By The Hindu Bureau

Copyright thehindu

The Centre and State government should increase fund allocation for education, so as to encourage more students, especially in the rural areas, to pursue higher education, G. Viswanathan, VIT Founder-Chancellor said on Thursday.

In his presidential address at the international conclave on Transformative Higher Education Enhancing Student and Faculty Mobility programmes organised by the VIT here, he said at present, India spends less than 3% of the GDP on education, whereas, many other countries spend more than 5%-6% of their GDP.

“Economic development of a country depends on educational development. Unless we give them (students) education, we can never become a developed or an urban country,” he said.

Referring to the improved relations between Indian and China in the recent months, the Chancellor said that would help students of these countries to come together, learn, collaborate, and compete with each other. Education can prepare the future citizens for such a collaboration

“The New Education Policy (NEP) 2020 plans to abolish the system of affiliation of colleges with universities. It will help India compete with the rest of the world in exchanging students in the higher education system,” he said.

Advocating proper care for Indian students studying in foreign universities, Mr. Viswanathan requested developed countries to take care of students from developing countries, including their tuition fees. A few countries in northern Europeprovide free education for foreign students as well. Some developed countries charge a nominal fee for foreign students. “Such compassion towards students, especially from developing countries, should be extended by all developed countries,” he said.

Delegates from27 countries took part in the conclave. Zaw Myint, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Education, Myanmar; Ganesanathan Geathiswaran, Deputy High Commissioner of Sri Lanka; and Sankar Viswanathan and Sekar Viswanathan, VIT vice-presidents, were present.