The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Universal education should be the motto, says S.R. Nayak

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Monday, Jul 14, 2008
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Universal education should be the motto, says S.R. Nayak

Staff Reporter

‘Varsities failed to achieve objectives of education’
‘Acquiring education cannot be confined to rich’

— Photo: K. Murali Kumar

Spreading awareness: S.R. Nayak along with G.K. Govinda Rao (left) and V.T. Rajashekar at a seminar in Bangalore on Sunday.

Bangalore: Commercialisation of education is an “anathema to equity and social responsibility,” Karnataka Human Rights Commission Chairperson S .R. Nayak said here on Sunday.

The State is under a constitutional mandate to provide educational institutions and facilities to all sections of society. The opportunity to acquire education cannot be confined to the rich, said Mr. Nayak speaking at seminar on “Social justice in the education sector” organised by the Students Islamic Organisation of India, Karnataka Zone.

He said: “Universal education should be the motto.” The modern concept of participatory democracy demands that every citizen should be educated. Youth cannot afford to be “silent onlookers” if they are interested in strengthening the fibre of democracy, and students should contribute their expertise, knowledge and skill to society.

“Democracy in its true sense is impossible without the effective participation of the citizens. This can only happen with the creation of certain conditions: participation in politics, leadership training and inculcation of values.”

Despite the large number of universities and institutes that have come up since Independence, he said, they have failed to achieve the basic objectives of education. Education should serve three primary functions: inculcate an intellectual curiosity among the students, enrich the development of character and produce responsible citizens, he added.

Mr. Nayak said that the present day education was disappointing. Teachers and students on strike and malpractice in examinations are “tarnishing” the image of educational institutes.

“The old reputation and fame of universities and colleges must be restored,” he added

Speaking of the commercialisation and communalisation of education, V.T. Rajshekhar, editor of Dalit Voice said: “When there is no social justice in the country, how can we expect social justice in the education sector?” It has been months since the Sachar committee submitted its report on the social and economic status of Muslims in the country, but none of its recommendations have been implemented so far.

He said: “The Constitution has given priority to social justice, placing it over political justice. This is because those who are denied social justice — Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes and Muslims — together make up 85 per cent of the population. There is a systematic effort to keep these sections of society backward by denying them social justice.”

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