Basavaraj Rayaraddy, Minister for Higher Education, has said that the State government was contemplating seeking World Bank assistance for improving facilities and amenities in degree colleges and polytechnics in the State in a bid to provide quality education.
“After assuming charge as Minister, I got a survey conducted with regard to status of degree colleges and polytechnics covering all aspects, including staff position, facilities and amenities available. According to an estimate, around Rs. 3,000 crore were needed to improve all facilities and amenities for imparting quality education. Seeking World Bank assistance came to my mind. I will take up the issue with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, during the review of my department on Friday, and get approval,” Mr. Rayaraddi told presspersons here recently.
To a question, he said that Manmohan Singh, former Prime Minister, had given approval to Madhya Pradesh to get World Bank assistance. “Similarly, we will approach Prime Minister Narendra Modi to give us the needed approval to approach World Bank for assistance,” he added.
He reiterated that he had requested Prakash Javadekar, Union Minister for Human Resource Development, to allot a 25 per cent quota in seats for students of the State aspiring to join the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) being set up in Dharwad.
“An amendment to the Act is what is required to allot the quota,” the Minister added.
