KOCHI: Expansion, equity and excellence should be the focus of education, T P Sreenivasan, former Indian ambassador to the United Nations and Chairman of Kerala State Higher Education Council has said.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 46th annual general meeting of Skill for Progress (SKIP) at Ashirbhavan here on Friday.
He said that the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) is 22 per cent in the state while it is 19 per cent at the national level. In his benedictory address, Archbishop Francis Kallarackal said that the future of the nation depends upon the youth. Cusat Vice-Chancellor Paulose Jacob, who delivered the keynote address, said that while talent and suitability should decide the vocation one chooses, other concerns should also be given a thought.
“Quality and excellence should also be important concerns. Students should also prioritise social commitment in any chosen vocation,” he said.
SKIP chairman C A Thomas, general secretary Joseph Stanley and regional secretary Fr Jose Kuttikeril were among those who spoke on the occasion. More than 300 delegates representing various engineering institutions across the country participated in the SKIP general meet held on Friday.
SKIP office-bearers informed that Labour Minister Shibu Baby John will inaugurate the ensuing sessions and deliberations on Saturday, on various aspects of technical education in India.