PM seeks quantum jump in science education
Visakhapatnam (PTI): Flagging the government's intention to "rejuvenate" science education, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Thursday said the time has come for action in making a "quantum jump" asserting that the country cannot afford to "miss the bus."
Declaring that this agenda could no longer wait, Singh also called upon the academia and the scientific community to make 2008 the year of revitalising science education in India.
The Prime Minister's assessment of science education and research in the country came when he inaugurated the 95th Indian Science Congress here at the sprawling Andhra University campus in this coastal city.
He said the Centre would work with state governments and universities to launch a new revolution in modern education, especially science education.
"We cannot afford to miss the bus nor can we afford to delay matters further. The time has come for action... Let us make the year 2008 the year of revitalising science education in India," Singh said.
"I urge our science community to show us the way ahead. We need a quantum jump in science education and research. This agenda can no longer wait," he told 6,000 delegates from India and abroad participating in the five-day session.
Observing that science must be made a preferred discipline of study for students, he said the country must attract the best and the brightest to science.
"Tried and tested methods will not suffice. We need creative thinking, out-of-the-box solutions. The academic community too must be willing to think creatively," he told the scientists.
