Minister for Higher Education and Tourism R.V. Deshpande said here on Tuesday that universities should promote value-based education, sports and extra-curricular activities among students.
He was addressing college teachers after inaugurating a value orientation programme organised by Ramakrishna Math, Mangalore.
The Minister said the universities should not remain as institutions of conducting mere examinations.
He said values in society were fast-depleting. As a result, anti-social activities and disrespect towards women were on the rise. There was a need to uphold values in society.
He said teaching was a pious profession. Teachings of Swami Vivekananda were more relevant today than when he preached them.
Mr. Deshpande said the relation between teachers and students were turning commercial. As technology was advancing, teachers had a greater role to play to prepare students to face the competitive world. A human touch was required in teaching, he said.
K. Byrappa, Mangalore University Vice-Chancellor, suggested that the math should also organise value orientation programme for parents.
In his keynote address, Swami Muktidanandaji Maharaj, president, Ramakrishna Ashrama, Mysore, said literate educated people required value education as many of them were involved in anti-social activities.
He said teachers should be transmitters of higher values to the students and society.
S. Viswanath, an aerospace engineer, K. Raghothama Rao, director, Manas Centre for Training and Development, Bangalore and Swami Sarvapriyanandaji, a monk of Ramakrishna math, also spoke.
The math would organise value education programmes for B.Ed. students on Wednesday and for post-graduate students on Thursday.
