Sam Pitroda, Adviser to Prime Minister on Public Information, Infrastructure and Innovations, on Thursday expressed concern over the quality of education in India.
Addressing Presidency University’s first Annual Convocation here, Pitroda said, “Leaving a top five per cent of universities, I feel that the quality of higher education in India is pretty bad.”
Pitroda, who was the chairperson of the National Knowledge Commission set up in 2005, said that there has been “delay” in implementation of reforms in higher education.
He said, even though the Knowledge Commission recommended setting up of 1,500 new universities, “unfortunately” the target could not be achieved.
“Mindset of the Government, UGC (University Grants Commission) and the ministries is not changing fast enough,” Pitroda said.
Stressing on the need for more research, innovation and use of technology in the educational system, Pitroda said, “I am concerned about the reforms in education… It is time we focused on restructuring educational institutions and not take pride in the old models. Old models are about to die.”
“Why should a degree take four years?” Pitroda asked.
According to him, the country is “following a Western model here where best brains are solving the problems of the rich”.