Cambridge University to help India improve primary education

The Cambridge University will soon partner with India to improve its primary education system, said its vice-chancellor.

The work here will range from improving teacher quality, learning systems and evaluation.

"We want to collaborate and work on the entire education system at the primary and secondary level. However, Cambridge will not set up any school in India," Cambridge VC Sir Leszek Borysiewicz said.

Cambridge university has collaborated with higher educational institutions in India and has partnered for research in chemical biology, therapeutics, stem cell research and nanoscience with many institutions, including the National Centre for Biological Sciences, Bangalore.

"For any education system to survive, the foundation must be strong. Unesco has been pointing out the need to strengthen this fundamental phase (primary and secondary).That's our objective. Next week, we'll commence talks on our primary education project with the Indian government," he said.

Sir Leszek said the Cambridge university has 270 projects with Indian institutions. "The focus is on building partnerships with these institutions as they're committed to quality. It's important for universities to also invest in research in the Arts and humanities. Science alone is not enough."

He said, "I do not agree with the UK government on the restrictions. We must open up to overseas students. In any case, students are not denied visas."

He said research in science and humanities offered by the Indian institutions attract UK students here.