Access to higher education is still a privilege in India: President

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Dona Paula: While appealing the students to remember the contribution of the countless people contributing for the universities, President of India Ram Nath Kovind today said that access to the higher education is still a privilege in India.

“I request young man and woman to bear in mind that access to higher education is   a still a privilege in India. It is the contribution of countless citizens many of whom will not even know you personally that sustain institutions such as Goa university,” Kovind said addressing the 30th Annual Convocation of Goa University.

Goa Governor and Chancellor of University Mridula Sinha and Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar were also present for the convocation which conferred degrees for 9,000 odd students.

Addressing the convocation, Kovind said that  travelling across the country, he has been  struck with the tenacity and academic outcomes of our girl students.

“This is a game changer for our society. Goa’s promotion of girls’ education is a model for other states. The performance of girl students at Goa university is an example,” he said.

Referring to the convocation today, the President said 60 per cent of the students here are girls and 63 per cent of the toppers an d medalists at today’s ceremony are girls.

“I am told that of the 67 gold medals, 41 have been won by girl students,” he said adding that this  is an outstanding achievement not just for university and Goa but for the entire country.

The President told the students that as you go into the world and built your careers do remember that do try and give back to the society in whatever manner you can, or wish to.

“Education is empowerment, it is not only helps us to know our world better but also enables us to think of ways to changing the world  for better,” he said.

Kovind said that if we consider higher education scenario in the country. “There are three indicators to note. First there is a greater emphasis by the government and other stakeholders in making higher education inclusive and expansive,” the President of India said.

Kovind said India has world’s third largest education system. “But it also serves largest youth population. India has made impressive gains in widening in higher education eco system,” he said.

The President said that the very fact that many new institutions including central universities and IITs are being established in hitherto under served locations illustrates the national commitment to take higher education to the masses.

“Expanding quantity has to be complimented by the quality. This is where the greater challenge exists. As technology advances and society is grappled with the implication of the industrial revolution, higher education has to be adapt to new expectation,” he said.

Kovind said that the universities have to sensitive to inter disciplinary and cross disciplinary pathways without losing the site of the core of disciplinary knowledge. “Quality has to be visible not only in the content of what is being taught and learnt but also in how it is being taught and learnt,” he said.

“Our university has to compete not against each other but against itself,” he added.

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