'Higher education sector should be revived'

Speaking after inaugurating the new lecture hall complex-academic block-3 at Manipal Institute of Technology here on Saturday, he said higher education sector needed to be revived. The government has earmarked Rs 24,7000 crore for higher education sector in the 11th Five Year Plan in contrast to Rs 4,000 crore allotted during previous Five Year Plans.

He said about 12 per cent of the Indian population have enrolled to higher education in the country. The Five Year Plan proposes to set up 1,462 new educational institutions, 30 Central Universities, 7 IITs and IIMs each and couple of Indian Institute of Science.

Emphasising the need for private agencies involvement in higher education system, he said private sector has an important role to play. Ample space has been offered for the participation by private sectors in the strategies proposed in the 11th Five Year plan.

Private sectors should take up self financing initiatives. “We have approached as many as 67 state universities for the initiatives to be taken up. More than 100 deemed universities across the country are self financing. When compared to other countries across the globe, India offers more space for the private players,” he said.

Prof Thorat said even the poorest of poor child should be able to have access to higher education. Education is something that is required for all irrespective of financial status and gender. No person in the country should be denied the right to education, he added.