From Our Correspondent
AGARTALA: Technical education in the country faces with challenges of equity, accessibility, quality and relevance for its universal acceptance in order to contribute significantly to the cause of national development and social upliftment, said Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal.
Sibal who was addressing the fourth convocation of National Institute of Technology (NIT), Agartala at the institute’s auditorium on Friday night said, the time has indeed come to introspect and rejuvenate the existing technical instruction machinery to meet these challenges.
He said, the HRD Ministry has been trying to ensure development of top quality professional engineers and technicians in the country through its various tributaries of higher education offices.
“The initiatives in the establishment of several new NITs across the nation envisage a plan of action that is multi faceted and will deliver its objectives through contemporary and innovative models of education using the best of all forms of technology, relevant and appropriate to regional expectations and preferences”, he said.
Giving full-scale praise to the NIT, Agartala for its excellent placement record, roughly 90 percent, Sibal said, “This has been possible because of extensive academic and state of art research infrastructure, laboratory and upgradation programmes and enhanced faculty induction programmes and overwhelming student response in spite of obstacles of logistical remoteness of the institute.”
Offering best wishes to those who have graduated on Saturday, Sibal said, “This is indeed end of a journey but beginning to new journey. The institute (NIT) has given the opportunity on how to learn knowledge but did not teach you how to live a life,” he said. He also exhorted students to help others to achieve something what they could not ever dare to dream. “You are obviously privileged to have graduated in an institute like NIT, which 200 million children could not even dream to reach at his stage”, he added.
Governor Dr. DY Patil, Finance Minister Badal Chowdhury, Prof. UR Rao, former Chairman of ISRO and Prof PN Singh, Chairman of Board of Governors also spoke in the function. Referring to proposal for setting up Indian Institute of Information Technology (IIIT) on PPP model, Chowdhury said, “This concept will not work in a state like Tripura and the Centre must review its move.”
Prof PK Bose, Director of NIT, Agartala in his welcome address highlighted the achievements scored by the institute. According to him, it is very encouraging to learn that placement status this year has been outstanding as 222 students out of 267 students have already been placed in different reputed companies.
Ironically, inspite of degree offering institutes mushrooming in north-east, instances of witch-hunt is on the rise.