Mangalore, Sep 24: Although it is a big challenge to overcome the procedural labyrinth in order to change the curriculum, the autonomy to address the changes in the curriculum is basic to ensuring quality education, said Dr Jancy James, Vice Chancellor of Central University of Kerala, Kasargod.
Delivering the keynote address at the inauguration of a national workshop on'Changing Contours of Indian Economy' organised by Department of Economics at St Aloysius College, Mangalore in collaboration with Association of Mangalore University College Teachers (AMUCT) here on Tuesday, she said, “Curriculum is not a static mechanism; it is the life-blood of education. If we do not have the right provision to make the changes, we have to think twice about how to ensure excellence and quality in education,” she said.
Elaborating on the three E's of higher education in India i.e. expansion, equity and excellence, she said that there was a need for expansion of the scope of higher education as there were not enough educational institutions and universities for students to enroll into. “Providing equity in admission of students into higher education institutions is another priority, as every stratum of society needs to be given opportunity to admit their children into higher educational institutions. We need to ensure that inclusiveness and equity is maintained in higher educational admissions and delivering of knowledge. We also need to ensure that we give students quality and relevant education, although quality is a big challenge in higher education,” she said.
She said that there was a need to reflect on how many institutions necessitate optimum utilisation of the resources and knowledge that students acquired. In India, only upto 16 students in every 100 get jobs in tune with the qualification they receive from their universities, she said, adding that much of the resources in higher education were wasted.
“The biggest challenge for the young generation today is choosing among the wide plethora of information available before them. Choice is your problem. To choose the information that is suitable for you, you need insight and decision-making,” she said, advising the students to use the availability of resources wisely, discreetly and with insight.
“The pre-occupation of our country is education and we have to empower it. Students should be exposed to the reality and made to reckon how sustainable are even the most celebrated reforms made by the government today,” she stressed.
In his presidential speech, principal of the college Fr Swebert D'Silva urged the students to listen to proper sources and focus on the goals, in order to achieve them.
Liguory Mendonca, Head of Department of Economics at the college was felicitated on the occasion.
Resource persons Dr Muzaffar Assadi, professor of Political Science, University of Mysore and Dr A Narayana, columnist and assistant professor, Azim Premji University, Bangalore, Dr Norbert Lobo, president of AMUCT and Dr P P Sajimon, Head of PG Economics Department, were present.
Comments
Add new comment