The Hindu Business Line : Restructure education system, says Pitroda

Chennai May 13 India is change-phobic in matters concerning its education system. If this trend were to continue, it would lose its edge in the global economy.

This was the essence of a pre-recorded speech by Mr Sam Pitroda, Chairman, National Knowledge Commission (NKC), played during the inauguration of a seminar on `De-learn to relearn: Redefining the architecture of education'.

Referring to the recently published `Report to the Nation 2006', Mr Pitroda said the recommendations made in the report concerning access to education, changes in teaching methods, digital connectivity and many other issues had not got the attention they deserved.

"There is little enthusiasm in India for change... .We are so locked up in our existing processes, that we do not want to change. We (at NKC) have seen this with the University Grants Commission, Ministry of Human Resource Development, the information technology body and others," he said.

He stressed on the need for mobilising change agents who could kick-start the education restructuring process, else "it would cost us dearly".

Among the changes suggested in the report, Mr Pitroda, in his speech, touched upon areas like the need to open up university level research, modernisation of libraries and innovative content delivery mechanisms in teaching.

Fr. Casimir Raj S.J., Director, Xavier Labour Relations Institute, Jamshedpur, stressed on constant curriculum updates and the need to imbibe inquisitiveness and research orientation among students at the primary education level.

He said knowledge could not be restricted only to the IITs and IIMs and that the Government must encourage value added private education, even if it came at a cost. "Private education institutions must be exempted from tax so that they have funds to focus on research," he said.

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