Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayaraddi underlined the need for universities to accord priority to imparting quality education to help students become capable of getting jobs in an era of global competition.
Mr. Rayaraddi was speaking after unveiling a life-size statue of Krishnadevaraya installed in front of the administrative block of the Vijayanagar Sri Krishnadevaraya University to mark its seventh foundation day here on Tuesday.
“It is very unfortunate that casteism, nepotism, politics, corruption, among others, were dominating the affairs of the universities. On the other hand, the lack of leadership has not only overshadowed imparting of quality education but has also affected moral and social values. The State government has been spending crores of rupees on education. I appeal to vice-chancellors, registrars and faculty members to extend full cooperation to the efforts at imparting quality education for students to get gainfully employed by overcoming the challenges and global competition,” he said.
Stating that youth power was the only ray of hope for bringing changes in the country, he exhorted students to take up the cause by rising to the occasion.
Santosh Lad, Labour Minister and district in-charge Minister, promised all support and help for the university in getting additional land. He wanted it to accord priority to imparting quality education in the backward Hyderabad-Karnataka region.
Mr. Lad requested Mr. Rayaraddi to consider establishing an IIT sub-centre at the Nandihalli PG centre making use of the available infrastructure.
B. Sriramulu, MP, said that the purpose of establishing the university in Ballari during the Yeddyurappa regime was to provide a level-playing field for students from the backward Ballari and Koppal districts. He appealed to Mr. Rayaraddi to ensure that the university had all basic infrastructure to get the 12 B certificate from the University Grants Commission to enable its fast development and growth.
M.S. Subhas, Vice-Chancellor, welcomed the gathering.
Allum Veerbhadrappa, N.Y. Gopalkrishna and K.C. Kondaiah, all legislators, laid the foundation stone for a Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes women’s hostel, indoor sports complex and released the new courses to be started.
T.M. Bhaskar, Registrar (administration), proposed a vote of thanks.
