Teach skills to students: Kalam

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam felicitates Malti Mohinder Syngle, founder, MSS E&R Society, at the Multi Gyan Preeth Puraskar ceremony in New Delhi on Friday.

Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam on Friday advocated a “complete” change of the higher education framework in the country, and stressed skill development to come up with a workforce to meet future challenges.

Speaking on the occasion of third Malti Gyan Peeth Puraskar here, Dr. Kalam suggested that students in schools and colleges be handed over “skill certificates”, apart from the conventional degrees.

Syllabus change

“In decades, India will need 300 to 500 million employable skilled youth and there is a need to completely change the university education syllabus and secondary school education syllabus. Two certificates should be given to students. In schools, one skill certificate and one education certificate and in college, degree and diploma on the expertise acquired. In schools from classes 9 to 12, 25 per cent of the time has to be allotted for skill development programme,” he said.

Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi and Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal were present in the event in which 15 teachers from different government schools of Punjab were given awards.