India’s gross enrolment ratio (GRE) may have increased from 0.6 per cent to 7 per cent, but that is not enough, said President Pranab Mukherjee here on Saturday, pointing out that countries such as Germany and the US are way ahead of India on that count. Delivering the First Convocation Address of Indian Maritime University, he said country has to cover many miles in higher education sector to compete with countries like the US and Germany.
“India is still behind Germany and the US, whose enrolment ratios stood at 27 per cent and 37 per cent, respectively,” he said.
Urging the students to serve the society and the country, Mukherjee said that they should remember that the education they get was because of huge investment from public resources. “You are indebted to the society, alma mater and the country,” the President said.
Mukherjee also said that he was aware of Indian Maritime University’s teething problems, including many unfilled faculty positions. He said that IMU should try to become a centre of excellence in the medium term.
He said India should try to increase the share of seafarers in the global arena.
Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan said that his ministry has plans to open maritime institutes in Karnataka, Goa and Odisha.