Former UGC Chairman Sukhdev Thorat advocated a common hostel system for all students to counter social differences and promote co-existence of students from various social backgrounds, to encourage them to understand each other better.
Prof. Thorat was speaking at a seminar on “Dr. Ambedkar’s Vision and Works on Education: Relevance in our times,” organised by the Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) here on Friday. He said Dr. B. R. Ambedkar believed that education was a tool to fight social inequalities, thus leading to development of the nation.
Stressing on quality of education to all, he said that only the poorer sections like the SCs and STs were now studying in the government sector while the rich opted for the private sector. Differences within the society could be bridged if quality education was extended to everyone. He said that Telangana’s enrolment in higher education was at 36-38% against the national average of around 27% ; which was a good sign.
The TSCHE chairman, T. Papi Reddy said the TS was committed to quality education to all and the launching of 250 SC residential schools, 119 BC residential schools and 220 minority residential schools were an indication of the Chief Minister’s dream in pursuit of quality education.
