Javadekar vows to engage in dialogue

Day after Cabinet reshuffle: Will talk to everybody, says new HRD minister

A day after he was allotted the controversy-ridden Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry, Prakash Javadekar on Wednesday said that “dialogue” was key to avoiding confrontations on university campuses.

He underlined that education was not a subject for “party politics”. He added that he was open to all suggestions and advice to improve the current state of the education system.
“I am a product of student agitation, so we will always talk with everybody. So with dialogues in place, there will be no necessity for agitation,” Javadekar told reporters, when asked for his plans to deal with the ongoing students agitations in several university campuses.

Javadekar’s remark was seen as an effort to give a positive signal to students and teachers which are up in arms against several decisions taken by the ministry and the University Grants Commission (UGC), as Smriti Irani moved on to take charge of textile portfolio.

Javadekar will take charge of the HRD Ministry on Thursday.
He said improving quality of education to make it “meaningful” as envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi will be his top priority.

“The real challenge is (improving) quality of education. Our education system should be student centric. While we have to make education meaningful, its quality needs to be improved. And that’s the emphasis of the prime minister too. Education is not BJP subject or subject of any political party. It is everybody’s subject. We will take everyone along and improve the current scenario,” he said.

Meeting held

Javadekar, who held a meeting with HRD Ministry officials at his residence earlier in the day, said he would hold more meetings with them and officials of other bodies associated with the ministry.

“I will prepare a roadmap for improving the quality and standards of the education system after holding meetings with various stakeholders. I will also meet the prime minister and discuss plans before making a final roadmap,” he added.

Javadekar also met his predecessor Smriti Irani. After the meeting, he lauded her efforts during her term as HRD Minister, saying: “We will build on the good initiatives taken by her.”

Smriti later tweeted: “Extended best wishes to @PrakashJavdekar ji who assured that he will build upon the initiatives undertaken by @HRDMinistry in last 2 years.”

Smriti Irani : Extended best wishes to @PrakashJavdekar ji who assured that he will build upon the initiatives undertaken by @HRDMinistry in last 2 years