Maharashtra holds 'KG to PG Conclave'

13-05-14

Conclave recommends setting up of overarching authority for edn sector

By Kartik Lokhande
Maharashtra Government, on Monday, took the first step towards enhancing participation of private sector and academia in education sector in State to focus on improving employability of the youths. In the first-ever ‘KG to PG Conclave’ organised at the initiative of Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, the participants recommended setting up of an ‘overarching authority’ for education sector.
Shedding more light on the deliberations in the first-ever conclave, Chief Secretary J S Saharia told ‘The Hitavada’ that the industry sector stalwarts like Chairman of Godrej group Adi Godrej and Chairman of Tata Sons group Cyrus Mistry also were present in the meet. They assured to extend full co-operation to the State Government in further development of education sector. The main objective was to ensure mutual co-operation between education sector and industry to equip youths in State with skills that would enhance their employability.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, industry stalwarts Chairman of Godrej group Adi Godrej and Chairman of Tata Sons group Cyrus Mistry, Chief Secretary J S Saharia and others at the ‘KG to PG Conclave’ held in Mumbai on Monday.

Already 70 to 80 per cent of secondary and higher education is dominated by private sector, Saharia said. Now, the focus is required on quality of education and changes aimed at improving employability of youths. Several new experiments and technologies are being reported in the world and these need to be adopted to better impact. While doing so, industry requirements also need to be considered. However, the biggest issue is segmentation like primary, secondary, ITI, polytechnic, higher and technical education etc in education sector.
“After deliberating upon this aspect, the dignitaries who attended the conclave recommended that there must be an ‘overarching authority’ that will look into education sector as a whole and integrate goals of all these segments,” said Saharia. While doing so, a lot many factors need to be taken into account like drop-out rate, skill development, vacancies in higher and technical institutes, employability, skill sets required by industry, revision of curriculum etc. The authority is proposed to have Government officials, representatives from the industry and private institutions, he said. Further, it was decided to conduct a one-day workshop for brainstorming to decide future course of action, added the Chief Secretary.
Chief Minister’s wife Satvasheela Chavan, Raosaheb Shinde of Rayat Shikshan Sanstha, former Vice-Chancellor of Mumbai University Dr Vijay Khole, representatives of Nirlep, Ajanta Pharma, ICICI and other industries, Additional Chief Secretary (Planning) K P Bakshi, Commissioner (School Education) S Chockalingam, Principal Secretary (Higher and Technical Education) Sanjay Kumar, Secretary (School Education) Ashwini Bhide, and others were present prominently in the conclave.
Observing that educational institutions in the State would have to compete with global ones, Chief Minister stressed on the need for enhancing quality of education. Already, he said, several measures had been initiated in this direction. He sought co-operation of industry sector towards this goal. Ashwini Bhide underlined the need for policy initiatives to effect changes in the State through revamping of education sector. She also mentioned that the deliberations in the conclave would help State Government arrive at some important policy decisions.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chanda boy Dr Vipin Itankar is UPSC topper in State

Image
12-06-14 * Efficiency and effectiveness are the keywords for the topper * Nagpur lads Aawesh Titarmare, Arpit Gudadhe, and Ankur Meshram also bring laurels to the region in UPSC examination results By Kartik Lokhande  “I am blessed. Vipin is extremely hard-working, dedicated and a confident guy I have ever met in my life. He was always at top since college days. I was confident that he would be in top ten in the UPSC examination as well.” (Centre) Dr Vipin Itankar, who secured 14th rank nationally and topped Maharashtra in UPSC Civil Services Examination-2013 results, celebrating with his family members in Chandigarh on Thursday. This is how Dr Shalini, wife of Dr Vipin Vithoba Itankar, reacted on learning that Vipin had emerged as the Maharashtra topper in Union Public Service Commission (UPSC) examination. Talking to ‘The Hitavada’ over telephone from Chandigarh, where Vipin and Shalini work in Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, both exp...
Read more

Hinganghat: Here rests the great surveyor of India...

Image
  By Kartik Lokhande  Often, the work of explorers lives on but they get buried in the history. This is exactly what has happened in case of Lt Col William Lambton. The man credited with initiating one of the greatest scientific activities in the world -- The Great Trigonometrical Survey of India -- lays buried at a place now known as ‘Kala Gota’ amid a crowded locality behind Bus Stand in the town of Hinganghat in Wardha district. Sadly, the memorial of this great surveyor, whose work led to measuring the highest point on Earth 50 years later, has become a victim of neglect. And, surprisingly, not many know about it and the great significance of Hinganghat in the landmark survey.  Lambton Memorial, known locally as 'Kala Gota' in Hinganghat. (Pic: Kartik Lokhande) Lt Col William Lambton The benchmark stone of Great Trigonometrical Survey, in the courtyard of a house behind Bus Stand in Hinganghat. (Pic by Kartik Lokhande) Lt Col Will...
Read more

Eknath Ranade, the man with ‘Rock’ solid determination

* November 2015 marks the culmination of birth centenary celebrations of Eknath Ranade, a son of Vidarbha who made it the cause of his life to realise the dream of Vivekananda Rock Memorial at Kanyakumari By Kartik Lokhande  It was 1962, a year that had stirred the atmosphere in the country owing to several factors including a war with China. In January 1963, India was to celebrate the birth centenary of Swami Vivekananda. In down south, in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, tension was in the air over Swami Vivekananda’s memorial. There were attempts by some to claim the Rock off the shores of Tamil Nadu where Vivekananda meditated. A firm leadership is required to navigate through little storms in the journey towards realisation of a goal. Eknath Ranade, a man born in village Timtala in Amravati district of Vidarbha region in Maharashtra, was destined to be that firm leader as far as Swami Vivekananda’s memorial at Kanyakumari. Born on November 19, 1914, Eknath Ranade was the ...
Read more