Educational system in the country warrants a revolution. The link between degree and vocation must be established to expedite India’s progress, P.K. Shukla, Commissioner of Income Tax, Tiruchi, said on Tuesday.
China has surged ahead of India in higher educational scenario over the past decade due to its emphasis on identifying courses for students entering into higher education in accordance with their aptitude and human resource requirement, Mr. Shukla pointed out, addressing the Founder’s Day celebration of the Urumu Dhanalakshmi Vidyalaya Higher Secondary School.
Only when the educated section in the country comes forward to teach the underprivileged with zeal can the reach of higher education be expanded. The dismal gross enrolment ratio in higher education does not augur well for the country. Freedom and justice can be exercised in full measure only when there are more literates. Educated masses constitute the real capital of the country, he said, stressing that that the allocation for education must be enhanced substantially in tune with the global average.
Reminding teachers of their responsibility to infuse quality into education, he advocated maximum utilisation of the Internet and libraries to stay ahead of the system. In a fast changing world they would turn redundant otherwise, he cautioned, urging teachers to strike a personal rapport with students and the students to perennially keep their minds open for learning. "Libraries are the first place to develop liking for books."
In the scenario of commercialisation of education, the philanthropy of the Urumu Seshachalam Chettiar Charities (USCC) that governs the management of the school and provides free education to the underprivileged was commendable, Mr. Shukla said. (The USCC also runs the Urumu Dhanalakshmi College, Urumu Dhanalakshmi Elementary School, Urumu Dhanalakshmi Chettiyar Orphanage, and Lachmandas Hospital).
A Plus Two student Karthikeyan owed the continuity of his education after standard VI to the USCC. Sokkalingam and Karthick, Philanthropists, who have been extending their support to the growth of the school, were honoured by Mr. Shukla on the occasion.
S.M. Suriyakumar, Professor of Economics, Urumu Dhanalakshmi College, introduced Mr. Shukla to the gathering.
The president of the UDC Council, G.R. Kalki Varadarajulu, and the College Principal K. Sekar, offered felicitations. M.R. Subramanian, Secretary, UDC Council, Mothi S. Pattabhiraman, Vice-President, and Mothi R. Srinivasan, Joint Secretary took part.
