CM Siddaramaiah says universities should develop scientific, rational thinking in youths

BENGALURU: Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that universities should develop scientific and rational thinking in young men and women along with providing higher education and knowledge to them.

Speaking at a meeting held with the vice-chancellors of state universities at Vidhana Soudha, CM Siddaramaiah said, “Education given in universities should not be religious, ignorant and conservative, but scientific and rational”. He said that graduates should not be influenced by any caste, religion or language.

“It is not possible to bring a uniform education system in our country due to diversity in language, culture and other factors. Ambedkar has said that equality can be brought into the country only when social democracy becomes the foundation of political democracy. The ability to build an equal society should be provided through universities”, he said.

“Any activities and actions which are against the Constitution should not take place in universities. If the students coming out of universities are still ignorant and clung to castes, then what they have got cannot be called education”, he added.

CM Siddaramaiah stated that he has come across some meetings and ceremonies held in some universities which attempt to berate the personality of freedom fighters, constitution writers and social thinkers.

“Anti-secularism thinking should not be rewarded. Doing so will influence the students. Such programmes should never be organised. It will not be possible to build a better society if higher education does not move in the right path. An environment should be created to develop scientific and rational thinking in every student”, he said.

The CM said that the establishment of universities in all districts despite financial deficits is not a good decision. “It is of no use if the infrastructure is not provided. When I was Chief Minister, more than 3 per cent of the budget was allocated for education. Efforts will be made to provide more funds to the higher education sector from next year”, he said.

“There should be no lapse in imparting quality education. All solutions cannot be provided at once, but efforts will be made to solve all your problems”, he added. The CM said that the fruits of research should not remain in libraries. “It should be reached to society, only then research will be fruitful”, he said.

The Chief Minister also directed to step up necessary measures and research to increase the enrollment ratio of students and improve the quality of education in districts like Chamarajanagar, Yadgiri, Hassan, Koppal, Kodagu etc. where the Gross Enrollment Ratio (GER) rate is low.

Siddaramaiah also asked to improve the quality of education at Mysore University, which is the oldest and the first university in the state. Vice-chancellors of 32 public universities of the state and senior officials of the higher education department participated in the meeting. (ANI)