Education must reach the weakest sections of society: Patil

Education is a process that imparts knowledge, develops the personality of the individual and opens up new opportunities. Education helps us for preparing a knowledgeable and skilled population who is aware of its responsibilities and willing to contribute to the growth of the nation and society as well.

President Pratibha Singh Patil was speaking at a function to celebrate the country’s first National Education Day today and will be celebrated hence onwards each year on November 11 to commemorate the birth anniversary of India’s first education minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad.

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A great visionary, freedom fighter, scholar, secularist and eminent educationist, Maulana Azad had opinion that “education is a tool of social transformation.”

The President said that the objective of celebrating National Education Day should be to strengthen our educational institutions and to raise the quality of education to greater heights.

Stating that all cultures has recognised the significance of education and has given a special place of honour to education, she said: “Our education system must focus on the upgradation of teaching methodologies of teachers as well as their training and sensitisation to social issues, including to gender-equality.

In today’s era of dominance by knowledge and high technology, the real challenge before our educational system, Patil said, is to create a human resource that can take advantage of new opportunities and face new challenges.

The President said that our sincere effort should be to reach the benefits of education to the weakest sections of society, and impart education to all citizens—whether man or woman, boy or girl.

Here, she emphasised the flagship programme—Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan that has taken a leap forward in providing education to all children in the age group of 6 to14. She, however, said for the success of the programme due attention is needed to give on the quality of education along with the emphasis on building a national character.

Besides, the national programme for education of Girls at elementary level, the Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya scheme and the Mid-Day meal scheme are significantly contributing to the spread of education.

On this auspicious occasion, President Patil released a Special Cover of the Department of Posts and a set of books on Maulana Azad.