Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Monday called for a re-look into the way students are trained in colleges and schools, and said there is need to move away from textbook knowledge and instead, focus on open debates.
Addressing the 55th Annual Prize Distribution ceremony at Shyam Lal College the Vice President said, “There is a need to move away from textbook knowledge, rigid ideas and examination marks and to focus on well informed, open debates.”
He asked to replace the higher education lectures with case studies, role plays, problem solving techniques and develop newer teaching methods to enhance employability .
Expressing concern over the poor global ranking of Indian institutions, the Vice President said, “Our quest for excellence in education would remain unfulfilled if we fail to achieve international standards in higher education.”
Talking about India’s demographic dividend, Naidu stressed on the need to educate the burgeoning youth population and equip them with employable skills to harness the power of India’s youth and make the country a global leader.
He also suggested increasing investment in education from the current 3 per cent of GDP to at least 6 per cent by 2022, as recommended by the NITI Aayog.
The Vice President also said he wants institutions, especially schools in rural areas, to not only ensure 100 per cent enrolment but also make sure that all children learn at a high level of proficiency and ensure that no child is left behind.