'Target to increase gross enrolment ratio by 2020'

Higher Education Minister R V Deshpande on Wednesday asserted that the State government has a set target of increasing the gross enrolment ratio (GER) from the current 25.5 pc to 35 pc by 2020.

Speaking at the valedictory of 150 years celebrations of Sarada Vilas Educational Institutions and 50 years of high school in the city, Deshpande said the enrolment ratio at the national level is between 18 pc and 19 pc. 

To achieve the intended results in the State, quality education is a must. The measures were being put in place, as the number of youths taking up higher education was recorded at 17 lakh, against the population of 75 lakh in the State, he said.

Stressing on quality education, Deshpande said that there were also plans to bring in at least one lakh students every year under the Centres’ Rajiv Gandhi Scholarship Scheme.

 Apart from providing education, the focus of the government was also on creating job opportunities by attracting more investments in the industrial sector.

Targeting students, Deshpande said that unlike earlier days, competition was intense, with only the best of the brains being able to survive. Students were no more competing with their peers in the surrounding regions, but from those across the world.

9 lakh lecturers

The department was also focussing on creating basic infrastructure facilities at colleges. There are plans to recruit nine lakh lecturers, besides high school teachers. 

On the demands of the management of Sarada Vilas to give sanction to fill vacancies at Law College and also the permission for opening Centre of Excellence, Deshpande responded on a positive note. However, he asked the management to focus on imparting technical education.