New Delhi

Need for public-private initiative to achieve cent per cent literacy

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A new model based on public-private partnership should be developed to educate children and achieve cent per cent literacy in the country, Union Minister for Science and Technology Kapil Sibal said here on Friday.

Speaking at the 34th National Progressive Schools' Conference, Mr. Sibal stressed the need for a public-private initiative to ensure that "more than 300 million people in our country who do not know how to read or write can access the kind of quality education available to students in the Capital".

Mr. Sibal also lamented that knowledge in our country was completely book-centric and that there was a need to expand it further.

"Our knowledge is just focused on books, around tests and memorising things. Knowledge must be acquired through inquiry, curiosity and challenges. We always tend to discourage the young to challenge us. The children should be encouraged and guided to challenge the past, future and existing theories and mores. The greatest education is when the child interacts with nature," he said at the inaugural session of the conference. Later at a subsequent session, panellists deliberated on "Curriculum for Change".

Stating that it was a misconception that curriculum referred to only textbooks, NCERT Curriculum Head M. A. Khadder advocated a flexible school calendar. "We should evolve a self-governance code after discussions with children. There should be autonomy for the teachers so that can bring the changes in the way they teach. Knowledge lies not just with textbooks but goes beyond it. Arts, music and dance should also be a part of the curriculum," he said.

Hindu College Principal Kavita A. Sharma complained that students entering the higher education system did not have "enough" language skills.

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