Vindicating that education provides the skills and competencies essential for economic development of the country, Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh on Tuesday said a well-educated population is necessary for the economic and social progress of any country.
The Prime minister while addressing the awardee teachers on the eve of Teachers' Day said education provides the citizens with empowerment and confidence to actively participate in the political processes imparting values that nurture social cohesion and national unity.
"It is for this reason that our government has substantially increased public spending on education since 2004-05. Education expenditure as a percentage of our GDP has increased from 3.3 percent in 2004-05 to 4 percent in 2011-12. Per capita public expenditure on education has increased from Rs. 888 in 2004-05 to Rs. 2,985 in 2011-12," he added.
Dr. Singh said the improved outlays have helped in a massive expansion of the educational infrastructure and sanction of additional posts of teachers on a large scale. He added India has made remarkable progress in enhancing the reach of the education in the country.
" Enrolment of children in primary schools has now reached near-universal levels. The gender gap in elementary education has declined. Simultaneously, there is a significant reduction in socio-economic inequalities in access to education and a narrowing of the gap between SCs/STs, minorities and other social groups," he added.
Dr. Singh, however, expressed concern over the poor levels of learning among students.
"Therefore, as we move ahead we need a clear shift in our strategy from a focus on inputs, access and enrolment to what goes on in the classroom and the school. We need to set up transparent and reliable systems for tracking attendance of children in a truly meaningful way," said Dr. Singh.
"At the same time, we need to put in place a system of continuous assessment of the benefit our children are getting from their education. Participation of the community and parents would be essential in this process, so that they can be satisfied with the quality of teaching," he added.
Laying emphasis on the role of teachers in endeavouring quality education for the children, Dr. Singh said: "Teachers have to be an integral part of policy-making, governance and management, as also of day-to-day instructional strategies and decision making. The empowerment of teachers that includes real opportunity for them to share policy perspectives and decision-making will have to be the key component of the educational reform process."
"As teachers, we look to you to guide the children of our country in their quest for knowledge and truth. Through you, we aspire to build in our children a commitment to the values of democracy, and the values of equality, social justice, freedom, secularism, and respect for human dignity," he added.
Dr. Singh further appealed all the teachers to develop a strong thought the independency among the children and the capacity for taking carefully considered decisions.
"Through you, our children should also develop a sensitivity to the well-being and feelings of others and also the ability to work and participate in the processes of social and economic change," he added.
The Prime Minister said teachers are key to the future of a nation and referred them as the nation builders.
"I once again congratulate you for contributing so handsomely to the processes of nation building. I have full confidence that with teachers like you the future of our country is safe and bright. I wish all teachers in the country a very meaningful and satisfying engagement with our children," said Dr. Singh.
"I am delighted to be with you on the eve of Teachers' Day. I join you all in paying homage to the great teacher, philosopher and educationist of our time Dr. Radhakrishnan, whose birth anniversary is celebrated as Teachers' Day every year," he added
-With inputs from ANI
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