The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : “A State with vision can make lots of strides in education”

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Monday, Nov 30, 2009
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Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

“A State with vision can make lots of strides in education”

Special Correspondent

Kerala’s Education Minister M.A. Baby addresses seminar

— Photo S. Thanthoni

Kerala Education Minister M. A. Baby addressing a seminar.in Chennai on Sunday.

CHENNAI: A State government with vision can make strides in the field of education even if there are limitations and constraints, opined Kerala’s Education Minister M.A. Baby on Sunday.

In his valedictory address at a seminar on ‘Education for All,’ the Minister explained various measures taken by the Left Front government in Kerala which, he said, had “ensured a shift from the kind of aberration that existed in the field of education.”

The inculcation programme, he said, had identified 1,000 students of Standard VIII with an inclination for science and attached them with lecturers of various universities.

“In the next five years, they will have interactive sessions with the college teachers. Even if 50 per cent of the students decide to continue their studies in basic sciences, it will be a great contribution,” he said.

Likewise, the Education Department has invited great scientists, including Nobel laureates, to universities and teach the students under the erudition programme.

“Seven Nobel laureates have agreed to come. They will stay in the university campus for a couple of weeks and interact with the students. Next year, we will invite Professor Amartya Sen,” he said.

Mr. Baby said in a recent meeting with pensioners of the Indian Space Research Organisation that he had asked the retired scientists and technocrats to teach children in their neighbourhood.

“The programme is in incubation stage,” he said.

The Minister said Kerala had decided to adopt the noon-meal scheme programme of the Puducherry government and the scheme would even benefit poor students up to Standard X.

Another important initiative of the Education Ministry of Kerala, he said, was to admit all the SC/ST students and physically challenged students who seek admission in Standard XI.

Earlier, a resolution adopted in the meeting urged the Tamil Nadu government to allow the Parent Teachers Association to function in a democratic manner.

Another resolution wanted Vice-Chancellors to declare their assets before assuming office and after leaving the office.

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