New Delhi: M M Pallam, HRD Minister, Government of India, has said we should focus on equity and excellence in education. Mr Pallam was speaking at the meeting of the Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), held on April 2, 2013. State education ministers, university vice-chancellors, heads of different education boards and academicians participated in the meeting.
Talking about the need of higher education in India, Mr Pallam stressed on a participatory approach in which the central and state governments, along with the academics and autonomous institutions, should join hands for a greater cause of education in the country. He also said that education is not only meant to get certificates and degrees, it is an ultimate source using which students can achieve whatever they seek. So, it’s the duty of educational institutions and teachers to render concept based and productive education.
CABE is also expected to discuss on the need for a national testing agency, which will conduct a host of national level examination, such as UGC NET, GATE, AIEEE and IIT Mains (JEE). As per the officials, the centralized body could be created through a special purpose vehicle and it would not be binding the different examination bodies to join in it. The agency could be established on a voluntary basis, officials further added.
Besides reviewing the implementation of the Right to Education and ICT in higher education, the meeting would also discuss the proposed education commission, the setting up of which was announced by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in his speech on Independence Day in 2011. Moreover, a draft note has already been prepared about the outlines of the proposed body as well as the terms and reference.
