Talented Teachers Can Make Difference in E-Education. How?

E-Education and maximum utilization of talented teachers could improve higher education in India, where quality of education has deficient, said President Pranab Mukherjee.

On addressing the fifth convocation of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala on Friday, he said "Some out-of-the-box decision has to be taken to make available talented teachers. We have enough infrastructure in education, but huge shortage of teachers. Students and teachers must be the harbinger of change. We must use upgraded technological devices to achieve development."

Stressing that, innovations in all sectors would boost development and the economy, he said "Universities and higher educational institutions must be the nucleus of innovative activities and research works."

Mukherjee said that currently 2.60 crore students are in the higher education sector in India. After the end of the 12th Five Year Plan (2012-13 to 2016-2017), this figure would increase to 3.60 crore. He said that till 1979, the average annual growth of the economy was 3.5 percent; now, it is 7.9 percent, much higher than many other countries.

He also expressed his deep agony over the growing atrocities on women and children in the country. "We must follow the values of our time-honoured ancient civilisation," he said.

Calling upon the universities of India to work hard so that India can return to the days of glory in higher education he said, "Our ancient university system had dominated the world for eighteen hundred years, beginning sixth century BC."