The human development index and gross enrolment ratio of students in Tamil Nadu is better than the national average, said Apurva Varma, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, here on Thursday.
Addressing students of Dindigul and Ramanathapuram regional centres of Anna University during a programme organised to distribute free laptops, he said “the national average of gross enrolment ratio is 13 per cent whereas it is18 per cent in Tamil Nadu.”
Similarly, the human development index in Tamil Nadu is higher than that of the nation.
P. Kaliraj, Vice-Chancellor, Anna University, said all the regional centres of the university would get hostel facilities soon.
P. Palaniappan, Minister for Higher Education, said the State Government wanted to take the gross enrolment ratio of students to 25 per cent.
Last year, Rs 1000 crore was allocated for procurement of laptops and this year Rs. 1500 crore had been allocated.
“Education alone is not enough for the students; they should cultivate soft skills and discipline,” he said.
Cynthia Pandian, Vice-Chairperson, Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education, advised the students to use the laptops for educational activities.
Madurai Mayor V.V. Rajan Chellapa and K. Sivakumar, Director of Anna University’s Madurai regional centre, were present.
