Thursday, September 28 2006 11:45 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mohali: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday (Sept 27,2006) said the government would ensure greater investment from different sources to strengthen the university system which had a rich tradition.

"We will strengthen the university system even as we set up new national institutes," he said at the foundation stone laying ceremony of Indian Institute of Science Education and Research in newly-created S A S district of Punjab.

"The Government would ensure greater investment from all sources to ensure expansion of the university system," the Prime Minister said.



"We will attract more private capital into our varsities while we step up public investment," he said.

"Though several scientific research institutes had been set up in the country since Independence, there was decline in "new recruits" entering these organisations," Singh said.

"These recruits have to come out of our university system," he added.

"His Government wanted the country to become not only a generator of knowledge but also a source of knowledgeable workers," the Prime Minister said.

"Pointing out that creative minds were not opting for a career in basic sciences for a variety of reasons," he said science was losing to other more lucrative disciplines even at school level.

He said it was important to offer students an exciting and stimulating research environment in universities, adding "Our endeavour to create new science education and research institutes is a step in this direction."

"Despite the higher education system having a rich tradition, the country had lost this in recent decades for a variety of reasons, " Prime Minister said.

"Universities have become overcrowded with a lot of teaching but very little research. We expect Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research to help bridge this gap," he said.

"Describing as 'unhealthy' the trend of slipping into a system where research was confined to institutions," Singh said there was virtually no organic link among colleges, research institutions and universities.

"With little time, space and energy left for doing research", he said there was need to expand opportunities at every level of the education system.

"While primary education is our major concern, ignoring tertiary and higher education is fraught with a great peril," Singh said.

"The Centre was committed to increase the allocation of funds for education to six per cent of GDP," he said.

Hoping to raise the allocation for higher education in the next plan, Singh said "Our aim is widen the access to education for all, and promote excellence."

"There was no contradiction between these twin aims of the education policy," he said.