Higher education require to be accessible to all

The earlier judge of the Supreme Court and earlier chairman of the Law Commission of India, Justice A R Lakshmanan, expressed concern over four important problems that confront the education system in India. The pattern of learning, government control over universities, restrictions put by our Constitution and the problem of acquisition of knowledge are hindrances in dissemination of learning to citizens, Lakshmanan said at the valedictory function of the All India Vice-Chancellors’ conference on Sunday.

The three-day conference concluded at the Bharati Vidyapeeth deemed university on Sunday.

Lakshmanan touched upon various shortcomings in the learning system of the country and said, “The problem is very complex in India. The government has asked all universities to begin correspondence courses in various disciplines. Distance education seeks to disseminate knowledge, but there are constraints inherent in the process and cannot serve the needs of those who desire to have knowledge of science and technology, the rudiments of which cannot be comprehended without the use of laboratories, machines etc. Also, letters courses lack one vital thing, viz, the private touch between the teacher and the taught,” Lakshmanan said.

Shivajirao Kadam, the vice-chancellor of Bharati Vidyapeeth, M D Tiwari, president, Association of Indian Universities among others were present at the valedictory function.

Lakshamanan further added, “Our learning system needs to be revamp in the areas of higher education. Higher education needs to be made evenly accessible to all through progressive introduction of free education. The greatest problems that the system of higher education faces are ragging and politicizing of the campus. Terrorizing and harassing innocent victims under the name of ragging have greatly affected the system.”

Kadam said, “In this era of knowledge economy, Indian universities have to gear up to meet the challenges that will be pose due to the arrival of the foreign universities. The thrust has to be on improving quality of learning by innovation and educational advancement.”

Tiwari said that the suggestion and inputs provide by the participate vice-chancellors have been taken into consideration and will be deliberated on by the relevant authorities to ensure proper implementation

Source: http://www.ablsc.com/distance-education/higher-education-require-to-be-accessible-to-all/#comment-36100