Quality education should get rid of superstition: Minister

State Higher Education Minister Basavaraj Rayareddy on Friday said the quality of education can be rated only when it helps in removing superstition.

Addressing the gathering — mostly teaching faculty from various colleges — at the second day of three-day seminar organised by Ramakrishna Mutt here, the minister said, “Superstition should be checked with quality education. It is only then the purpose of education will be served.”

To achieve the purpose, he advised the teachers to tread cautiously with good body language as they are considered as the sculptors of future civilisation.

Drawing an analogy between the past and present society, the minister said the country takes pride in Indus Valley civilisation for having propagated Vedas, Upanishats and also economical thinkings during the early civilisation itself, devoid of modern facilities. Takshashila University was also founded in undivided India (now at Lahore in Pakistan) and Nalanda University in Bihar, he added.

Speaking about literacy rate, the minister said education has helped in touching 97% to 98% literacy rate in the state, against the national average of 75%. In 1947, the literacy rate was less than 12% in the coutry. Now, even northeastern states have achieved better literacy rate, so also the neighbouring Kerala state, he added.

He regretted that education is turning into an individual achievement rather than contributing to the society.

Rayareddy said, “Education is self-motto, not for the good of the society.”

Mangaluru South MLA J R Lobo said education field is still riddled with many woes with lack of infrastructure, quality teaching and teachers.

Vice-chancellor of Mangalore University K Byrappa said, “Character building is important or else everything will go waste.”

All praise for Mangaluru
The minister was in all praise of Mangaluru for maintaining its distinct quality in education, standing apart from other districts.

He said, “Mangalureans are soft natured unlike roughly-mannered people in other districts. It is all due to the quality of education, that has also helped in mitigating corruption and ensuring progress.”

Earlier, when the office-bearers of All College Students’ Association submitted a list of demands, mainly related to carryover system for diploma and polytechnic students, the minister shot back, “I am surprised that Mangalureans are asking for carryover, as they are considered intelligents unlike students in other districts. It is natural for students in Hyderabad-Karnataka region to ask (for carryover), for lagging behind in education.”