDP rate of 9 per cent. With this good acceleration of growth, our thrust areas are education, tourism and Information Technology (IT),” he said.

It was essential to build quality manpower. Software and BPO industries have to come up in Puducherry. “But the advantage of Puducherry is that it has a large amount of French-speaking population, which other States do not have. The IT industry in French-speaking countries are untapped markets. To bring IT companies to Puducherry, we need French-speaking persons with technical knowledge. Human resource is the raw material for IT industry and we need to develop this,” Mr. Shahjahan said.

For this, the government was creating a training centre, Rajiv Gandhi Knowledge Park, and would provide a subsidy to allow training institutions into the park. A language workshop would also be set up.

“Most of the multinational companies are looking for soft skills in the candidates. This is missing in our educational system and the park will allow institutions to provide training in spoken English and soft skills. The government will sponsor students by conducting examinations. “Through this, the students can have a knowledge shopping centre to help build their career,” Mr. Shahjahan said.

Good infrastructure for tourism and medical facilities to promote medical tourism were the other key areas of focus.

The French Consulate could bring in French BPOs and IT companies to the Union Territory, he said. Pondicherry University could also introduce distance learning programme in French.

Consul-General of France in Pondicherry Joelle Rayet, president of Alliance Francaise of Pondicherry V. Nallam, Dean of Pondicherry University R. Venguttaramane and director of Alliance Francaise Michel Houdayer spoke.

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