SHILLONG: The Central Government is planning to establish 2500 new universities, both public and private, and some more need-based colleges in the near future to achieve 25 per cent Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) at the higher education level throughout the country, Association of India University (AIU) president AM Pathan said on Sunday.
Addressing a press conference a day head of the 83rd Annual Meeting of AIU here, Mr Pathan expressed serious concern over the low percentage of GER at the higher education level in India and said the current GER in the country was between 11 per cent and 12 per cent which was much below the global 23 per cent.
"The USA and UK are far better in this respect as they have over 60 per cent GER. At present we (India) are aiming to increase the GER percentage to 25 per cent," Mr Pathan said.
He revealed that India had 438 public and private universities approved either by an Act of Parliament or an Act or legislation of the state or under Section 3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC).
Mr Pathan also said in order to achieve 25 per cent GER, the Central Government had asked all the Centrally-funded universities to increase their total student intake by 54 per cent.
Meanwhile, NEHU Vice Chancellor Prof. Pramod Tandon underscored the role of higher education in national development.
"Since Independence there has been a significant growth in higher education in terms of quantity," Prof. Tandon said.
He, however, admitted that the country needed more universities and colleges, saying only 10 per cent of the relevant age group of 17 and 23 were enrolled in higher educational institutions.
Delegates from countries like USA, Spain, Switzerland, Denmark and Serbia are going to attend the annual meeting of AIU. State Governor Ranjit Shekhar Mooshahary will inaugurate the meeting to be held on the premises of the NEHU on Monday.
A one-day national seminar on "Quality and Relevance of Higher Education" will also be held on November 19.
Source: http://www.theshillongtimes.com/
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