BANGALORE: Wipro Chairman and Azim Premji University Chancellor Azim Premji said public investment in education in India has to increase for the development of the country.
He was speaking at the second convocation of the university here on Monday.
“There is a strong need to divert a part of our gross domestic product (GDP) towards education. Currently, only around 3 per cent of the GDP is invested in education, which has to rise to at least 6 per cent. This is imperative,” Premji said.
Teachers, especially those working in government schools in rural areas, need to be trained urgently, he said. “After interacting with teachers in different states, it can be said that 20 per cent of them are eager to work and are committed, 60 per cent want to learn and the remaining 20 per cent do not do any work,” he said.
Stating that teachers need training on the best teaching practices, he emphasised the need for early childhood education.Vice-Chancellor Anurag Behar said students from the university, especially those who had passed out in the first convocation, have already started working in the social sphere at different locations across the country. “We will also start our undergraduate courses from next year,” he added.