Dears , There is yet another reason to smile ...and celebrate New Year! Dr. Manmohan Singh [teacher by choice, PM by accident] is singing a tune we all will like to hear: increased attention to EDUCATION. Sing, Manmohan Singh!
As far as we are concerned, two great things are to happen: #1. Increase in Education budget allocation to 19 percent [up from current 7.7 %] and # 2. Centres of higher education to be located in Goa. # 3. National Skill Development Mission #4. infrastructure to empower local communities #5. Goa must emerge as a knowledge-based economy and the world's most attractive and environment friendly tourist destination. Read the Navhind Times report below. Mog asundi. Miguel Top priority for education in 11th Plan: PM NT Staff Reporter Panaji, Dec 28 The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh has said that considering education as an instrument for achieving rapid and inclusive growth, the central government has placed highest priority to education in the 11th Five-Year Plan and enhanced gross budgetary support from 7.7 per cent to 19 per cent to achieve the desired goal. Delivering the convocation address of the Goa University here today, the Prime Minister said that the next Five-Year Plan would be known as India's 'Education Plan'. "It presents a comprehensive strategy for strengthening the education sector covering all segments of the education pyramid," he said. Dr Singh further said that it was through universal literacy, access to education and knowledge-based agricultural and industrial development that India must march ahead to join the front ranks of the great nations of world. As one of the oldest and continuing civilisations, we take pride in our commitment to the advancement of human knowledge, he added. "The challenge before us is to ensure that every one of our citizens is empowered by access to education and skill building in their chosen fields of activity. I would like to see our farmers, our workers, our artisans and everyone of our working people equipped with modern education and the capabilities required to earn a decent living," the Prime Minister told the gathering. Stating that his both visits to the state as the Prime Minister have been in connection with educational institutions and that he was delighted to be connected with them. He first visited as Prime Minister to inaugurate BITS-Pilani centre here, and his latest visit for was for convocation of Goa University. Dr Singh also said that nothing gave him more joy than to be among teachers and students, as teaching was his chosen career and that he was a politician only by accident. He further said that his visits to Goa in connection with the educational institutions were in part a recognition of Goa's rising status in India's knowledge economy and the whole country was proud of Goa's record in education and in the educational empowerment of young men and women. Saying that Goan people were the state's greatest assets, Dr Singh went on to add that Goa was well positioned to achieve 100 per cent literacy. Stating that Goa was a state of highly talented people, the Prime Minister said that the educational system here should fulfil the aspirations of the people of the state. The central government was launching the National Skill Development Mission, which would enable the country to augment and create a diverse and wide range of skills for youth. He further said that the emphasis would be on demand based vocational educational programmes in partnership with employers. Here in Goa, there would be demand for a range of skills associated with maritime business, with tourism business, with the IT industry, with agro-based industries and other dynamic sectors of your economy. The Prime Minister expressed hope that the youth of Goa would take advantage of the initiatives that the centre has taken in the field of education and infrastructure development. "I am sure there is still great potential for the induction of skills in the tourism sector. Goa must emerge as a knowledge-based economy and the world's most attractive and environment friendly tourist destination," he said. He also said that central government would offer whatever support was required to invest in Goa's knowledge sector. "Goa is already home to several institutions of national importance. I am aware of Goa's desire for an equitable share of facilities for higher education. The central government will bear this in mind while locating new institutions for higher learning as envisaged in the 11th Plan ," he added. The Prime Minister said that he would also like to see Goa emerge as an important center of maritime research and marine business. The Centre has set up the National Fisheries Development Board to unleash a "Blue Revolution" along our coastline and inland water bodies and rivers. Calling upon modernisation of fisheries business and infrastructure to empower fishing communities he went on to add that Goa has the potential to further develop deep-sea fishing. "We need the application of modern science and technology to maritime business," said Dr Singh. He said that his government was paying greater attention maritime economy and maritime security, which the country has neglected. The investment in Coast Guard and the Indian Navy has been increased to achieve better efficiency, he said. For hundreds of centuries, Goa has attracted such sea-farers from afar. The time has come for the people of Goa to now set sail, take advantage of the forces of globalisation, and transform itself into a knowledge-based economy. "It is a sense of adventure, an urge to discover and to explore that has taken mankind forward. You, young students, are beginning a new journey in life. I sincerely hope the sea will inspire you to sail forth. I hope you will reach out to new horizons and take our country to new heights of prosperity and progress" the Prime Minister said. Earlier, the Governor of Goa and Chancellor of Goa University, Mr S C Jamir said that quality of education should be sustained and that Goa could serve as a model state for others to emulate. He said that he would be happy if Goa University, with all its capability, vigour and potency, was made into a national model university, wherein the cross-fertilisation of ideas and synthesis of thought could effectively blossom. Mr Jamir highlighted the achievements of Dr Anil Kakodkar and Lata Mangueshkar, in their respective fields, both of whom were conferred D Litt degrees. The Vice-Chancellor, Prof Dileep N Deobagkar said that university has taken initiative in developing new state-of-the-art human resource development courses, beholding significant job opportunities. In all 28 students received Ph D degrees, 593 post-graduate students received master's degrees and 4,994 students were awarded undergraduate degrees and diplomas. The Chief Minister, Mr Digambar Kamat was also present on the occasion. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mhapsa 403507 Goa Ph 9822982676 [EMAIL PROTECTED] -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
