Structural, administrative reforms needed for developing education: Sibal

Kolkata, April 2 (IANS) Regretting that 14 legislations, including the Educational Malpractices bill and Foreign Education providers bill, were pending in parliament, Human Resource Development (HRD) Minister Kapil Sibal Monday said structural and administrative reforms are needed for development of the education sector in India.

"We have introduced about 14 legislations in parliament. They are all pending in parliament, and for two years. Nobody wishes to debate them, nobody wishes to put them on the agenda. So if the policy framework becomes paralysed, because the political processes don't allow the education to be looked at elaborately, then how do we move forward?" said Sibal.

"We (UPA) don't have majority in the Rajya Sabha. So if somebody says we will not allow the bill to come on the agenda what can we do? How do we pass the Educational Malpractices bill, Foreign Education providers' bill?" he said.

The seasoned politician pointed out that 10 years from now, people are going to ask about these facilities.

"By 2020, 100 million additional people will be part of the workforce from India only. By 2030 one third of world's workforce will be provided by India. It's going to be demand driven, and they are going to ask what we did," he said.

Sibal stated there is a need for structural and administrative reforms and a collaborative approach for development of the education sector.

The minister said he expected the National Vocational Qualification Framework to be introduced in 2012 academic year. The matter is likely to be placed before the cabinet in the next three to four weeks.