Aim of education to instil values: HRD minister

VARANASI: Human resource development minister Prakash Javadekar said on Thursday that the aim of education is not merely giving information but also building of character and instilling of values among students.
"Education should be seen as a medium for character building and not just limited to subject-based knowledge. Our country has been a great power in the past and that was because we had universities like Nalanda, Takshila and Vikramshila.A country can only be prosperous if its has good universities," Javadekar said while chairing the review meeting of vice-chancellors of Central universities at Central Office in Banaras Hindu University (BHU).
The minister also appreciated BHU founder Mahamana Madan Mohan Malaviya's vision for establishing the university and highlighted the role of freedom fighters, who started educational institutions as tools for movement and renaissance.
As many as 41 vice-chancellors of Central universities from all over the country participated in a review meeting held in presence of minister of state for HRD Mahendra Nath Pandey and others.
Pandey highlighted thesignificance of skill development programmes for students. Secretary of department of education, HRD, Vinaya Sheel Oberoi said that capacity expansion of students is needed as a slow growth in number of students in central universities is being witnessed.
BHU vice-chancellor GC Tripathi highlighted the achievements of the university. "It is our privilege that BHU is hosting review meeting in its centenary year," he said.
The highlights of the review meeting was presented by chairman of University Grants Commission Ved Prakash, who gave the status of the accreditation of Central universities, students enrolment, choice based credit system, universities with potential for excellence and special assistance programme started by UGC to improve quality, research and innovation in institutes of higher education across the country.