From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Mysuru, Oct 19: Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid stress on skilling, reskilling and upskilling and said they were the focal points of the new National Educational Policy.
Addressing the historic centenary convocation of the Mysore University via video conferencing on Tuesday, Modi said skilling, reskilling and upskilling were the needs of the day and must be given prominence in the country’s educational system as part of the drive to make India a global hub for higher education.
The Prime Minister laid emphasis on National Education Policy and its reach to develop the country into a global hub for development of higher education.
"The National Education Policy (NEP) is a huge campaign to bring fundamental changes to the entire education setup of the country, from pre-nursery to Ph.D. In order to make the youth of our country more capable and competitive, the focus is on a Multidimensional Approach,’’ he said.
In the last six years, Modi said a new IIT has been opened every year and 7 new IIMs have been installed in the last 5 to 6 years. More than 15 AIIMS have been established in the country after 2014.
Efforts to enhance higher education in the last 5 to 6 years are not limited to opening new institutes, but also to ensure reform to be made in government to gender and social participation, the Prime Minister said.
The Prime Minister said: "Even after so many years of independence, there were 16 IITs in the country before 2014. On average, a new IIT has been opened every year in the last six years. One IIT opened in Dharwad in Karnataka. In the subsequent 5 years, 16 IITs will be built."
Modi connected with the students through the virtual mode from New Delhi where he spoke about NEP, new IIMs, the opening of new higher institutes.
Modi made references to Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar, M Visweswaraiah, and National Poet Kuvempu during his address and wished that their vision should be an inspiration in building a New India.
Karnataka’s Deputy Chief Minister Dr C N Ashwatha Narayana, who is also the minister of Higher Education, participated in the function to represent the State Government and awarded convocation certificates to the students.
The convocation was virtually attended by the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala. Prof G Hemantha Kumar, Vice-Chancellor of the University, along with other dignitaries including members of the syndicate and the academic council, MPs, MLAs, MLCs, statutory officers, district officers, and students and parents.
The University conferred the honorary doctorate on Infosys Foundation chairperson and author Sudha Murthy during the convocation.
The Prime Minister’s address and the function was streamlined live on the official website of the University along with its YouTube channel and Facebook page for the audience at Crawford Hall in the administrative block.