Saturday, May 30, 2009
Kapil Sibal
Kapil Sibal said "Nothing is static. We have to march forward to be able to compete at the international level".
IMO: How very wise and true.
Programmes in the education sector initiated by previous HRD Minister Arjun Singh will not be scrapped, Kapil Sibal today said as he assumed charge as HRD Minister. After taking over, Sibal said the policies and programmes started by the HRD Ministry during last five years will be continued with modifications "as required".
The "Economic Times" says that "human resource development ministry has finally got a proactive Cabinet minister in Kapil Sibal, known to have a modern outlook to reforms in education. In his very first statement to ET Sibal made it clear he would give equal weightage to both “quality and access” while reforming the education system. This is particularly needed in higher education where quality has suffered because of the previous regime’s refusal to accept best practices. The HRD ministry disregarded constructive suggestions from the Knowledge Commission set up by the PMO. The commission said the higher education system needed around 1,500 universities nationwide, that would enable India to attain a gross enrolment ratio of at least 15% by 2015."
IMO: Fair enough to the idea that India needs 1500 new Universities, one of which is highly likely to be mine. As India is a developing nation it obviously needs my contribution.
But the "Economic Times" also says "A completely outdated regulatory regime run largely by babus created huge stumbling blocks to foreign universities wanting to enter India. Hopefully, the new HRD minister will jettison the old ways and make India’s higher education robust and benchmark it with the best globally. This will help upgrade skills at a time when India is trying to insulate itself from the impact of global recession."
IMO: Well I am not necessarily sure of all that. Undue foreign influence is not advised, but India certainly needs 1500 new Universities. But India is a tolerant Hindu nation. So-called "faith schools" or "Christian universities" may spread foreign dogma. Independent education, allowing the traditional Hindu virtues including abstinence from alcohol and cigarettes, the strong encouragement of vegetarianism, freedom of worship etc should be almost a prerequisite. Our own "Institute for Fundamental Studies" which concentrates on postgraduate research, has prominently in its small Mumbai headquarters, idols of the Lord Shiva, Parvati, Hanuman and others. But when appropriate, freethinkers, sceptics and other relevant researchers are also welcomed and encouraged. To briefly sum it up, universities like say Columbia, and scholars like, for example John Baez, might be encouraged, but some perhaps may be inopportune.
IMO: How very wise and true.
Programmes in the education sector initiated by previous HRD Minister Arjun Singh will not be scrapped, Kapil Sibal today said as he assumed charge as HRD Minister. After taking over, Sibal said the policies and programmes started by the HRD Ministry during last five years will be continued with modifications "as required".
The "Economic Times" says that "human resource development ministry has finally got a proactive Cabinet minister in Kapil Sibal, known to have a modern outlook to reforms in education. In his very first statement to ET Sibal made it clear he would give equal weightage to both “quality and access” while reforming the education system. This is particularly needed in higher education where quality has suffered because of the previous regime’s refusal to accept best practices. The HRD ministry disregarded constructive suggestions from the Knowledge Commission set up by the PMO. The commission said the higher education system needed around 1,500 universities nationwide, that would enable India to attain a gross enrolment ratio of at least 15% by 2015."
IMO: Fair enough to the idea that India needs 1500 new Universities, one of which is highly likely to be mine. As India is a developing nation it obviously needs my contribution.
But the "Economic Times" also says "A completely outdated regulatory regime run largely by babus created huge stumbling blocks to foreign universities wanting to enter India. Hopefully, the new HRD minister will jettison the old ways and make India’s higher education robust and benchmark it with the best globally. This will help upgrade skills at a time when India is trying to insulate itself from the impact of global recession."
IMO: Well I am not necessarily sure of all that. Undue foreign influence is not advised, but India certainly needs 1500 new Universities. But India is a tolerant Hindu nation. So-called "faith schools" or "Christian universities" may spread foreign dogma. Independent education, allowing the traditional Hindu virtues including abstinence from alcohol and cigarettes, the strong encouragement of vegetarianism, freedom of worship etc should be almost a prerequisite. Our own "Institute for Fundamental Studies" which concentrates on postgraduate research, has prominently in its small Mumbai headquarters, idols of the Lord Shiva, Parvati, Hanuman and others. But when appropriate, freethinkers, sceptics and other relevant researchers are also welcomed and encouraged. To briefly sum it up, universities like say Columbia, and scholars like, for example John Baez, might be encouraged, but some perhaps may be inopportune.
# posted by uv : 6:39 AM
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