Saturday, April 16 2005 15:18 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Raipur: Admitting his "mistake" for having failed to bring reforms in education system during the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) regime, former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee called for changes in the education sector.

"There is need for reforms in education system. People may ask when I was the Prime Minister why we failed to undertake reforms. I admit my mistake," Vajpayee said at the 11th convocation function of Pundit Ravi Shankar Shukla University in Raipur today (Apr 16, 2005).

It would take time to decide what should be the education set up in the country and what role technical education should be given, Vajpayee said adding, lack of resources was also a major obstacle to that.

The former Prime Minister also expressed serious concern over the tendency of growing suicide among students.

"I become sad to read news reports that students are committing suicide after having failed to secure expected marks in the examinations, Vajpayee told the gathering.

Either due to the fear of examination or of the family, students are running away from competition and committing suicide, Vajpayee said adding, we should accept the challenges thrown by life.

"One should not accept defeat as the people who have accepted defeat can not do any thing in life," he added.